The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-02-16
TOO MUCH CHUCK STEAK.
Freebooter Ellis Says the Aims
House Commit.e e Is
EXtravagant.

When Clerk John Boyd of the Board OF
Freeholders had finished reading the report
of the Finance COMMITTEES approving the
payment Of claims, at the meeting OF the
board yesterday afternoon, Freebooter Ellis,
Chairman of the Finance Committee, arose
and said
"Mr. Director, I desire to call the atten-
ton of the Almshouse Committee to one OF
the bills included in that report, and that is
the bill of F. g. G. Schober, for meat fur
nished to the Almshouse. | would like the
committee to make a thorough investigation
of it. While l am perfectly satisfied that
the institution should be supplied with every
thing that is necessary, still l think that they
are getting too much. The bill l speak OF Is
for meat furnished during the month OF jan
uary, amounting to $S6S.73. This Is $500
more than the bill for January, 1892, and as
there are only thirty-seven more inmates
now than there were last year, | think 1t the
duty of the committee to make a thorough
investigation.
THE DIETARY SYSTEM.
"Another thing | want to call your atten-
ton to is the health of the inmates. l know
that a great many visitors go to the Asylum
and give candy to the inmates. Now l don't
see one pound of mutton on this bill to pc
used for stewing purposes. The dietary
system of the institution stipulates that NUT
ton stew should be given to the inmates once
each week, and / consider that more neces-
sary for their health than all the dainties
that can be carried up there. They should
be supplied with that which is healthy.
81 also want to call your attention to the
amount of butter supplied in January.
The bill calls for 1,40O pounds.
The dietary allows each adult
-. i.1f -. ~ I,,t+o,. 10 ri, dow and nnQ-
quarter ounce to children under ten years.
If we allow one-half ounce to each OF the 74O
inmates, it would not amount to more than
500 pounds. If this thing goes on three
months more we will find ourselves in the
| same position that we have been in every year.
We will have no money to feed the inmates
| Why not send up a barrel Of molasses and
syrup and give 1t to the chlidren once d
day.
fsThe Almshouse Committee should do the
| same as the Penitentiary Committee. We
| have scales there and the warden weighs
! everything he receives, and keeps a record
| of it it in a book kept for that purpose"
Mr.. Ellis then resumed his seat and voted
with the others to pay the claim.
ALMSHoUSE COMMITTEES DEFENCE
The members of the Almshouse Com
mittee, Messrs. Kelly, Doscher, Cronin and
| McNallv take exception to Ellis remarks.
They say
The meat Dill Ill queSblon Is as loF
lows
l4,e1s lbs. Chucks and Plates. at &c.,. $685. 81
3.0i7 lbs. Ribs aud Lions. at 7l5c,......... 226,2 20
20 lbs. Hind Saddle Mutton. al 3c,,... 2.64
Making a total 1865. ~
stThe inmates are allowed sixty ounce of
| meat a weak. in accordance with the dietary
| adopted in 1889. Allowing for IA inmates,
this would account for the use of about
IL 5000 pounds. The officers and employees
| are entitled to twenty ounces of meat daily,
| which, with the extra allowance given on
New Years day and the meals ate by the
! Committee On the days they meet at the
Almshouse would bring the consumption
| very close to the supply.
1.-THE bill for meat supplied in January,
1898, amounted to S508.53, but the difference
! can be accounted for by the fact that at that
time the contract price for chucks and plates
was 8 7-S cents per pound, against AZ cents
this year. while ribs and loins were bought
| at II cents instead of ~ cents as at pres
ent.
AMr. Ellis also made a mistake on the but
ter question. He said that the adults were
allowed one-half ounce of butter daily, and
children one quarter ounce. As a matter OF
fact, the printed dietary allows the adults
one-half ounce at breakfast and the same at
supper, making one ounce per day, while
the children are allowed e~ne-quarter ounce
at each of the three meals daily. This would
consume over 1900 pounds in one month
without considering the amount needed to
supply the twenty employees, who are al
lowed two and one-half ounces daily"