The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-05-13
TRACING RUMORS.
The Board of Health Visits the
Almsh0use.
Although No Charges Were Preferred, Wit
nesses Are Sworn and Examined-Every-
thing Found in Good Order.

Publicity was recently given to certain minors
commenting adversely on the manner in Which
the Almshouse was being conducted by the new
Superintendent, p. L. Weaver, the successor OF
the late NJ. J. Heating.
The rumors covered rather a wide ground.
Hints were thrown out of general neglect, un-
cleanliness in the wards, discomfort, thefts OF
stores, drunkenness OF the female Inmates and
lack Of discipline.
To determine IL there was apy foundation for
the charges. Mayor Pond, the Board of Health,
consisting OF Drs. Flske, LIE Tourneux. Nc
Questen and Davidson, Health OFFICER Dr. j. D.
keeney and the Boards Secretary, John
Hoesch, visited the Almshouse yesterday morn
Ing. A number Of reporters accompanied the
party.
The visitors were received by Superintendent
Weaver and DR.. Lundberg, the resident phys-
clan. who escorted them over the Institution. A
close scrutiny OF all the details was made, botn
as body by the party and singy later on by
many Of the members.
AS 10 the charge OF lack of cleanliness, that
was quickly dispIoved. Every place inspected
was in excellent order. Tie floors, wards, beds
and bedding, utensils, crockeiy and kitchen ap-
planes were as clean as could tie desired. All
Inc inmates spoken to, either publicly or pr-
vately, expressed themselves as fu " satisfied
with The treatment they received. This was es-
pecally The case in the female wards, where the
inmates spoke most gratefully of Mrs. Weaver.
NEAT AND IN ORDER.
No exception could be taken to the appearance
OF The grounds. They were neat order. How
ever, IL vas noted that the fences along The road
leading 10 The house from a little distance back
OF The reservoir were not as brilliantly white
washed as III the past. To have these fences
Nnltened up regularly once or twice week was
one OF The late Superintendent hobbies. Now
they are somewhat dingy III several places
also The pallngs surrounding the reservoirs had
fallen down, probably from washes Caused by
the recent rains. These breaks, however, were
III progress OF being repaired yesterday by.
force OF men from the House. II was also
limited IN The rumorS published that The cattle at
the House were not as fat now as during the old
regime. An inspection of those grazing on the
hills near by did not bear out this fancy.
AS no visible signs of mismanagemeDt were
obtainabe The board turned to the investigation
oil he lumofs as 10 thefts, waste OF walter aud
lack OF discipline.
PETTY THEFTs.
Edward L. To0ey, the shoema ker OF the House.
was sworn and stated in reply 10 questions Tut
him by Mayor Pond and members OF tile board:
Lave been here since September last About
two months ago i've chests OF tea were sent here
One OF them was stolen from outside tie store
house, while the others were being placed IN II.
l think TWO Inmates, Sweeney aud Stone. stole
II and soId II TO Seyenteenth-street saloon.
keeper. -Four pairs OF shoes were stolen out of
my workshop about The time Mr. Weaver took
charge The lock was picked. The shoes have
not been recovered. Sweeney is here now and
Stone has left. There is netty ibIeyng going on
all the time among the inmates. We have some
very hard characters here. 1t was the same
under superintendent Heating and petty Ihefts
we've just "a frequent then as now. | know that
harness aud tools were stolen when Mr.. Heating
was here. There WAS no way OF keeping Inmates
\ from going outside OF the Institution II they
want TO-"
Alexander GARNER. very old Frenchman, who
has had charge of the stOie-room for IL years,
testified: Little thefIS are frequent among Tie
inmates. Tie chest OF tea was stolen from out
side the stOre-huuSe TWO months ago Ten years
ago fifteen pounds OF lea We're stolen from the
stoie-hOuse. That is all | know of store house
theits. don't know VINO stole the chest oil
| tea"
q. c. Pmkham, chief nurse, testified: 'The in
males pilfer from each other constantly. Every
week l search all tile beds, wards aud closets
under my charge and constantly find trities that
have been stolen, such as socks tobacco hand
kerchiels ana so on. take them away, and II
can fnd the owners l return them. No clothing
is stolen and carried away from the institution,
as far as know. There Is no regular fIe-drill,
but once a week. IN tie building under my
charge, l have the nre-hose passed out OF the
WINDOWS and lun the water through It. The
water pressure Is always sufficient"
WATER-TANKs.
c. Ii. Peterson, outside Waterman, said: II
know that Ihe tanks that supply the buildings
are frequently entiiely dry. One tank supplies
The other, and when one Is empty until It is
pumped fuli again 10y the engine IL is. OF course,
OF no value as protection against ire. Under
Mr. keatlng's management Tie tanks were fire.
quently dry"
Ii. S. Patterson, the chief engineer OF the instl-
tuition, stated: 81 pump all the tanks full every
evening 10y q O'clock. The other day, about a
week ago, when the supposed loss OF 10000
gallons OF wafer was made, L found TWO OF the
tanks That supply lie main building dry or
nearly So One holds 5000 aud The other 2300.
l think ne waste caused by some inmate
or"'Ht -,.,a t-"e2ts and closet drains. i have
said that 10000 gallons III "ater had then been
wasted. In this made mistake, I...::ould have
said 1000. was mistaken Ill my lucas as 10 tie
capacity Of the tanks Have been here eleven
months. The supply of water Is abundant aud L
always keep twelve feet Of water In the reser-
yoir."
Tie witness then made statement about a
difference lie mad with lie heads OF the insIiiu-
ton over the removal oil an Inmate he had ap-
pointed as his assistant 10 make room for anOthe
one recommended by Clerk Costello. 1t was
brought out that The new man put on had filled
the place satisfactorily for lnauy years under
Superintendent Heating.
DISCIPLINE TOO MILD.
Clerk Costello stated: Tie management now
Is the same under Heating. All that Super
iniendeut Weaver needs is experience | think
lie Is loo good natured and easy With the inmates.
Discipline las not suffered TO any vital extent.
l think MT. and MIS-. " eaver the best iuteu-
tlOued peoI lie III the world"
Superintendent Weaver stated that he was n.y.
Ing to do the best he could In his position, and
males. The inmates frequently stole from each
other. lie knew Of no breaches Of discipline
that he did not do his best TO suppress.
This concluded the boards Investigation, and
though no inal announcement was made, each
member stated privately that lie was fully salts
NED win The manner in which the institution
was being conducted, aud that the rumors pub
Iished had no foundation In fact
Mayor Pond made private personal tour on
MS own account Of the place. He stated that he
was highly pleased Win the way things
conducted, and that he saw nothing to censure
but much 10 praise.
L - II