The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-08

say. What I wished was that they should be
dealt with as the equals OF any other bidder. of
Hall. While we were talking, he made frequent
trips TO the telephone. and, as 1t subsequently
leaked out, he appraised Mr.. Sullivan of my pres
ence. am now satisfied that, instead of aiding
me in having q talk with DR.. Harrison, he did all
he could to prevent our meeting: Our visit to
the Office was unsatisfactory as 10 the bidding,
etc. After seeing you in the afternoon, and
learning the needs and wants OF the
asylum, present ses c and fufud Gsun the du nnnS
my mind. This impression was solidly
confirmed when / met sullivan in the depot
TO MI. Hall that / wanted TO see the Doctor, and
that our interview must be private. Just why
/. of course. do not know. r told DR.. Harrison
what my errand was frankly and openly, and
that in subsequent bidding the deal should he
open. He said he would aid In that. said to
him I had the utmost confidence in his integrity
and zeal to do the best for the State, and that L
did not believe he would Knowingly allow MS
blance OF wrong. and didnot. 1 ALI forced to say,
however. from what little I could learn, that
which yield them extravagant profits. On the
hustings and in the Senate have
been a firm friend of the trustees
how zealously you have labOred. to bring the in
~stitution TO its present high standard. / know
how honest you are and the pride you take in
maintaining your reputation. L know, too, how
the board OF trustees have seconded your efforts
in humanizing and making the asylum the very
nrSu INSTITUTION OF us KIM III III country. III
the future, as in the past propose to stand by
you, but let me say frankly that 1 do not in my
humble capacity, If l can prevent 1T by exposure
in the dailies, allow a ring of cOrnOrants seeking
only personal pecuniary gain to load the institu-
ton and the party in the State with odium.
Very truly yours, ELI w. BROWN.
Mr.. Brown knew long ago, it appears by
this letter, how sharper than a serpent's
tooth it is to lave a thankleSs friend. He
was a member of the Senate, in 1889, that
schemed to place these .'cOrmOrants" IN
possession of the State institutions, and
worked with John T.. Sullivan to accom-
plish that end. Mr.. Brown, as an honest
man, did not see the outcome of his en-
deavor in helping to success one of the most
Infamous schemes ever perpetrated by any
Legislature.
The next witness was j. A.. Lemcke,
Treasurer of State. Mr.. Lemcke frankly
explained his relations with Sullivan and
Gapen in advancing money to Sullivan on
orders Endorsed by Gapen as treasurer of
the board. This occurred, he said, three or
four times. He made nothing by the
transaction and the State lost nothing.
There was nothing In his testimony that
has not been brought out by other witnesses.
DR.. Thomas s. Galbraith, of the hospital.
was the next witness. He said he succeed
ed DR.. W.. Is. Fletcher in that position,
Sept. s, 1887, coming to the hospital from
Seymour, where he was a practicing physi-
clan. He became acquainted with DIR. Har-
risOn and 2. NJ. Gapen In 1888, at which
time he made application for the position of
assistant physician at the hospital; was APP
pointed to the position, but finally declined
to accept it. He said he had no special rec
ommendation OF influence to receive the
had apprised him that there would be a
vacancy, and said that witness could have
the place.
DO you mean to say" asked Senator
Burke. you brought no political influence
to bear, but the position Just came to youl"
Il did not make any effort to get it, and,
in fact. was not a candidate for the place;
did not solicit any political influence for
the position"
A great deal of the examination of this
witness was upOn the "diet list" of which
so much has been said. 1t appears that he
was IN the institution a year before it Oc-
Cured to him that the patients were not
getting rich enough food. the increase be-
ing made in September, 1888.
How much OF anincrease did yOumakel"
81 am not able to say what it amounted
to. rememberall the articles of food were
increased"
What dishes were added?"
Il cannot recall every dish that is cooked
at the hospital. We are trying to feed pa
tents more and better: We believe that
people. The proper thing is to order, the
kitchen people to increase the food and the
steward to furnish it,"
The witness was here shown that in 1887
tLtI0 was Qdlll uNtIdgt OI lOIty-lOuT
more persons at the hospital than il
1888. Dr.. Galbraith was also shown
his report for the month of November,
1887: which bore the following testimony
to the diet. then continued under the sys-
food, during the month, has been very sat
isfactory; abundant in quantity, excellent
In quality and satisfactorily served" He
was asked If he stood by that statement.
To this the witness replied: II have had
mQrp aYnarIancq ainpa that fimaO Whan
asked how he estimated the rations he
answered with great recklessness as to de-
tail: Il don't estimate by any daily ration.
The only estimate l make is when the peo-
pie have enough to eat. The method is to
put the food before them and see them eat
it." This exclamation so strongly suggest
ed the widow Murphy's method of keeping
tavern that q broad smile went round
among the members of the committee.
Then" asked Mr.. Hays, "'yOu have no
way of telling how many pounds of coffee,
sugar or tea should be used at the hospital,
and only upon the amount that is con-
umeds"
THAT is exactly what l 60 upon.n
when you found that the use of butter
was increasing at the rate of 1000 to 800
pounds q month, didn't that attract your
attention.
II supposed that it was needed; that it
was used in the cooking"
The Doctors statistics as to rations and
diet appeared to be predicated on the same
broad principles that govern the Hall sys-
tenn of bookkeeping, and further inquiries
on the subject gave the committee no addi-
tional information. Witness testified to
lending Sullivan money on two different
occasions-S1. 000in December 1887. This he
had been asked for by DIR. Harrison mot by
Sullivan, whom he had only known in the
matter by DR.. Harrison saying 1T was for
HIM, and he had given the Doctor a check
on the contingent fund for 81, 900. The sec
ond time, witness loaned the same amount
Isl, 000) to John L. Sullivan personally, and
took Sullivan's check therefor. The second
transaction was in September, 1888. Both
amounts had been paid back into the con-
tingent fund.
The committee will resume its work this
morning.
The Financial Danger Ahead.