Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-02-12
THE COUNTY HOSPITAL

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purchase it was predicted it would materially re-
duce the cost of the institution but the results
have not justified the prediction
| The cost for superintendent and help for
the last two years amounts to. ....... ,25S 90
For horse-shoeing. Observation-Disclosures. IOl 90
For feed. Observation-Disclosures. $50 46
repairing harness. r..-...-.-...----- - 40
For stock (cows and bull) ................ $40 90
Seeds. ............... northumberland. 70 03
Agricultural implements .............. 81 70
| Farm blacksmithing ..................... 1Ss 68
Total. ,9s1 81
To this should be added the board, lodging, wash
ing,
TOBACCO AND WHISKY OF THE sUPERIN-
TENDENT
And his man, which can safely be placed at S25 per
| month each. AS a credit to this expense we find
only the milk from eight to ten cows, half dozen
hogs so year, and table vegetables, but not in
Guiding potatoes. On this showing the county would
be better rid of the farm.
The number of patients for the last two years has
averaged one hundred and forty and half (1401)
per month The total expenses have been SO 693 %
| for the same time, making the cost per head per
| month twenty-five dollars and forty -four cents
| (s22 ~ This is certainly
HIGH RATE,
And one which demands the thoughtful considera-
ton Of the taxpayers of the county. 1t is in vain
to contend, of the officials do that the cost
| OF what are called improvements" and the repairs
to buildings, ETC., are not proper factors to be in
| troduced into the calculation They cannot be
| thrown out. Doubtless some Of them have cost
great deal more than they ought to have done, as
instance the following 1t became necessary to lay
| down iron-stone pipe TO dispose Of the sewage by
what is known as 8 sub irrigation, and was good
| thing to do. The expense of the work brought
to notice in the form of allegation that the
Supervisors had done wrong in allowing an unrea-
soDable bill to one James Touhey for said work.
We found that the execution of The work was re-
| ferred to Supervisor Wilson, and that he engaged
said Touhey as Superintendent We found, further,
that the chain gang under the supervision of Deputy
Sheriff Garrett and officer Shellars did the bulk OF
the work. Mr. Touhey furnishing picks and shovels.
| 1t also proved to us that Mr.. Touhey
| there more than one or two hours day at most.
As 10 the item of tools" believe the whole kit
could have been bought for 500 at the outside and
yet, for his services Superintendent and the use
of TOOLS
HE had THE EFFReNTERY
To put in bill for sxyseyen days, at $40 per day
afterwards amending it to 81 per day., and was
| fiaay allowed S. per day. Two dollars per day
would have been extremely liberal for the services
rendered. The whole work cost 81, 126 40, 500 60
of which paid for labor aud this in the face OF
the fact that the chain gang did the most Of the
work more disgraceiu % job was never perpe.
trated on any tax-paying community
RECKLESS ExTRAvAGANcE
Seems to characterize the whole management of the
institution.
1t would hardly seem necessary that the county
should pay SIS so for wines and liquors. and some
5000 for tobacco in the space OF two years, and we
think the present Board has done wisely in cutting
of these supplies.
Careful investigation will prove TO them the prac-
ticability OF reducing the expenses in many other
directions We believe the resident physician will
ably second their efforts, if properly instructed.
The cost for wood for two years was s., 233 20. A
monthly cost of fraction over s343, to provide for
warming, cooking, washing and house cleaning for
40 patients and some Is or 20 attendants This is
a much higher rate than the same expense in our
most wealthy families. The total expenses of the
hospital for the two years ending January J. 1888,
were SIS, 693 %.
In addition to the above, the total expenses for
THE DIsPEEsARY
For the two years were s3275 81, and for outside
relief granted by the Supervisors ,S93 IS. During
this time the county has paid So 1873 80 into the
hospital interest and sinking fund, making tins total
expense for caring for the sick and INDECENT Of
the county 500 001 "a. This is six per of
the total available revenue for county purposes.
These figures startlingly suggestive when we
consider that the population OF the county is only
! some $1,000, and is undoubtedly one of the most
prosperous in the State. We know the public bene-
factions are largely supplemented in the city by
philanthropc organization known az the Howarts,
as aso by the charity of private individuals
Note-These figures do not include the expense
Of hurying tho county dead, which for the last two
years amounted to 81, 612 the physicians fees
for examining insane, which for the last two years
amounted to 81, 1876.
Tie experts fouad the books Of
THE ASSESSOR
All right We think the expenses of the Assessors
office are by far too high His salary Is fixed by
law at $125 per month In addition he is allowed
Is per cent. commission on all poll taxes collected,
and on personal property tax six per cent.
commission. less that portion OF it belonging
to the school fund. The commits sion on poll taxes,
from March, 1880, to January, 1888, amounted to
81 79i 80; on personal properly tax, s., 2T1 49, In
addition to this he has been allowed during the last
two years account Of making maps, statistical re-
ports, military roads, and registering names, 81,
So3 65 Taking this item as basis for the first year
of his term, we get total OF S1S,26 SO, making
yearly salary of &C. ESQ 9i3 In addition to this the
Board has allowed to
DEPUTY ASSESSORS
During the last two years SIS 1873 TO- bringing the
expenses of the office up to SIS 1S1 70 per year In
the two years payments to Deputy Assessors, there
were paid $50 to members OF the late Assessors
family. In August, 1881, j. Fl. Miller was allowed
for Sunday and night work, 1927 so, and az Deputy
ASSESSOR Sl55 clerk Of the Beard Of EQUALIZATION,
$50 so; and for footing rolls, $685. in that mouth
total of s5ls From April to July Dir. Miller had
ceived $40 as Deputy Assessor. While we believe
in full compensation for all services rendered to
the public, can look on this in no other light
than wanton squandering of the public funds.
One of the Deputy Assessors, s. o. johnson, had
his salary allowed in May, 1882, twice-once in
warrant 1,24S, and again in warrant 1,n3-
amounting to 1910. Since this investga ion has
brought the matter to light he has refunded S135.
The experts report on the Auditors books show
that all the accounts were properly kept.
The experts report on the books OF
Ex-couNTY CLERK
7. H. Berkey show that from March, 1850, to Janu-
ary 1888 clerical errors and omissions amounting TO
S457 80 were made; which amount he has since
paid into the Treasury, which balances his account
in full.
We find from the reports that the County Clerk
and his assistants have been paid during the last
year. for work on the Great Register, the sum Of
81 9S6. This, with what the Assessor and his depu-
ties received, brings the expense of compiling the
Register to s2,270, which appears to De an extrava
giant sum.
The total expenses for the
COURTHOUSE AND JAIL
For the last two years we're $40 0S 10. This is ex
elusive of the salaries of officers. There be
question but that there is for retrepchment in
this department. Items that look small in detail
mount up in the aggregate to large sums. The ful
account tor the past two Years was S2,S42 rs. Ice
for the same PERIOD S344 05 or little over So so
per week the year round. At one cent per pound
this would give over $50 pounds per week the year
round.
Tobacco for two years, $40 81. The Latter is a
luxury. We think that should be entirely dis lensed
with.
In aud around the county buildings everything is
kept in an orderly and clearly condition. The same
msy be said Of the City Prison. as at present ar
raf ged, 1t Is great Improvement on the old one
The transactions OF the
/ CORONER AND PoBLIo ADMINISTRATOR
For all practical purposes are quite inaccessible
This IS 8 public wrong, which should have been
reneded long since, and we hope the legislative
measure, which it is pr sumed will be adopted this
session, providing for better system Of county
governments, Will determine the responsibility OF
these officers so that the people may at least know
the methods by which these branches of the public
business transacted. In the very nature OF
things it is very important that all piatters con-
nected with these offices should be recorded in
full and clear manner, and as fully open
ito inspection as any other public records
| Certainly in no county OF the State is there more
need OF some corrective that will bring the
expenses of county government down to a more
economical basis. In this second month of our fiscal
year We have
DEPLETED TREASURY,
And how the officials win get through without en-
croaching upon next years revenue we are unable
to see The whole taxable property OF TIE county ia
less than go 600 600. More than half tf it is stu.
ated in the corporate limits OF the city Of Sacra-
mento, which is saddled with debt of 81 500 COO
In addition there outstanding county bonds
iamounting TO $685. 500 these bonds are classed as
fellows
ICounty bonds CT 1858. 1888 300
Central Pacific Railroad bonds of 1s63.. II 500
Hospital bonds of Observation-Disclosures. 10000
fCourt- house and jail, 1870. 1000
ICounty bonds, 1S72.. Observation-Disclosures. 229o0o
Iota... 1855 500
FThe annual inteyess Of which amounts to $40 6e6