The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-08-12
Physician. DIR. H. s. KimEelf,
Counsel, +. W. ftieseckef,
Treasurer, John ii. Weimef,
rs 90
50 90
80 90
GENERAL r.oosENEss.

There seems to have been a very
loose system, or rather, no system
| at all, in the payment of moneys.
The Steward and the Treasurer, il
appears, paid out moneys at will,
and in many instances before the
bills were approved or orders grant
ed. Frequently the bills accompany
ing orders were made out by the
Clerk at the same time tie orders
were issued, and these were seldom
itemized. The object in making out
these bills seems to have been more
to have a corresponding amount of
even date and number placed upon
a printed bill-head, than to set forth
the items composing them. Most
Of those so-called vouchers are,
therefore. no vouchers at all, and
the items composing the amounts Of
many of the orders are, after all, a
mere matter of conjecture.
ENDORSEMENT OF ORDERS.
Many of the orders are also either
improperly endorsed, or not endors-
ed at all. Of the orders for 1888,
there are over one hundred endorsed
by others than those to whom they
were payable, and nearly one hun
dred without any endorsement
whatever. Still others are endorsed
paid ON bill" paid to boy" paid
on street" paid down town, paid
self" paid in front of Glade House"
etc., etc. The same is true of other
years in this respect. and it serves to
show the careless and unbusinesslike
manner in which this important
part of the business has been con-
ducted.
THE PURCHASE OF SUPPLIES.
In the mater of the purchase and
furnishing of supplies for the Poor
House, the system as practiced for
the last several years is not what it
ought to be. The Directors have
given the purchase Of materials and
supplies entirely into the hands of
the Steward, and be makes his pur-
chases, when, where, how and what
he pleases, without restraint. The
Steward and his wife have made
these purchases with as much free
dom as they could have exercised in
buying for themselves. and apparent
", with less concern as TO necessity
and cost. This unrestricted privi-
lege exercised from year to year, is
almost certain to be abused, and
il cannot but foster a system of ex-
travagance. Without intention of
wrongdoing, as is believed, articles
have been purchased which, presum-
ably, were not for the paupers.
whilst others were wholly uDsuited
to their wants and condition. In
articles classed as merchandise, not
only the prices and quality, but the
quantity consumed, excite surprise
For the year of 1888, the gross
amount of calico purchased was
over / SEQ yards; Of muslin, nearly
1.200 yards of gingham, 500 yards
of shirting. $50 yards; of jeans. &c,
nearly 800 yards. aggregating, of cot
ton goois the enormous amount of
about 1900 Yards. Add to this the
amount of ready-made clothing pur-
chased, which was considerable, and
the 160 pounds of wool reported for
that year and now claimed to have
been manufactured chiefly into
clothing for the paupers, and it
seems almost incredible that this
amount could have been consumed.
In the purchase of provisions, the
quantity seems to be equally large
OF beef and pork there was purchas-
ed 12,200 pounds, which. added to
amount produced on farm. aggre-
gates over 10000 pounds ofmeat for
the year, equal to fifty beeves of 400
pounds weight each, not counting
the 332 pounds of veal reported rails.
ed on farm. Other purchases for the
year were, coffee, 1850 pounds su-
gar, nearly 1900 pounds apple but
ter. 500 gallons; syrup, 800 gallons;
wheat, over 800 bushels, making
with that grown on farm, nearly
l 200 bushels potatoes, 200 bush
els, added to amount raised on farm,
600 bushels, equal 800 bushels; oats,
over GOO bushels ; corn, 80 bushels,
which added to oats and corn
produced ON farm, make over 2.2o0
bushels of oats, and nearly 500 bush
els of corn. OF tobacco, there was
purchased nearly 45O pounds.
The purchases for the year of 1884
fall considerably below this, espec-
tally in the line Of provisions, which
is somewhat remarkable in view of
the fact ,ha. in this year 8, 800 meals
are reported TO have been furnished
to 1890 tramps, an average of over
400 men for every month in the
year. 1t must not be forgotten how
eyer, that new building was erect
ed in 1888, which may partly ac-
count for the seemingly excessive
purchases of that year; but as
against this is The claim that much
of the work on this building was
done by the inmates. But even
though the purchases for 1882 and |
1884 are less than for 1888. still they
seem to have been excessive, and in
none of these years, in the opinion
,f this commission, has there been
Dracticed in this respect. that wise
rugal and economical policy de- |
handed by the public interests.
NUMBER OF INMATES.
From an examination OF the Reg
ster of Paupers for the years of 1883, |
ind 1884, it appears that the num- |
Der of inmates at the poor house
vas considerably less than the num-
,er. reported for those years. Ac-
;ording to the Register it was as fol-
ows:
v hole numter on Register....... III 4
marked died Il
.. a discharEed..--.- 2.
bound out...-.-.
etcPeG ..........
:. - .. reform school,.
:" Harrisburg.... 90 1
Vhcle number remaining at close ofyear ~