The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-29
THE HOSPITAL / R
Superintendent Fletcher's Refutation Of the
Charges Brought by an Ex-Employe.

A careful examination by competent experts,
under more favorable circumstances than at
tended the first inspection, develops the fact that
the machinery and walls at the Insane Hospital
were not so badly damaged in Tuesday morn
ing's fire as was originally feared. and they ven-
ture the opinion that from $25, 600 to $35, 900
will repair the damage. The boilers were put in
working order yesterday morning and heat was
turned on the building during the forenoon.
The appropriation of SO, 600 for immediate use
will be sufficient to supply the pressing needs
and the work of repairing will be pushed with
all possible haste.
Michael H. Cain, an ex- employe of the insti-
tuition, in an interview with a reporter of the
News. makes severe reflections upon the conduct
of DR.. Fletcher, and charges him with neglect
and ineficiency in many particulars. For in
stance, he calls attention to the admitted fact
that DR.. Fletcher knew the FIRE towers to con-
tain but six inches Of water, and ~criticises the
superintendent for not having them reflled
without delay. DR.. Fletcher was interviewed
by a Journal reporter yesterday, with ref
erence to Gains structures, and in an
swer to the reporters inquiries, he said:
Il have no desire to engage in any newspaper
controversy over this matter, and have no other
observations may be prompted by a spirit of
vindictiveness. and are certainly susceptible of
perfectly reasonable explanation. In the first
place, Cain was employed here as chief engineer,
and had several men under him as assistants,
Giremef, etc. They were ainioc"rea to absent
themselves at their pleasure without reporting
to the time-keeper or superintendent and, think
ing they should be amenable to the same rules
and discipline as all other employees, |
called the attention of the board to this
state of affairs, and an order was
passed on the 10Th OF April, requiring them to
get an approved pass of the time-keeper before
leaving. Cain received the order grumbling!y,
and soon came to me with a written protest,
order was to be enforced they would resign then
and there. 1t was a cowardly action, for had
they left, to use Gains own language, every
wheel would have stopped, the fires gone out and
the heat cut of just as effectually as it was
by fire the other night. I asked for time to con-
slider, and they had no sooner left the room than
/ sent for other engineers and iremen,
and notified the board Of their action.
The day following they were notified
that their designations were accepted. 1t is true
that / was informed that the towers were nearly
empty, but the ~cisterns were all full. The only
means of reflling the tower tanks was afforded
by the pumps furnishing our domestic supply,
and as l have before stated, they furnish barely
enough water for our pressing needs, and we
could not at the time spare the water to refill
them. The pumps were intended to supply water
for the building before the new portion of the fe-
male department was completed. Since lastJuly
We have completed eight new wards, increasing
the demands for the water just one-third. DIR.
Rogers, my predecessor, in his report stated that
while the puraps were at that time sufficient,
they would not be when the new wards were to
be supplied. / have also called attention to this
fact, | should be greatly pleased if the Legisla-
tnr6 wOull fhorOuOhlV inVaStIpatQ pVnrVthlnp
connected with the hospital; if anything is neg
lectel or improperly administered the public is
entitled to know it. The doors are open to any
one desiring to investigate our affairs here"