New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-07
DINNERS At THE ASYLUM.
THE MANAGERS TRANSACTED BUSINESS BE-
TWEEN COURSES.
Mr.. PLATT's TESTIMONY IN THE INvESTIGA!
TIoN OF THE HUDSON RIVER HOSPITAL
;yESTIGA.
BIG COAL BILLS EXPLAINED.


BIG COAL BILLS EXPLAINED.
Poughkeepsle, n. Y. April 6.-At the resumption
Of the investigation into the management Of the Hud.
River Insane Asylum to-day, John l. Plat,
Editor of The Poughkeepsie Eagle" postmaster Of
the town, and until last January "A member OF the
board OF managers OF the asylum, was placed on the
witness-stand. lie gave his testimony in answer TO
the questions Of exJudge Gilbert, of the Attorney.
Generals Office in a manner that made the session
an interesting for those who heard 1t. lie said
that he appointed manager OF the institution by
Governor Cornell In 1881 Whereabouts, and had
been chairman OF the Finance Committee. and also
Of the Auditing Committee, most OF the time until he
relieved from duty in January. He gave
detailed OF the method OF auditing bills. which
he concluded by saying that he considered 1t all folly
to audit the bills, the purchases were made by the
superintendent or steward, who State officers and
the state must pay whether the bills are audited or
not
Judge Gilbert asked him II he had not sometimes
objected to the prices or the desirabty OF some Of
the items which he on the bills.
Mr.. Platt replied Il did object TO them;
did not understand that had that power. may
have criticised OF the items"
Did You not understand ii TO be- the duty OF the
managers to look after these things -
No. / thought that the duty OF the superin-
tendent steward They had power to regulate
these things. All the power had that
could remove the superintendent or other employees
II the matter sufficiently gross"
Mr. Plat said that after the Investigation into the
matter Of purchasing beef he supposed all purchases
were made after proposals had been asked from diff
lerent dealers lie did not see any thing strange In
the fact that all Of the bills for beef came from one
man. when asked TO specify some o, tile items in
the bills which h. noticed eXtravagant. he men,
toned seeing oranges charged at IL dozen. Upon
further inquiry the witness said that he believed that
ithaca Atom thor y
ents household at the dinners which were served
when the Board OF Managers met AT the institution
every months These dinners he said. were
rather formal affairs. and served IN courses with
deoantcr OF clarct OF the table They occupied SO
much time. Mr.. Hiatt explained, that the board d.
rected their secretary bring the minute book, and
the managers and transacted business be-
tween courses Mr.. Plat added "These dinners
finally became so eNtravagapt that We spoke TO
spern endert Cleay eland about IL, ard told him
did not think the State should pay for such dinners"
Mr.. Lawn another Of the managers. interrupted
TO say that the wine furnished By DR.. Cleave-
land at his expense.
Mr. Plat said that while Superintendent Cleave-
land had several times I'm the last year two sug
gesed that steps be taken to select his successor.
he did not know that DR.. Cleayeland had written a
letter Of resignation until the fact was brought ous
in the investigation.
Mr. rlatt said that the reason that Hume. the
stolekceper who got intoxicated, retained 50 long
that the Managers felt sorry for him, as he
los, one of his eyes through accident while at
work. sought get compensation from the state.
While { matter pending he was retained.
lie could not collect from the state, and his useful
he's being impaired through intemperance he WAS
allowed to 90. Mr.. Plat said that he desired 70
correct some figures to the cost Of beef coal and
-four which had been published in the papers and
which were, he said. erroneous, and gave the III
stituton a bad reputation. He said that the total
payment, for beef for the year 1901 averaged s.oo
cents pound. and not l.! cents; that -four was
80 D, barrel, and not 80 97 ana that tie cost per
capita for heating SI3 instead of S42 %. lie
submitted lO OF figures to clinch his correc'lons
Judge Gilbert crosS-exa mined him on these hgtres
and drew out the fact that III" item ~ 40 'o 10.
81 charcoal. and an item of BIS tons Of pea coal
had been cu in hall on the ground that II was not
all burned that year. Judge Gilbert then asked
why have You Intentionally omitted the cost OK
the carriage from these figures which you bring here
II have omitted II from that year because 1t
didn't belong there: it belongs in 1882"
WAS in your report TO the Legislature for 1891
eyes,
so tlen your report falsr!'
1t WAS crrOn2ou>.'
And You come here under oath and declare
that the report which you made TO the legislature
We'll the report is true. except that the Goa!
figures muddl'd. for the reason that we oruereu
tlr coal In the summer and paid the clrtage on Il
when delivered but did not pay for the coal untu
October. That came in the next fiscal Year. ana so
We really paid for two years ccai IN lso. IN,
can you explain how il Is that your coal bill
for 1881 was s256li. while Il only cost LasSar
College S6.i.j for the entire heating account IN
GLIDING the salaries OF engineer ana nrenah ior 'ne
I'VE have burned more coal; The managers have
not carried II away In their pockets 49,.
Mr. Plat contIadi"ted the testimony OF Snp'rlnteh'
dent cleveland who said that Mr.. Plat's brothern
law wa, appointed at Mr. Iatts request. The inquiry
will be continued tomorrow.