Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-08-17
Special Telegram to the Globe. !


ST. PETER, Mimi. Aug. 16.-The committee
were early at work this morning, reaching the
hospital at few minutes after 8 o'clock. Upon
assembling ia the board room of the institu-
tion Mr.. Brown of the trustees. who had
been notified to attend, made his appearance
before the committee. He asked by the
chairman if he could give any explanation how
it that the trustees had paid 81 $50 for
40 $40 acres of land at $50 per acre. The gem
tIeman confessed his inability to give any ex-
PLANTATION information upon the subject
Perhaps Mr.. Pcttis could, and if he (Mr.
Pettis) bad received more than he had ought to
he was good for the money and could refund.
Questioned about the bill introduced into
the legislature for the exchange of i21 acres for
10 ne said he had assisted in getting it passed
but he did not know that he had actually seen
read the bill, aware of the exact pro-
vlsi MS. He might or he might not have read
it,
Senator Edgerton asked how it was when the
trustees had already bought forty-nne acres
out of the no that bill was introduced ask
ing for power to exchange the twenty-one for
the 10 acres. Mr.. Brown did not know any,
thing about it. He did not know that he con-
veyed the idea to members of the legislature
that the bill simply for exchange of l21
for ITO acre. He thought the members knew
all about it without being told, and ali the as
tute questioning of Senator Edgerton could get
iron the gentleman was don KNOWS, and
''no recollection
He was then asked if the trustees considered
they had the power to levy land as they pleased?
He did not know if they had the power, but he
had done Whether they had the legal right
not he did not know, and did not know if
they claimed that right.
Mr.. Edgerton--IS it the position of the trus-
tees that they can spchd the money voted for
current expenses i'll buying land:
Mr.. Brown don't know if they have the
right but they have done so. We considered
that buying the fOrty-nine was expanding
the money for current expenses. We want hay
and it is economy to raise own.
Mr.. Edgerton-So you think it right way to
spend the money for current expenses in buy
ing large wheat farm. You great deal
of -four in the institution.
Mr.. Brown thong mt that was different mat
ter. Wheat uncertain crop. Hay was
not. He did not know if they had the power
to do il. The powers OF the trustees were not
well defined
Mr.. Edgerton-The trustees powers not de-
fined?
Mr.. Brown-They may be Defined but we
didn't think about that. We do what we think
is for the best and cheapest way of running
the institution and cutting down expenses.
Mr.. Edgerton-But should not suppose the
board of trustees would do anything which
they were in doubt about. Ii they bought a
farm 1 should think they would feel certain
they had the right to buy And besides the
exchange and purchase alluded to, you
bought farm of forty mine at the back
of the hospital out of the current expenses APP
propriation
Mr.. Browns attention was next called to the
bills for trustees for expenses and wages at 81
and SIS per day. and asked if they could le-
gally make the charges
MIR. Brown did not know if they could or not.
Hc knew they did. He shown Talbot's ex-
traordinary bill for serving as a substitute for
Fletcher, and asked if he could explain. He
acknowledged his inability to do so without it
was that Talbot imagined that he was not only
acting for Fletcher, but was Fletcher.
Mr.. Rice--Is Talbot spiritualist?
Mr.. Brown--No sir He does not drink.
Senator Doran-As of the finance COM
mttee you had 10 pass on that bill?
Mr.. Brown-Possiby [ did. 1 might have
seen it and Nigh not. j cannot explain it. ]
sorry came before the board in that shape.
daughter
Mr.. Brown then explained how they audited
the accounts, one of the committee taking the
ledger and another the voucher, and check
ing off the amounts. If the voucher was
entered in the ledger they considered it all
right
Mr.. Rice-Are the bills entered before
audited?
Mr.. Brown-certainly.
Mr.. Rice-And are they paid before exam
ined?
Mr.. Brownies.
Mr.. Brown do not know. Mr.. Dryer can
tell you.
Senator Morton-Had Mr.. Talbot the light to
make such q charge?
Mr.. Brown don't know but it was impoli-
tic, if nothing else.
Mr. Edgerton-It is hardly fair to ask him to
crticise the action of one of the trustees.
Mr.. Norton know Mr. Brown would not
do it, if for other reason than that he gives
it as being impolitic.
Attention was next called to the charge of
Mr.. Talbot for his centennial trip Mr.. Edger
ton asked if the meeting of the Medical con-
vention was not somewhere about the time OF
the centennial.
Mr.. Brown think the centennial was held
about that time. In fact the centennial ran
for several days along about that time.
Senator Doran-Did Mr.. Talbot make re-
port?
Mr. Brown did not see it.
DR.. Bartlett-He made speech at the con-
vention.
Mr. Edgerton could not see how Talbot could
make his expenses $780, Hotel fare at Phia-
delphia was at the very best hotels SIS per day
some few rooms 49, If he paid SO for four
days it wonld be but 1872, and railroad fare
800. making IN all 1882.
Senator Rice would like to read Talbot's
speech.
Mr.. Bartlett produced the thirty-third vol
ume of the American journal of Insanity
from which Senator Rice read the following,
amld roars OF laughter from the board, In which
DIR. Bartlett heartily joined:
MIR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN: You can
easily perceive am a very young man, al
though L present the appearance OF being
advanced in years. But still [ young
man with reference to institutions of this kind,
and you will bear that in mind when you hear
anything have to say relative to these insti-
tutions. | have only been connected with it
for two years, while my friend, Mr.. Kerr, was
with 1t from the very start, helping to raise
the money to build the institution, and was
present when the first spade was
thrust in the ground, and knows
all about it from beginning to end, and wish
they would send from Washington to that
place some of those extraordinary investigators
to see what has become of the money that Mr.
Kerr has had carrying on that institution in
Minnesota, although | believe not enough to
buy a respectable cigar has stuck to his hands
But he is too modest to tell you that. That,
gentlemen is about the only thing l know in
reference to the institution in Minnesota, and
if an investigating committee was sent out
there that is about all they would find OUT
Mr.. Brown thought the act for allowing ex-
penses if literally construed would admit of
reasonable wages being charged.
Senator Doran could find no law even for the
salaries of treasurer and secretary.
Mr. Edgerton-Did Talbot and Kerr 60 to the
centennial by the action of the boa I'd?
Mr.. Browu-I think SO.
Mr. Edgerton-It is not on record. There is
nothing referring to it in the secretary S
minutes.
Mr.. Brown thought the subject was
brought up at quarterly meeting.
The appointment of Rev. Kerr as building