St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-09-15

who had statements to make regarding
the manner in which affairs of the de-
partmenJ had been conducted under DIR.
Hoyt's administration to send in the
same.
Waived Jurisdiction.
Mr.. O'Brien said that without regard
to the Jurisdiction the council had in
the matter, DR.. Hoyt recognized the
right of the council to make investiga-
lions as to his or any other department.
The doctor, he said, was willing and
anxious to answer all questions relating
to the affairs of the health department,
and would be glad to furnish the COM
mittee any information it desired.
In relation to the Endorsement or ap-
proval of bills of the AZotine company,
Mr.. O'Brien said the Endorsement by
DR.. Hoyt had not the least legal effect.
The commissioner was not a party to the
contract made between the city and
FleiShman, who was first awarded the
contract, nor had heanything to do with
the transfer of the contract from Fleish-
man to the Azotine company. The bills
had been approved by DR.. Hoyt after
the council committees had approved
them. The fact that the doctor was not
the city auditor and his approval of the
bills had no legal or binding effect on
the city should be taken into considera-
ton. None of the bills approved had
been paid, newspaper reports to the con-
trary Notwithstanding.
The Gould Matter.
In the matter of one Gould, an en-
ploye in the department, having been
paid salary for the month of May, 1891,
when he died on May 6, Mr.. OBrien
made the following explanations: Some
time in May or June the then mayor eX-
planned to DR.. Hoyt that it was GUS
tomary when an employee in any of the
departments died to continue his salary
to the end of the month in which he
died. On this statement Gould's name
was placed on the June pay roll, the no.
tatiOn being made that it was for salary
for part of the month of May. Whether
or not the city had the right to recover
from the bank to which the pay was as
signed or from DR.. Hoyt for the amount
was question with which the commit
tee had nothing to do. In order that
the committee might be convinced as to
the statements made, they could, if de-
sired .sexamine the records which were
before them as TO the aZotlne bills, and
further call on members Of the old coun-
Gil and officers of the AZOtne company.
AS to the Gould matter. the evidence of
the eX-mayOr would bear out the state
mentS made.
AZOtine Claims. -,-,s.
MIR. Hendrickson, in speaking of the
Azotine matter, said in August, 1891,
the corporation attorney decided the
AZntine company had not defaulted in
their contract. The health commits
sioner at the time Informed the COM
mittee that the work was not being
done according to contract, in that the
garbage was not being disposed of by
the Merz system. The Azotine COM
pany representatives claimed at the
time the garbage was being removed
from the city, and that in the near fut-
ure another plant would be built to re-
place the one destroyed by fire.
The committee ordered the Azotine
company to go ahead and do the best
they could under the circumstances. 1t
was under the advice and suggestion of
the committee that the bills for five
months were approved by the health
commissioner. The corporation attor-
ney at that time had i'll a written opin-
ion said the claims were legal under the
action of the committee in ordering the
company to go ahead. These facts,
Mr.. HendrickSOn said, were matters of
record which could be ascertained by
mlttee. He also called the attention of
the committee to the fact that none of
the bills so approved by the commits
sioner had been paid, and that the in
dorsement had no legal effect so far as
the payment of the bills was concerned.
A FaIherIess Statement.
While the statements OF counsel were
being made Mr.. D0ran had furnished
the reporters with communication
which had been sent in, probably in
answer to the request for statements
about the administration of the health
department.. The communication was
neither signed nor sworn TO. and in this
| connection Mr.. O'Brien said he hoped
the committee would take cogniZance of
the position in which DR.. Hoyt was
placed, and, in admitting so-called evil
dence, have the charges formulated so
that recourse could be had against the
individuals making the charges in case
they were not correct. This was but
proper and fair, as rumors and not SUBJ
Stantial evidence could be talked
about, which, while not true or hav-
ing any foundation of truth, would
affect an official i'll his present and fut-
ure standing. After this talk the COM
mittee decided not to consider the COM
munlcatiOn and requested the reporters
not 10 use IT. Ii all lnVeStlgatiOn were TO
be had, Mr.. o. Brien requested it be con-
Quoted in legal way, and he also asked
that meetings be held evenings. This
he anticipated would be best, as even
the aldermen he thought must have
business which demanded their atten-
ton during the day time.
Tech nlcalIy Admitted.
Mr.. HE kman said the commissioner
through his counsel, had admitted tech
nically that the charges were true. 1t
would be proper. he thought, for the
counsel for Dr.. Hoyt to say to what
extent the Investigation should now be
made.
MIR. o 'Brien, in reply, said the state
mentS tn at had been made in eyplana-
ton had not been cUntroverted, and the
mere fact that they should be sworn
to would make them no stronger. AS
to the AZotine bills, the papers and
records were now before the committee
and could be used to prove the correct
ness of the statements. Regarding the
payment of Gould's salary for the TWEEN
ty-three days after his death, it was Gus
tomary in all departments to carry men
on the pay rolls for the balance of the
months in VIII ich they died.
Assistant Corporation Attorney M
chael corroborated the statements of
MIR. O'Brien as to the practice of pay
Ing salaries to employees in city depart
e., ,I,,o