New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-11
ALLCOCK'S &c.,, is.9s;
his ACCOUNTS NOT OFTEN INSPECTED

TIE STEWARD OF THE ASYLUM At PorGH'
KEEpsIE TELLS HOW III DEPARTMENT WAS
RUH-TuE COST OF TIE MEAT USED.
Ponchkecpsie, n. Y, March l0.-Some Interesting
testimony rs to the method Of purchasing supplies
and auditing accounts ct the Hudson River STATE
Hospital for the Insane was brought out at the lnves
tisatlon to-day before the State Commissioners u
Lunacy. Commissioners Macdonald. Brown AM
Reeves present, and Deputy Attorney''ene"'
Gilbert conducted the inquiry.
The first witness was d. Porter Lord the Sevare
OF the asylum. lie said tlxit he was sisty.sx yean
OF age ard had been steward seven years. Before
that h. was q dry goods clerk In New-fork Cay'
He never had any experience In purchasing supplies
for public institution before he was apponted
steward. He described the present system OF audlt
ing bills but added that II only since 1901 ths
bills had been audited separately before being paid.
The former practice was tint bills Endorsed by tho
steward and superintendent paid BY the treasurer.
and the treasurers vouchers were arerward andlteo
by committee composed OF Messrs. Plat and Roose'
Welt, of the Board Of Managers. The whoess ssA
that he did not know that the bylaws required the
Finhnce Committee to examine his BOOKS svsU
quarter.
quareerr
II cannot soy they vera" answered the witness.
o.-were they examined twice . year, Awe,
about year the average, think
Ola short, the business OF mo stsSv
1885 has been loosely conducted that you canncs ~
positively that on your books and sceouS
was made once Q yeari A.-They were examined nasv
every yea.
Q-And the bills supplies which you purchased ane
the nay rolls which you Endorsed amounted TO how msea
in yeor! A.-Tbe purchases might amount 70 sS"""
and, with the payroll about 100000 year
Mr.. Lord said that the only time the manase"
OF the institution had criticised his purchases they
told him that he bought too cheapy, ana tney wv
not think that he getting good groceries. fiou.
was purchased on which bids asked for aoow
four times year. Eggs and butter were pur'naeeS
at market rates from local dealers. When eggs are
cheap they furnished to all inmates for "ou
1t requires 1900 eggs for single breakfast ana.
1901. 1928 dozen were used. Nearly 10000 gallons
OF milk were purchased every year. at about i.s
cents quart. The witness said that half the Ill"
used was produced on the asylum farm.
Mr. Lord said that he had nothing to do with the
receipt OF meat, except TO that the Bills wefs
checked BY the storekecper who received the sup
plies. Until two months ago II had been impossio"
TO get any one. except Van Wagcncn. to furnin
beef. The witness had written to Swift b Co.. q
Chicago; to Armours agent at Kingston, ana "
other dealers and they had all refused TO compes
with Van Wagencn OF Poughhcepstc. TBS state
affairs continued until Nelson Morris g. Co., came TO
Poughkcepsie and offered TO compete. They bid '.os
cents a pound for February, and their bid was
beef for 747 cents. but the witness said Nc w."
been informed that they losing money
The witness was asked how the Institution m""'s
to consume 25J 900 pounds Of fresh meat In 's'
lilo answered that tho allowance after deducins Wv
| weight Of the bones suet and waste, ana tue "ss "
| cooking. was only nine ounces day per cap.."
Judge Gilbert asked him to explain why the Ni'a's
| town Asylum used only $50 pounds OF meat o.s
for lI75 persons. while at POughSeepsie oil pouns.
a day are used for I.O66 persons. Mr. Lora 'ep"S"
| that the Nddlotown people must be homeopatms's'
o-Assuming that the institution used 2ooooo po'ns
OF meat year and two cents pound haa oeen - ,s
In the purchase OF IT, the State would have sa'ea s'
and assuming that the conditions prevailed duns M
| entire uime Van wasenen supplied the meat wouis
the State have saved slOo,oo0f A-Assumns '"c'' ~
| right, that Is q correct deduction .
O-But do you not know them TO be corrcc'f -"
| That is a matter which do not care 10 criticise'
Witness was asked II man named Humc Wv
| was formerly storekceker. was not an intcmPe''''
| man. lie answered che was an Irisbman"
Q.-Have you not seen him Lfoxcatedf NJ
| him once badly intoxicated. lie was forced 70 'eSs'
Immediately after. - .
O.-Do YOU not think that q manageEcns WHO" -
mits On incorporate be storckecpcr AMI apo'e"
responsible for the small percentage OF cures ~.
creased expenditures compared with similar nsusu"s
| A-Thesc men were not here In 1892 Will nov ~s~'
comparisons.
Mr. Lord could give reasons why mess s.s
coal were purchased by the superintendent, 80. ~
| and not as other supplies were bought Ills Va
1 Hh.