River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-12-30

recognized the purchasing agest Of the institu-
tian. The accounts arr paid about as II happens.
We found instances where accounts had run Tor
months and where repeated and sharp dunning
letters had been written ami some Tunes he hos
pital had been drawn apon through the banks for
bills long due. This is very unsatisfactory IN
business point Of view that one person should do
all the purchasing tpt the hospital, and the Sys-
TEN of acquisitions him be established in cases
where articles are needed in the YarIcus depart
meuts of which he has not the proper personal
knowledge A plan d payments should b adopt
ed and all persons detlng with the institution be
notified Of that plan: and the treasurer pay al
bills on that plan andon no other Above all.
public institution should not he drawn upon
through the banks.
PURCHASING At RETAIL.
We find that il has been the habit 10 purchase
largely at retail wheeby large percentage has
been lost to the state that could have been saved
lad there been proper purchasing agent; and
he been required To e, into the Wholesale market
10 make his purchases
The facts with reference TO this matter, are
given in detail III Nj. Patton's report hereto APP
pended to which we would here refer Ia the
purchase Of large Supplies there has been lack
OF prudent and proPr proeautl0n-tor instance,
the yearly supply Of eual which this year amounts
to $50 900 has some Zines been furnished by the
lowest bidder and sonc times it has been bought
without advertising for proposals al ali. 1t
would seem a. il all tie articles needed in quant-
ties such as sugar, fur coal, wood and clothing,
could be most advana geousy purchased by adj
vertsing for proposals and letting the contract to
the lowest bidder undo proper restrictions.
ACCOUNTS AID ACCOUNT BOOKS.
The committee found that up to October, 1879,
there had virtually ben no system Of bookkeep-
ing at the hospital, AID such accounts as had
been kept We're entiray unreliable; for instance,
within the time covered by examination, we
found twenty-five mistakes in the accounts OF the
hospital with the several counties which involved
an amount exceeding sixteen hundred dollars,
the particulars Of wReh is given in Mr.. Pattons
report. The difficulty seems 10 have been that
prior to October 1879 the hospital steward had
kept the books aud he was incompetent for the
work. In October 1879 Il compel ent hookkeeper
was employed, and the system Of bookkeeping Is
now nearly perfect, except there should he a re-
ceiying and ShippingbOok and book kept show
ing monthly and yearly the summarized state
ments of the cost of each class OF articles pur-
chased, so that any person committee could, in
a moments time, ascertain just how much was
spent in any month or any year, for any item,
such as sugar, tea or e'lfee.
MONEY FROM rdESps or 1871 ArEs.
We find that tn. friends Of patients are expect
ed to send money in small tums to the superin-
tendent or to tn stewa 81 to pay for extras such
as excursions az the lax Christmas presents etc.
In fact every ye post cards are sent out to the
friends Of pateI IS soliciting them TO forward such
sums, but IN RECEIVING and amounting for this
money there had been the same lack of system.
1t is absolutely impossible TO tell whether it has
been honestly used or not. From the examine
tion OF letters accompanying renittances we
found that they often came from the poor, who
wished to do something in the remembrance of
insane friends, and there ought to he no question
about the faithful appropriation of such money.
Then, too, friends who are able ctfen send large
sums of money to pay III whole or IN part for the
maintenance and clothing Of inmates Of the hos
pitai, doabtess this money has all been faithfully
appncd, but there is way t. establish that fact.
4 system should be adopted whereby such money
should come to the hands Of some one officer, who
is under bonds to faithfully account therefor and
who should be required to keep complete record
of the same. We also think there should b. some
legislative enactment concerning money sent for
the support of patients requiring that il be seut
through the county clerk, or in some such way to
prevent the money from being improperly used in
the hospital and the full support OF the patient
for tile same time charged 10 the county from
which the patient comes.
EXTRAy AGASCE.
The committee have found too much evidence
of extravagant OUTLAWS. If a thing was nice
and wculd be convenient or source Of enjoy
ment in the hospital or to Is resident officers the
tendency has been to buy it irrespective of its
cost Our meaning will he best understood by a
few illustrations. We find there has been invested
for the hospital during the period covered by our
examination, the following among many similar