Arizona republican., 1890-09-21
HOW THE MONEY GOES Phenomenal Increase in County Expenses. Getting Away With the Treasury Surplus. Lining the Pockets of Select Few at the Expense of the Tax
 Payers.
From the Buckeye Blade.


 relating to the County Hospital. In ex- posing this fraud it is not our intention to abuse those men in charge of county affairs for political purposes. The facts and figures we present are from the lnjnutes of the Board of Supervisors, which ;>,s always open to the public.
 Att meeting of the Board of Super visors on DecemUog 8, 1888, consisting of J. B. Montgomery, Il. II. Linville and Neils Peterson, the clerk nf the Board was ordered to advertise for sealed proposals for the various county con tracts. The two relating to the County Hospital we give, wis.,: "For keeping the County Hospital and Poorhouse and grounds, and feeding and keeping the inmates therein; the Board only furnishing water for irrigating the orchard, and clothing for the inmates, for the year lSS9."
 "For medical treatment to the in mates of the County Hospital and jail and the indigent within the city limits of Phoenix, and furnishing the necessary medicine to same, for lSS9."
 Bids for the above proposals were re- uuired to be made by different individ- uals in accordance with law. On December IT, 1888, the Board met for the purpose of opening the proposals and awarding the contracts for 1882. When those relating to the medical treatment of inmates of the hospital and indigent of Phoenix were opened the several bids were as follows: "Dr. II. A. Hughes, $l75; Dr. T. D. McGlas- sen, $675; Dr. R. l.. ROssOn, S95S; Dr. R. E. Lightburn, $lS72." The con tract was therefore awarded to Dr. Hughes for 1889, for $l75. The Board required of him bond oi 5000. The proposals for feeding the inmates of the hospital and caring for the grounds, etc., were rejected by the Board. This was the last business meeting of the Board which comprised Messrs. Mont gomery, Linvile and Peterson.
 On January l2, 1889, the new Board, consisting of C. k. flakes, Chairman, C. II. Slankard and II. II. Linville. held a meeting. It was found that Dr. Hughes had failed to give bond for rendering medical treatment to patients at the hospital and jail and the indigent of the City of Phenix." "C. k. flakes and c. II. Slankard were appointed as a com mittee for the purpose ol employing the necessary attendants for the County Hospital and Poorhouse, and procur- ing supplies and provisions for the same, with full authority to act in the matter" At the next meeting of the Board, on January l5, Dr. Hughes was appointed County Physician for Mari copa county at q salary of 800 per month. J. K. Morse, brother-in-law of Chairman flakes, was employed to take charge of the hospital and poor house, at a salary of Sl0O per month, the county furnishing all the necessaries for the institution.
 We have led our readers this far, and we now ask them to draw their own con clusions and decide If the combine is of recent formation. From the facts pre- sented above, the only inference that can be drawn is that flakes and Hughes had premeditated spoilation of county funds long before the Board of Super visors was ushered into power. With that end in view, it looks as if the com bine was formed at the election of 1888. To further substantiate this view of the case, we find Dr. Hughes bid only $l75 per annum for medical attendance at hospital and the indigent in the city of Phoenix. Why did he do this? Simply to keep the other physicians from get ing the contract from the old Board, knowing that the new Board would be in power in two weeks, he could then die tate his own terms to them-and he did. The scheme worked as admirably as the counting of the block of "52" recently. The new Board did not call on Hughes for his bond, but simply hired him at a salary of $1080 per year for service which he bid $l75 to perform. What authority had the Board to do this? When Dr. Hughes refused to furnish his bond, why did not the Board advertise for bids again? Or, why did they not award it to Dr. McGlasson, the next lowest bidder, at S675, or to Dr. Rosson at $95S? Why was Dr. Hughes-who repudiated his own bid-sought tor above other physicians by the Board and hired at $1080 per annum. Was not that low, sneaking and undermin- ing conduct, displayed toward his brother professionals, sufficient to bebar him in the eys of all, from holding such public trust?
 We now turn to the hiring of J. R. Morse for $l200 per annum for attend ing poorhouse and grounds. The county furnished him provisions for himself and family and other visitors. An additional expense of $1032.55 was in- cured in providing two rooms for the accommodation of this mans family. It is well known that Minister flakes has furnished room in the building. The whole expense to the county for main taining the County Hospital, medical attendance, provisions, etc., for 1889, amounted to over $5500, and with the $1032.55 expended in extra apartments for the use of Morse and flakes, makes a total of over $6500 for 1889. Compare this expenditure of one year with that of 1888, under previous administra- tion, and we gain clue as to where the money goes. Dr. J. F.. Wharton had the contract for keeping the Hospital grounds, the inmates of the County Hospital, attendance, medi tines, etc., for 1888, for $1760. S. H. Woods had a like contract for 1887, for $2350.
 The question may be asked, had the number of untortunates and indigents grown so excessively large in one year in our county as to necessitate this ex- penditure? Certainly not If the Board of Supervisors had accepted Dr. McGlassen's bid of $675 for medical attendance at the County Hospital, jail and the indigent of Phoenix, and s. G. Wilson's bid of $11S5, which was re- jected, for caring for hospital, the in- mates therein and the hospital grounds, the total cost to the county would be only $1S60, or $l00 more than the previous y9ar of 1888.
 We now turn to the awarding of con tracts for 1890. Dr. Hughes bid "$l .50 pa. 1ax for nnaintoinino onJ traatinu