The Indianapolis journal., 1885-06-20
A BOARDS EXTRAVAGANCE.
Methods Used by the Board in Letting
the Insane Hospital Contracts.
The Unnecessary Delay Permitted in Provid-
ing Water Supply and Repairs-A Heavy
Invoice of Cholera-Stricken Hogs.

The present board of trustees of the Indiana
Hospital for the Insane of which DR.. Harrison
is the head, carries things with a higher hand
than has been known in that institution under
any previous board. 1t is we'll known that the
present board is a very extravagant one, prime
factor in this extravaganza being their refusal to
consider bids for supplies unless such bids are
offered by personal friends and partisans. Per-
sons interested in contracts as bidders have been
known to remain in the room with the board
while bids were being examined, while their
competitors were on the outside of locked doors,
while the bidders on the inside assisted the
boasd in fixing the letting of the contracts. DIR.
Tarlton, of Martinsvile, was the last member of
the old board to 60. He protested against the
glaring misconduct of the Harrison board, and
was kicked out
The rumors that are going about concerning
this board are exceedingly ugly, and sufficient to
cause the taxpayer and the citizen who has the
welfare of this State charity at heart to desire
that the light Of day may be made to shine in
upon this board so that the extent of their mis-
deeds may be seen and known.
1t is singular fact that the trustees with an
abundance of money voted by the last Legisla-
ture, have not only notrepaired the burned build
ings, but the chapel and boilerhouse are actually
going to ruin for lack of repair. With
$4,000 on hand given for FIRE pro-
lection, not one step has been taken to
repair the water-supply deficiency. The trus-
tees do not seem to have the ability to decide
themselves, nor will they allow any one to de-
eide for them, though there are scores Of men
who will guarantee to give all the water that
can be properly used for less than the appropr1-
alton for that purpose. Recently, in the absence
of the superintendent, the board discharged
some of the best carpenters, on the ground OF
economy. The economy was manifest In re-
moving good men who were receiving $45 per
month, and keeping in men from Dr. Har-
risons town of Lebanon, and some from
jackson county Trustee Burrells baiiwickl.
each of whom cost the State So day. William
Petrie was awarded the contract for stone-work
on the new boilerhouse one morning. In less
than an hour after another man claimed it, and
the trustees ordered Petrie to return the con-
tract. No member of the board is allowed to
take contracts. Some time ago potato contract
was let to man at Lebanon, DIR. Harrison's S
disclosed to the public. These Lebanon potatoes
were not very good, but thrifty price was paid
for them.
Said an ex-employe to the reporter: when
Mr.. Fishback was at the head of the board every
thing was conducted with the strictest honesty.
When he discovered that John Sullivan, the
commission man, of this city, had sold the insti-
cution butterine at 38 cents a pound, instead of
fancy creamery butter, there was thorough in
vestigation. 1t was proved to be butterne. and
Mr.. Fishback cut the bill down to % or % cents
pound, which was fair price for this COM
modify, and saved the State about 5000. My
impression is that the present board has allowed
Sullivan this difference of $780,
- L. 4.
know that contracts have been let to John Sui
livan when there were lower bids in than his.
Last month my bid on country butter was 10
cents. The contract was let to Sullivan at IA
cents We were told by the steward that while
there were no bids asked for creamery, they ex
pected to use Sullivan's creamery butter at 20
cents. This is the way they juggle with the
bidder. The requlsition said ngthing about
creamery butter. About 450O pounds Of fresh
country butter is the amount used per month at
the asylum It is probable, as they are wary
old birds they will say that Sullivan's butter is
preferred AS matter of fact there is not
dealer in Indianapolis who would not have been
glad to furnish that contract at 10
No matter how I bid, there is no
chance for me under the present regime 1 got
the contract last August or September, one
month, but they have seen to it that have not
had it again. ! may bid to save the institution
5000 and then not get it. l am furnishing the
Blind Asylum this month at 10 cents the same
price / offered to the Insane Hospital The
steward Of the Blind Asylum has told me the
butter is superior to any he has had for SIX
months There was time when Sullivan took
the contract at from 3 to cents a pound
above my bid, and would come to me to get
better butter to fill out his contract because his
butter was not satisfactory AT that time
the board and the steward were
The steward would not take the inferior but
ter simply to please the board. There is where
Captain Stansberry and the board split He
told me himself that he would not feed bad but
ter to the poor unfortunates in that institution.
and for that reason his head came off. The way
to correct this thing is for the newspapers to
force the board to make their doings public. The
press should be allowed to copy the bids, and
there should be fair bidding and no favors
shown. have no doubt that under better man
agement there might be saved to the State at
least $500 q month iE produce alone"
l.. +. Adams, commission merchant, said:
s'We are selling current receipts of butter at
eight and ten cents pound. There has not
been time this month that we would not have
been glad to unload our country butter at eight
cents. think the produce trade of the Hospital
for the Insane is WORTH in clean profit, over
So, 900 year."
This same board of trustees has purchased
several hundred head of hogs in the past year
not by advertising for competition, as required
usl IN members Of the board A few
days ago 200 head of hogs were bought of Frank
lin Landers Of these fifty were at the time
pronounced by an expert to be sick, and the
cholera striken porkers are now dying.
The board islands by it's friends" in fine form.
One member of the board has come to the board
meetings with the bid of a friend in his pocket
But this is. perhaps too trivial matter to take
note of, as the entire business of asking for bids
is delusion and snare.
Impatient at a Judges Delay.