The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-18

WAS ITO CUmpihlulS liJui
any of the men or women so far as he knew.
None OF them had ever been mistreated nor
had one inmate ever been struck or roughly
handled by any of the officers of the house.
AS far as the stories circulated by Hopes
and Deuel. are concerned they are entirely
untrue.
"Those two men," said Mr. Weaver, "came
out here on the 9th inst. deuel. came from
the City and County Hospital ana Hopes
had an order for admission from the Mayor
ION the morning Of the eth Hopes. ac-
companied by Deuel. went int Mr.. Ill
sons ofiiceand said he was sick and wanted
medical Treatment One of the inmates
named Bowes, who was in charge OF III
sons office at tho time, said that the pbysi-
clan would be along in about an hour. and
asked the men TO go into room up an easy
flight of stairs and walt, and when the
doctor came lie would call them. This the
men objected to and insisted Oh seeing the
doctor at once, but they were persuaded 10
wait and when the physic an came they
were called. Hopes said he was troubled
with diabets and wanted medicine right
off. The doctor told him that he would
have to examine him before he would offer
any treatment. Hopes would not hear
of an eXamin alton, nor would he explain
any of the symptoms of his disease. All he
would say was that he was sick and wanted
medicine. The doctor quietly let him alone,
and If there was anything wrong with the
old man, except willingness to object TO
the rules of The home, it would soon show
Itself.
'The rules of the institution are that the
inmates shall rise at A. NJ. Breakfast Is
served at 6, dinner at IL and supper al 3P. NJ.
If an inmate is sick he is taken TO the hos
ptal ward and carefully taken care of.
Those who are able TO work are given some
employment, but not more than they can
do
hours work day, while others put in four
or five hours. One Of the objections Of those
two men was that they had TO get I'D In the
morning al a certain time. Then they say
they were forced to stand in line in
the rain waiting for their meals. Ihat
is not the case. The inmates made
the evil of standing in q line before the
dining-room door themselves, and | have
several times tried TO break il up. No per-
son has regular seat at the table, ana the
object Of each of the inmates is 10 get in
first, or as near first as possible, to have
pick Of what is on the table. The food Is
served IN equal proportions and placed on
the plates before the men are let in, and
the object of getting in first Is TO secure the
plate that has The largest piece OF meat on
the largest potato.
"After Hopes and Deuel. had been here
four days man named Westfall. broker
or agent of some kind on Montgomery
street came here and said there was no
need of keeping Devel here, as. he had
plenty of money, and he had a check in his
pocket for him then. WestfAl went and
saw Deuel., who came to the Office and asked
for a discharge. The broker then went and
got carriage, but before he came back
Hopes came in The Office with Deuel.
and said he wanted 10 go, too. | also gave
him discharge, and the three men drove
away together. | never heard a word Of
their being i'll treated while they were here,
and TO satisfy the public that the institution
is conducted In the best interests Of the rate
payers and for the welfare and care of the
needy poor, l invite the fullest investiga-
ton, and on THURSDAY next the Board Of
Health will. hope, as they have decided 10
do. look well into the conduct OF the affairs
of the Almshouse."
About dozen Of The inmates were spoken
to. and not one of them had a word of COM
plant to make about their treatment
Mr.. Weaver and Mr.. Tilsnn do all in
their power TO make US comfortable" said
one. "and Is there are over 500 OF US here,
and some with very peculiar notions, they
have hard time 10 do it. We get all we
want to eat and the food is good. Good
beds and clothing are provided. and what
more does a man want?"