The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-17

patients. To this understood the president to
agree. and he told Mr.. Sullivan that we had so
determined. then took bids and closed with
Howard Duffy, Columbus, Ind, at nearly one
half less than the lowest bid offered Thus far
the eggs and poultry have been better than any
ever used in the hospital since we have been
here, and the butter was not mixed and gave
about the same satisfaction the best cream
cry, so called, that we paid % cents for. Now
comes John Sullivan, and says that he has got
the contract for the produce, and is ordered to
deliver the same. /. having no such directions
from the board of trustees, have refused to
recognize Mr.. Sullivan's demands / now wish
to know the will of the board, and will gladly
acknowledge mr. error and correct the same.
1 respectfully suggest that il economy
and quality ere objects worth considering in this
institution. the board authorize the steward
or the superintendent, or go themselves twice
week and purchase by selection and bids all
vegetables, fruit. butter and eggs. 1t is in this
way only that we can insure good and fresh ma
terials at the most reasonable rates
SIN point of fact, Sullivan got the contract
and the pay for the butter at his own price. An
examination OF the books reveals that in the
month of May. 1885. in which Mr.. Sullivan had
the contract for furnishing butter to the hos
pital, at twenty-six cents q pound, butter had
been purchased, in small quantities, of Robin
son, at twenty-five cents, and also in large guam
titles from Howard Duffy, of Columbus, at six
teen cents. Your committee inquired of Mr..
Hall, the book and store-keeper, as to the butter
furnished, and were informed that there had
been some trouble in the butter contract, and
that Mr.. Hall had had the butter examined by
Mr. Hurry, the chemist; that some of it was
found to be pure and some OF it found to
contain lard and other Ingredients; that these in
gradients appeared in the butter furnished by
Mr.. Sullivan, as we'll as in that furnished by
other parties. Your committee visited the asy-
lum in July, when the butter was fur
nished by one Krouse of Columbia City.
and inquired of Mr.. Roth, assistant store-keeper,
and Mr.. Burrell. one of the trustees, whether
any of the butterine had been left over from the
June supplies, for the purpose OF testing and
examining it themselves, but were told by Mr..
Roth that none OK it was left. 1t seems, how
ever that on that very morning butter, infested
with maggots, had been concealed in the sewer
beneath the store-room to avoid the inspection
Of your committee The butter Tor butterine)
had been furnished in June, by John E Sulli-
van, and had been accepted. The reports of sub
sistence, made to the superintendent and quoted
hereafter, also show that the butter served in
June was frequently of very poor quality. but
your committee were unable to find any deduc
tions made in tie claims of Mr. Sullivan, for
butter, on account of furnishing an inferior ar
ticle. Mr. Gibson, who was an assistant book
keeper prior to April. 1884, frequently saw the
butter furnished by Sullivan, and states that it
was oeomargarine. The instance of Mr.. Sulli-
van is only one among many similar cases"
DISCLOSURES REGARDING OFFICIALS.
supplies every month. and these pass through
the hands of j. S. Hall, the book and store
keeper. His qualifications for the important po-
sition which he holds. that gives him practical
control of the supply department, are thus stated
in protest filed by DR.. Tarleton with the board
of trustees, and appearing upon the minutes: 'It
became my duty some months ago to protest
against the appointment of j. S. Hall as book
and store-keeper of this institution. Believing
that my experience in hospital matters gave me
a fair knowledge of what the necessary oualifca
tons should be to fit person for so important a
position as book and store-keeper; and believing
that the said Mr.. Hall was entirely unqualified
for said place, Iopposed his appointment IN every
honorable way l knew how, but the majority
ruled, and he was appointed. 1t be-
comes my duty to enter my protest at this time
against the further retention of said j. S. Hall
as book keeper, and ask that he be requested to
resign within ten days, for the following reasons:
III AS book-keeper he does not keep the books.
but others keep them for him. Some of the
books and records are imperfect and mutilated;
besides, we have been paying others to do the
work he should have done e. AS store keeper
he does not receive and inspect the goods pur-
chased in but very few intances during the month,
and can not properly judge of them when he
does receive them, which fact of not being pres
ent, and inability to compare the goods with the
samples when present, renders it necessary 10
employ and pay others to do the work he should
have done, all of which is against economy and
good manaeement e. That eis supercilious.
and arrogates to himself authority that does not
belong to him, which leads to mismanagement
and bad government. such as Measurements in
regard to the sanitary condition of the hospital;
assuming the power to employ and discharge
and fix wages, and to purchase goods without
authority. He has spoken in a manner unbe-
coming an officer, of his superiors other than the
superintendent, to an extent absolutely insub-
ordinate. IA. That his carelessness OF dis
posing OF the castaway property does not in
crease the earnings account as it should. Now.
gentleman if you think you can afford. and are
determined TO submit to, the retention OF MIR.
Hall. after SO long trial and positive proof of
his inability, l must again protest. Incompe-
tency leads to extravaganza and useless ex-
penditure of the funds intrusted to us Y more
than generous public. / appeal to you, gentle
men, In the name of a Democratic board of
trustees, to join with me in the matter which if
not corrected atonce must lead to disaster to the
management" Harrison and Gapen objected to
the protest being put into effect. Dr. Tarleton
soon afterward ceased to be member of the
board Of trustees. while Hall, who is an active
political worker and is said to have rendered inn
portant services in the passage Of the Brown BILL
still holds his place
and supplies, the committee directs attention Ito
an unexplained irregularity." In 1883, a contract
was closed with Meilen & Co., of New York, for
upholsterer's hair, to cost 81, 800 To- There was
to be discount or drawback OF q per cent. for
cash in thirty days. The payment was made
within thirty days. but the discount was not &C.
counted for: More than one year afterwards
Samuel A. Brokaw. superintendent Fletcher's
secretary. wrote to Mellen e. Co. for an explana.
ton. The following letter was received in reply:
NEW YORK Mar. 2, 1885.
Samuel A. Brokaw. Secretary, Indiana Hospital for
the Insane, indianapolis, Ind:
Dear Sir-ln reply to your letter of the Goth ult,
we state that on the 10th Of January S84 we sent
you check payable to the order of the Indiana Hos
pital for the Insane for $64.77 for discount on
bill that you had settled for at about that time and
had overlooked the matter of discount The check
was paid and indorsed by "P. NJ. Gapen, Treas" We
remain very truly, MEILEN & Co.
The committee state that they examined the
books CT the Treasurer Of State and the reports
of the asylum, but failed to find that Mr. Gapen
had accounted for this money In response to
inquiries addressed to him in Fort Smith. Ark,