The morning call., 1894-09-12
Extravaganza and CareIessness
in the Hospital.
THE WEEKLY GRIND is RESUMED
An Easy Means at hand for Flush
ing Sewers-The Crematory Bids.
Routine Papers.


200 OF them, most of which have been re-
ported as filed from day TO day.
The feature OF the session was the re-
port of the committee specially appointed
to Investigate the affairs of the City and
County Hospital The report avoided set
terms and said things in a manner calcu-
lated TO leave DO doubt as to the intent of
the committee, which was composed of
James, Denman and Kennedy.
They found the buildings in good con-
dition, the grounds we'll kept and the
wards neat and well ventilated. "On
questioning the head eook," the report
goes on - say, she stated that though the
contract called for the best American steer
beef, they hardly ever got any. The beef
examined was pronounced cow beef by
Supervisor James, who said IL was very
good of its kind. The Dutter was inferior
OF slightly rancid, but the bread was ex-
cellent. The potatoes were small WateTy
and scabby. Other escuIents and vege-
tables were up to the standard. Nearly
all the patients who were interviewed
coHpiaine OF the tea and coffee, but es-
peclally Of the coffee. which they called
Slops. Ii the contractor was required TO
live up TO his contract and furnish green
instead Of roasted coffee there would be
less grumbiing from the patients The
roasted berry appeared to be al inferior
grade of coffee.
MANY of the patients declined to answer
questions, giving as an excuse that they
were recipients of charity, and under the
circumstances didD't think il hight to COM
plain. Others were afraid TO complain.
tearing that they might be spotted ana
get ticket OF leave. Some more were
suspicious and answered questions re-
iuctantly, as though your committee mad
come evil design on them. But all of them
were a unit in the statement that there had
been a great Improvement in the diet
since the recent visit of Mayor Ellert and
Supervisors Stanton and Hinton. The
women patients had the courage of their
convictions, and unlike the men, spoke
their mind freely, bitterly complaining of
the food, the nurses and the management.
generally. The eggs smelled so strong
that they wsTe never eaten, the coffee was
bad and the food was generally colo when
served.
''When asked why they didn't complain,
they said there was no use complaining, a
the doctor always sided with the nurses
and complaint meant expulsion. One
refined Iadyhke woman, who had Travelled
much, aud who had visited hospitals In dill
terent States of the MON, declared that
ours was tle worst managed she had ever
seeE.-
This lady objected to coarse men work
ing In wOmenS wards, complained of the
want of screens and the noD-obseryance
we're neither kind nor attentive in looking
after the wants of the sick, and the super
intendent, when making his daily rounds
IN company with nurse, never noticed
nor inquired into the condition of the pa
tients.
"This lady wound up by saying that th e
patients were treated more like cattle than
human beings.
Compared with former administrations
the hospital is managed most extrava-
ganily. DR.. Titus expended last year in
maintaining the hospital $50, COL 90, or
$1l;601 SO in excess of his appropriation
while DR.. BaTger, when supplies of every
kind. with the single exception of coffee,
were much dearer than they are to-day,
ran the hospital with an equal mum Der of
patients for S69 654 08, or S16,947 So less
than Dr. Titus administration.
The trouble with the DOCTOR" the report
goes on 70 say, is be devOtes so much time
TO cIl ieizlDR the Board of Supervisors that
he can hardly be expected 10 run the hos
pital 10 an economical basis The appro-
pTiation OF $4,000 for this year almost
broke his heart. it disordered bis liver and
he never misses chance to vent his
spleen through the columns of the press
on the heads of the Supervisors for their
miserly conduct. The doctor VOWS that
he can't conduct the hospital on this ap-
pr0prlaton, and in the most defiant man
ner threatens to turn the patients ont.
IEls worc can't Is the universal plant
OF every Incompetent since the world be-
gan. The doctor if he desires to know
how IT Is done should take lesson from
5be Aims house where twice the number
OF inmstes-half of them invalids-are well
maintained Tor about $4,000 less than it
cost 10 run the hospital last year. lis an
aphorlsm that eminent doctors. LAWYERS
and dlYlneS ale so absorbed in their nro
fesSiOns that they know little about out
side. affairs and as rule make poor bust
ness men. Doctor Titus might be a bril-
liant success as medical practitioner. bpt
as the head Of public Institution. in the
opniODs OF your committee, he is a mser-
able failure.
FINALLY, your committee most respact-
fully. suggests to the Board of Health that
in order 10 subserve the best interests of
the hospital a change should be made.
AS in nearly al the Eastern hospitals.
business man conVersant with the quality
ana. value of supplies should be at the
helm; then. instead of the appropriation
being insufficient, there would be a sur
plus-as in the case of the Almshouse-in-
sfead of deficiency at tue end Of the fiscal
year,
The Finance Committee reported con-
cernne she raise in the State assessment,
that when the Mayor, Auditor, etc, visited
Sacramento with statistics to answer the
board they judged at once from the man
ner of ttelr reception that most of the
members had already made up their minds
to a raise, right or wrong, and it was
merely question of amount. The report
complains Of the arbitrary power of the
board, as being ''repugnant To and in vio-
laf1cn of the Federal constitution. and
would be so held il proper casa was
taken TO the United States Supreme
POUR" but the delay incident 10 such It'll
gallon, 1T says, precludes this course.
she only other remedy as suggested,
determined on a basis fairer than the
lpse dixlt OF members Of the State Board
of Equalization, would be TO amend the
State constitution by making each State
board report TO the Legislature and grant
ing Inat body the power to designate the
amounts To be paid by each county.
Your committee has no hesitafion in
stating that this city and county desires to
pay its full quota for the support of the
State govern nment, but 1T demurs 10 being
held up by the IN warranted action of tbe
State board and compelled 10 paw a mar
ceutage oD an additional valuation of it's
property solely created by the whims and
prejudices of majority of SAID State
board"
Bids vera to be opened for the constrnc-
tion of the cremat0ry for the consumption
of city offal. Only one bid had been re-
ceiVed-that of the California CremaIory
and Garbage Company. A representative
was present from a New York concern
which was ANXIOUS TO put in bid but de-
sired more time, the principals Of The con-