Daily globe., 1878-03-22

s
CHARLES SWANSON,
DEWITT G. MORTON,
r. H. MCNfILIIN,
ANDREW HERBERG,
l.. A. LILYQULsT,
s. J. TURNER
SWAN GUsTAFsON.
Senator Ahrens also sent up the following
letter, which was read:
ST. PETER, Minn., Feb. 18th, 1878.
To the Honorable Henry Aherns, member OF
State Senate
DEAR SIR-Knowing and believing that you
are a man Of word and character, would most
humbly make the statement following below,
to you, illustrating how have been tyeated by
G.. w. Dyer, steward at the asylum for the
insane, located at st. Peter, Minnesota:
Bids for furnishing good mutton and beef,
according to contract were offered to the pub
lie at large up to January 1st, 1873. During
the year 1873 had the contract, and executed
the same satisfactorily to all parties, in every
particular. During the year 1874, Mr.. W.
Davis had the contract. 1t has been customary
on the Goth of December Of each year, for the
year following.
For the year 1876 no proposals were offered,
the usual day, to hand in my proposal for fur
nishing meat during that year, but was told that
the contract had been given out. There were no
public proposals offered during, for the year
1876
week previous to the Goth of December
1876, I called at the stewards office and asked
MIR. Dyer how he was disposed in offering pro-
posals for furnishing meat for the asylum for
the insane, whereupon he informed me that he
did not know what to do in regard to that; that
he would see the board of trustees, whether
they would deem it best to establish a butcher
shop at the asylum, or not.
l called on several members Of the board
concerning that part, of whom 1 received the
answer, that if Mr.. Dyer had said such, he
would manage things satisfactorily. There
upon, presented my proposal to Mr.. Dyer, on
the 25th of December, 1876, for furnishing
meat, at the rate of $685. per 100 pounds, when
Mr.. Dyer, the steward, informed me that he
would let me know, as soon as possible, and
have never heard of it since,
Now, Mr.. Ahrens you will at once perceive
that this sort of actions are not fair, in no
shape or way. When furnished the hospital
with meat: had to comply with every letter
of the contract as regarding the furnishing of
first class meat, but as it is now, most every
thing imaginable is brought there, such bull
beef, and young veal which cannot sell in q
decent market All would ask is to have
fair show between my fellow men, as do not
believe in giving one man all tho advantage of
an institution supported and governed by the
State.
Being that you are and have been, on the
committee for the insane asylum, I would most
respectfully request you to give this matter
your kind attention; besides, there is one mans
time as a trustee about up, and it would be
well if the authorities would at once have, or
take into consideration the vile doings of a GER
tain clique, and give every one q chance to offer
his desires. give vent to his inclinations.
Hoping to hear from you as personal friend: l
remain, respectfully yours,
HENRY H1LDEBRANDr.
INVESTIGATION ORDERED.
The Senate promptly ordered an investi-
cation and appointed the following commit
tee to take the matter in charge. Senator
Doran, of LIE Sueur, chairman; A. E. Rice,
of Willmar; A. j. Edgerton, of Mantorville:
G. A. Morton, of st. Paul, and w. 8. Drew,
of Winona. This committee held their first
meeting at St. Peter Wednesday afternoon,
but did not commence their investigation
until yesterday. The GLOBE had repre-
sentative on the ground the day before the
committee arrived, and but for the failure of
the telegraph company to transmit his mes
sage, he would have been heard from yester-
day, His important and interesting report
is appended:
First Day.
correspondence of The GLOBE.
ST. PETER, Wednesday evening, March
2O.-Your correspondent arrived here yes
terday at 1:2O P. NJ, and finding that none of
the committee appointed by the Legislature
to investigate the charges made against the
management of the insane asylum, had ar
rived, he resolved himself into committe
of one to investigate for The GLOBE and its
readers. A quiet stroll through the town
with gossipy chat with any one he could
find with leisure and inclination to talk-and
they were to be met with at the entrance of
every store and at every corner disclosed
the fact that no one knew of the pending
inquiry. Some few had heard that COM
mittee was appointed, but no one was aware
of when they were to be here, or when they
were to commence their labors.
In regard to the charges contained in the
petition presented to the Legislature, there
seems to be diversity of opinion.
Many expressed themselves to your
correspondent as being convinced that the
whole thing was got up by few employees
who had been so long in the institution as tc
think they were running it, and did not wish
to be interfered with by the superior. Others
again think the charges are true; that 8
great deal of unnecessary cruelty, amounting
at times to brutal ferocity, is practised upor
the patients. In one thing the people here
are unanimous, and that is, in having
thoroughly searching investigation. severa
persons to whom your correspondent spoke
said that the ugliest point to them was tn
fact that it is asserted in the petition that
patient was choked-murdered by one of tn
employees, and that employe is accused b,
name and on oath with the murder of thi
patient, and yet he is still retained
by the trustees in his position, and n
Investigation into the circumstances has beel
made by the trustees. It is, as far as your
correspondent can learn, the unanimous de-
sire of the people here that this murder cas-
should be fully explained. There is n
doubt that many here believe in cruel prac
tees, some in wasteful extravagance, an
| just few, that the institution is q model {
economy and good management. One ma
said he saw an attendant rush upon one