The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-12
TRIED AND FOUND WANTING
The Insane Hospital Committee Says
Reform Is Needed at the Institution.
1t Does Not Mince or DistOrt Facts, but Gives
Conclusions i'm Form That Sets Ont Clear
ly Corruption and Extravaganza

The joint committee appointed three
weeks ago to investigate the Hospital for
the Insane submitted its report to each
branch of the Assembly yesterday after
noon, at 2 o'clock. 1t was signed by the
nine members of the committee, five Of
whom are Democrats, and each one in sign
ing did SO with hearty Endorsement of all
it contained. Some of them would have
made the report even stronger than it is,
but in order that no members might have
any reason for hesitancy in putting his sig
nature to it the subcommittee decided to
take middle ground. The reading
of the report created something
of sensation in each house.
There are reasons to believe that many Of
the majority members expected some sort
of a white-washing reportOfrom the five
Democrats, and, in fact, very few looked for
report Endorsed by every member of the
committee. Senators Barrett and Urmston
saw fit. after the reading of the report.
to make a vicious attack on
dhe committee by charging rs with sub
hitting unfair statements. The report
was generally considered the death-knell
of Harrison and his gang. The once infiu-
entail president of the board, accompanied
by several of his friends, was around the
lObbies and corridors making his final APP
peal for protection. He brought all the i'm
huence he could command TO prevent the
Democratic members of the committee
from signing the report, but his appeals
were in vain.
After reciting the proceeding necessary
for organization, the report details In brief
the salient points of the evidence as here
tofore published. 1t then stated that the
findings of the committee were based upon
the evidence of the three trustees of the in
.fnrRd Efan
superintendent. the assistant lady phys-
clan, the steward and bOok-keeper, DIR.
Fletcher, the former superintendent; Dr. +.
Nj. Howard former ply slclan IN the lnsti-
Bank, of Indianapolis. and the Treasurer OF
State. 1t then reads.as follows:
We find that the full amount appropriated for
the maintenance, clothing and repairs at the
hospital has been regularly drawn by the treas
urer, Mr.. Gapen. That very often and during all
the months in which said Gapen was IN the em-
pioyment OF John f. Su lno large sums OK
not be deposited in bank subject to payment of
checks issued by said Gapen for payment of bills
allowed, but was loaned 10 John +. Sullivan and
others, from time to time, without security, and
in direct violation of law, while persons holding
checks were compelled to await the payment OF
same for the want of funds in bank.
This system was continued by the treasurer OF
the beard through all the period he in the en-
ployment OF said Sullivan, until finally over 81
State Treasury was carried OF by said John T..
Sullivan leaving Mr.. Gapen indebted TO the fund
goods and whose bills had been allowed are still
holding the checks on the bank for the money,
which they cannot draw. because of this defalca-
ton.
We find that on Feb 1, 1885, there were OUT
standing bills unsettled accounts of various
hospital amounting in the aggregate TO ST.
694.9S. These accounts have been running.
some Of them, since Nov. 1, 1888, the beginning
Of the present fiscal year, and few have been
carried over from the preceding year.
We have had access TO no books of the institu-
ton to show the receipts from products sold or
from earnings at the hospital, but from the
books of the State Treasurer we find the amount
paid in by the institution to be for the fiscal year
of 1887, 81 ,0S404, and for the fiscal year or
| 1885, $685.. IS.
We also find that in some cases where goods
were sold or disposed of TO persons who had con.
| tracts for furnishing supplies, that the amount
so taken was charged to said persons on account
and deducted from bills, instead of being paid
| into the State Treasury, as required by law
careful comparison and examination has
been made of the bills of several contractors al
lowed by the board for supplies with their con-
tracts, and we find that the amounts purchased
were generally much IN excess OF the amounts
named in contracts. This is especi ally noticea-
gar 1 e coffee FIFE and tea. tabniated statement of
| such comparisons by months from March, 1887,
to January, 1889, inclusive, of supplies above
| named will be found in the statement of the ex-
perts, the requisition books of the hospital for
| the several months being uniform as to the
amounts needed, while the amounts purchased
vary larg ely from month to month. Our infer
ence is that when it was to the interest OF
| the contractor, either account of the reduced
| price of the goods purchased or the inferior
quality OF the goods accepted by such officers or
| the hospital whose duty 1t was to receive the
| same, a much larger amount would be ordered
| than the contract called for.
We also find that the board frequently failed
| to comply with the Law in letting contracts for
| supplies; that when the bids did not suit the
| members of the board they refused TO let the
| contract to any one. but authorized one of their
number to make the purchases without any
/ stfIctlOQs q
quality.
The frequency with which contracts were let
to John 4. Sullivan and others, especially where
| lower bids made by competing bidders were
| jected, leads us to infer that an unjust and I'M
dulged in by the board, which prevented compe-
tition in the sale of supplies to the hospital and
| compelled the board TO pay the highest price for
inferior articles. The tabulated exhibits and re-
| port of the experts to this committee disclose
| the fact that a very few persons furnished the
hPnePa supplies s,p for the nd d and
| of these persons, at least. We're in collision
| with the board to thrust inferior goods on the
asylum at exOrbitant prices. We think, also.
| that the amount of goods for which contracts
| were made monthly was ample TO supply the in
| stitution, yet the bills show that monthly the
| board paid for much larger amount of goods
than the contracts called for. The excess in the
| one item of tea from March to December of 1Ss7,
ibs, and the excess of sugar for the same time
| was 1922 pounds while the excess for coffee
| for the year 1888 was 14,324 pounds, and of tea
/
| of ugar for that year was thirty nine thousand,
| els 1t hundred and twenty-five pounds go, s25
| lbs), and many other articles i'll the same pro-
| portion.
! We find that at the time of his appointment as
| trustee, p. NJ. Gapen gave bond in the sum OF
| 1000, with Samuel G.. Hanna and Robert
Browning, of indianapolis, as sureties, and that
! said Gapen has never nled any additional bond,
| and that at least one OF said sureties Is now
| wholly insolvent, and that the other surety has
| failed financially since the execution of said
| bond, but said surety, Mr.. Browning, testified
| before this committee that he was now worth
| $4,000 over all of his Indebtedness.
We find that said Gapen has unlawfully APP
| propriated TO his own use several thousand dol
| lars of the funds belonging to the hospital, and
| that by reason thereof he is defaulter for over
| three thousand dollars, and recommend that suit
be instituted against him by the proper officer to
recover said funds, and that the prosecuting at
| tOrney OF Marion county cause such criminal
\ proceedings TO be commenced against him as ms
| offense justifes
We find that DR.. Galbraith, as superintendent,
| under the direction of the president or
! the board, DIR. Harrison, on two occasions
loaned 81 900 out of the contingent funds IN his
hands belonging to the hospital, TO John r. sulll-
van. but that said Sims were subsequently re-
| paid to him. We also lind that on three or Tour
| occasions State Treasurer Lemcke, at the request
| of Mr.. Gapen, loaned money to John h. sullivan,
| taking an order on Mr.. Gapen as treasurer, Tor
| said amounts, and that the amounts OF SAID loans
| were deducted from the SUMS subsequently
| drawn by Mr.. Gapen as treasurer, ana We con-
denim the practice as unlawful ana recommend
| its discontinuance.
| We find that the plan of issuing supplies at the
hospital is loose and almost wholly WITHOUT sys-
| TEN. The amount dIstributedls not Wased upon
l an of needed TO supply the