The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-17
astounding Revelations Made by the Investi-
gation of the Committee Appointed by the
Indiana Civil-Seryice Association.
John E. Sullivan Paid Over $4,000 in
Three Years for Inferior Butter.
Contracts Awarded to Favorites Regardless Of
Bids-ThOusands of Dollars Wasted by
Reckless Democratic Trustees.

several weeks ago Dy the 1ndlaua CiVA-SorNlco
Reform Association, to make an investigation
into the condition of the State benevolent insti-
buttons. has made report which is equally as
founding and shocking in it's disclosures Of the
corruption and abuses existing in the Insane
Hospital, the affairs of which they have exam
lined into as thoroughly as their opportunities
and powers would enable them to. Although
their report is full of startling revelations the
committee state that they have been hindered in
their efforts to bring to light everything that
should be known regarding the corrupt manage
enent of the institution. by the refusal of persons
connected with the hospital to disclose facts
known to them. and by information given them
Confdentally which they are not at liberty to in
Bert in their report. They think that the condi-
sion of the hospital is such to require rigid,
searching investigation by somebody that pos
sesses the power to compel the production of evil
dence The committees report has been ap'
proved and ordered printed for general circula-
tion.
THE sPoILs SYSTEM ~
''The act under which the Insane Hospital is
operated" the report says. sis political in its
character, and the management of it has been
conducted upon the political or spoils system.
No examination is held to ascertain the fitness of
persons appointed to service therein. Demo
Gratis only receive appointments. Places are
given for political reasons. Legislative influence
is courted by the appointment of many relatives
and friends of Democratic members of the Gen
eral Assembly, especially in the Senate. Sena-
tors Green Smith, Faulkner, Howard, Mcclure,
Hilligass, Bell, Duncan, Bailey, Fowler, and
many others, have had one or more relatives and
Friends thus chosen. Senator Faulkner alone
secured the appointment of a daughter, nephew,
three neices and number of attendants. Let
ters are written by direction of the board to
various members of the Legislature, asking
them to send some one to the asylum for APP
pointment Boone county. the residence of DR..
Harrison. sends nineteen employees to the asy-
lum, while about one-half the counties are not
represented at all The traffic in place has been
reduced to system, and is carried on to
such an extent as to become a public
scandal Had the trustees at the
time of their appointment, entered
into corrupt bargain with the members of the
Legislature for their positions, the reciproc alton
of favors could not have been more cordial and
enduring than 1t is. While some of the appoint
ees are worthy and competent, many of them
have been wholly unfit for the positions for
which they were selected, and nun Der of them
have been found 80 grossly incompetent that
the have been obliged to leave. Even for the
technical and responsible position of physician,
men thus chosen without special qualifica
tions or previous experience to fit them for the
place. Many of these employees are active politi
cal workers. Subscriptions are circulated among
them and funds raised for campaign and other
political purposes. Money has been thus raised
Co prosecute the Democratic campaign in Boone
county, where DR.. Harrison. president of the
board. resides. The politics Of Wayne township
Marion county, is largely controlled by the en-
ployes of the hospital in the matter of selecting
delegates to Democratic conventions. num-
Der OF employees of the institution were recently
delegates at such convention. An active agi-
tation was maintained among the employees of
the institution in respect to the recent Bynum
and Bailey controversy. On the day Of the first
Democratic congressional convention the hospi-
tai was almost deserted by the employees and at
tendantS. One or more of them have been can
didates for Democratic nomination for political
Office, and have been vigorously canvassing in
their own behalf while in the service of the hos
pital for example: NJ F. Kelly, night
attendant and candidate for Representa-
tive. Additional places have been made
for political workers NJ. L. STAINS
bury, formerly book and store keeper. had
politicians fosted upon him as assistants until
1T took three men to do the work previously per-
formed by single assistant. AS an instance of
the political qualifications necessary for appoint
ment it may be stated that when one Mr.. Gibson
applied for regular employment at the asylum
Mr.. Gapen, one of the trustees, found fault with
him, and said that he did not vote the straight
Democratic ticket Mr.. Gibson then got parties
to certify that he was Democrat. Most of those
who furnish the bulk of supplies to the asylum
appear to be Democrats. and a number of them
are prominent politicians in that party. For ex-
ample Hon. Franklin Landers and j. J. Cooper,
Treasurer of State, sell hogs to the asylum, and
John E. Sullivan, candidate for clerk of Marion
county, is the most successful bidder.
'"The results such as might be expected
from such system-Q), careless and unbusiness-
like methods pervading the entire organization
from the board of trustees down, with ~ much
tavoritism, corruption and inefficiency, and t3)
constantly recurring cases OF neglect and cruelty
toward the unfortunate inmates Of the hospital
Let us particularize; An inspection of the min
ntes of the board. made in July last, disclosed
the fact that p. n. Gapen, one of the trustees,
had been present at only one meeting since Oc-
tober 1888. He is said to be managing saw
mill In Arkansas An allowance of $3.50, for sal
airy, made to him at the meeting of July g. 1886.
would not indicate that his compensation as
trustee had been reduced in consequence of his
absence" @~-
The committee state that the minutes disclose
that great number of changes among the en-
plcyes of the hospital are being continually
ordered by the board of trustees During the
three years of the present administration more
than four-ffths of the employees have been
changed. On Dec 1, 1885, Superintendent
Fletcher, in a report to the trustees, said: 81
was not able to make all the changes provided
oy you at the October meeting To have done
30 would nave been injurious to the hospital /
have, therefore reduced the help gradually un-
cal the desired change should be ACCOMPLISHED
These discharges are for the purpose of making
:Oom for other applicants.
EVIDENCE OF CORRUPTION IN CONTRACTS.
The contract system is open to much criti-
clsm. The book and store keeper makes out
each month an estimate of the different articles
which will be needed for the asylum All the
items of any particular class of goods, such as
groceries. provisions. dry goods, ETC., are en-
braced In one requistion, and these acquisitions
are hung up in the rooms of the Supreme Court
The bids are opened the last Friday of each
month. separate estimate is made upon each
article, and the total is footed up. The contract
u then awarded TO the bidder. whose total is the
!fweSt upon all the goods of his particular class
mr. Bnrrell, one of the trustees told the COM