Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-05-17
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.
ANSWER TO GRAND JURY.

pital is, as stated by the late Grand Jury,
very important department Of the county
government, and the standardization Of itt
affairs should be in the best hands the county
can secure. I will add thatin treating of it;
administration thorough knowledge Of it;
affairs is absolutely necessary. No one should
criticise its management without being fully
conversant with the necessities aud difficult
ties existing, much less attempt TO cripple ia
usefulness by willfully nisrspresenting, dis.
tortiDg or concealiDg the facts regarding it
Yet this is exactly what was done by the last
Grand Jury. They seem to have exhibited 6
special ignorance concerning It's necessities,
and have grossly perverted the facts in regard
to its expenses. It is a difficult matter &c
conduct an institution of this kind so as tc
please all. Unless the patients and inmates
are decently clothed, and well fed and cared
for, complaints are frequent, and the public
are led to believe that they are mistreated.
On the other hand, if the expenses rua over
certain limit, cry OF extravaganza IL
raised. Between these two difficulties it is
necessary to find the golden mean, and while
providing fully for the necessities OF inmates
to yet keep the expenses within the bounds OF
moderation. This claim has been done more
fully by the last administration than ever be-
fore. and predict that no material reduction
in the running expenses Of the hospital can be
made, without either gripping the efficiency
of the service, or inducing a return of those
old complaints from which we have for some
years enjoyed 3 comparative rest,
Upon reading the Grand Jury report on
the Hospital one would suppose that it was
conducted on a scale of great magni6csnce,
without regard to expense, and this impress
sion is carefully kept up by the manner in
which the facts are presented. It is stated
that the total expenses were S75, 693 %, max
ing q cost per head Of SO A per month.
This is not fair statement, for large por-
ton of this amount was expended in con-
struction and purchase of improvements,
which form 8 part of the permanent equip
ment Of the concern. Among these 1 may
mention new woodshed, laundry and out.
buildings, new gasometer, new system OF
heating, new well and pump, new sewerage
system, and many other like items, all Of
which should be deducted from the total in
estimating the running expenses The Grand
Jury think not, but IN CAGE the amount ex-
pended in erecting the new hospital building
had been paid within the last two years, ac-
cording to their system of reasoning, that,
too, would be reckoned in TO find the cost per
capita.
The cost Of subsistence, including every.
thing purchased in the way of meat. bread,
groceries, soap, tobacco, etc.. averaged not
quite 81 per head per month, and with
clothing, blankets, liquors, etc., added, it
amounts to about IS per head per month.
These expenses are the only ones in which it
is possible to make any material reduction,
all the others las salaries, Insurance. wood
and repairs) being as low as it is practicable
TO make them without interfering with the
Workings Of the institution. and l think no
one will consider that amount an exorbitant
rate, considering the fact that the expense of
employees is included, and that complaints are
now rarely made.
As to the quantity of eggs purchased,
I will say the average number of eggs
purchased is not anything like the amount
stated but in this case, as in all others, the
highest amount was taken in order to make
the appearance as bad as possible. There
are about eighteen employees at the hospital
who cannot be treated as paupers. These
persons must be decsntly fed and housed, or
we cannot expect them to remain, where
from the very nature of the case, the asso-
Citations are not pleasant. At any hotel in
Sacramento 8 bozrder can have eggs every
morning, If he SO chooses; snd at the hospital,
where the bill of fare is necessarily limited,
they are almost the only relief from beef and
mutton, and it was not thought to be ruinous-
ly extravagsnt to give them eggs for break
fast three times a week. This, with those
used in cooking, consumed about fifteen to
twenty dozen per week. There are always
from fifteen to twenty-five consumptives
and about the Same number of patients
seriously i'll from other disease5-sltogethsr
an average Of forty to fifty patients-who
require a more inviting diet than those
who are in ordinary health. These
have always been furnished with eggs to any
reasonable extent, as desired. and many have
lived for weeks at time on little else than
eggs and milk. 1t will readily be admitted
that twenty or twenty-five dozen week is
not an exorbitant amount for forty to fifty
such patients. As to the coat of butter COM
planned Of, the $50 per month would be a
cost Of Just about cent day each for that
article. Surely this is not riotous extrava-
gance
Say the Grand Jury: 1T would seem
hardly necessary that the county should pay
SITS 80 for wines and liquors, in the space
of two years." Indeed Let us see. This
amount is an average of 81 06 per day. There
are, SIS before stated, about twenty consump-
tive constantly in the hospital. who require q
slight stimulus to sustain their strength SIS
long az possible. These have been given from
two to four ounces of liquor daily, say three
ounces on an average. This accounts for
sixty ounces, or about half gallon daily,
and as the price paid was 81 30 per gallon,
it will be seen that it more than covers the
entire expense OF that article. There does
not seem to have been much waste in this di-
rection.
now come 70 one of the most scan5alous
and contemplate statements in this whole
matter. After giving the expenses of the
farm in detail, the Grand Jury say ITO
this should be added the board, lodging, wash
ing, tobacco and whisky of the Superintend-
ent snd his man, which csn safely be placed
at S25 per month EACH" / have already
shown that the pro rata for board was about
81 per month. The lodging and washing of
two men is practically no expense, for the
same cost would accrue were they rot there.
The tobacco and whisky, then, is made TO
cover the remaining SIS per month each,
which these men cost the county. The only
answer necessary is that the statement is q
reckless untruth, and not based on q shadow
of fact. We're it true, the fact would appear
that these two men alone used two-thirds OF
the whole amount of tobacco and whisky pur-
chased for the hospital. This carries its refu.
tation on its face.
The reference to the laying of thu new sys
tenn of sewerage, which was 6ercely de-
nounced as 8 "disgraceful Job" has beer
sufficiently replied TO by the report af the il
vestigatiug COMMITTEES Of the Board Of Super
visors, who found that the work was done al
q reasonable expense. They certainly can
not be charged with desire to cover up the
sins of the old Boards, and their report CT
this matter is fiat contradiction to the
Grand Jury.
The cost of wood for the hospital is not a.
large as stated in the report, but it is great
expense, and one which no practicable meaus
of reducing has yet been found. Several sys
TENS of heating have been tested, but mont
have afforded any material relief from thi;
expense.
Many of the inmates OF the hospital are
old residents Of this State-men who came
here in early days and have labored
hard and long, and have contributed
ment and prosperity. These now keenly fee
the ingratitude shown in this report, which
practically asks that they be treated 81
worthy of nothing more than q bare. meager
subsistence. Shall we adopt this misery
parsimony toward our infirm and hged poor.
Many others Of the inmates are seriously i'll,
and those persons who have, unfortunately,
hsd to sustain illness in their own families
can bear evidence to the fact that the cost Of
msintalblg and caring for the sick is ca.
tireIy dlspi pportionate to that of those who
are in good health. P. B. BEcKIEI.
Cry TAXES The last week for paying
city taxes. Hurry up and save cests.
SEE Red House new advertisement to-day.