St. Paul daily globe., 1895-11-09
PARKER COMMITTEE MAKES IN
CURRY ABOUT THAT BRANCH o.
OF CITY GOVERNMENT. >
FINDS EVERYTHING IS O. K.
SECRETARY TONG EXPLAINS
ABOUT THE ASSISTANCE
GIVEN THE POOR.
'ITY HOSPITAL
L. AFFAIRS.
The Investigators Find Out
About Its Management, Cost
and Needs.

The Parker investigating commit
tee concluded its inquiry into the af-
fairs of the board of control yester-
day afternoon. That department
came forth from the ordeal with fly
ing colors, the members of the in
vestigating committee expressing
their satisfaction with the thorough,
careful and economical manner in
which the board of control and its
ministerial officers conduct the city
hospital and almShouse and admin
lister relief to the poor. No repre-
sentative of the library board was
sent for yesterday, and may not be
for several days, as the committee
will begin its investigation of the
police department Monday afternoon.
The committee resumed it's work
yesterday by calling upon Secretary
O. j. Tong, of the board of control.
In answer to Col. Clough's inquiries
regarding the methods of purchas-
ing fuel for the city hospital, aims
house and for the relief of the poor,
Secretary Tong submitted the adj
vertisement for bids for fuel, the
specifications and the bids received
in response to the advertisement.
Col Clough questioned City Ply
sician Ancker closely concerning the
variety of coal that is delivered to
the city hospital, with the purpose
of ascertaining how he determined
whether the contractor was furnish
ing the kind of coal ordered. DR..
Ancker said that, while he was not
a coal expert, he was familiar with
the nature and qualities of Yough-
iogheny coal, which was the coal
used at the hospital during the past
year, though he suspected that one or
two lots of alleged Youghiogheny
coal had been diluted. DR.. Ancker
added that contractors generally re-
garded public institutions as objects
of legitimate prey.
Exactly So" assented Col. Clough.
Dr. Ancker said that the heating
plant at the city hospital was
Will d lllClCl, "lllNll ollOH
the evaporation of water to pound
of coal.
Secretary Tong was asked to eX-
plain the workings of the alterna-
tive orders for coal and wood, for out
door relief, which he did. No pro-
vision was made for the inspection
of wood. If the wood was poor or of
short measure, however, the board
soon learned the facts from the
consumers.
Secretary Tong then detailed to the
committee the method of purchas-
ing groceries and other articles for
the relief of the poor. The board
invites dealers in the various pro-
visions to submit a list of their
prices for stated quantities of the
articles of food desired. Then the
board makes the prices on the basis
of all the prices submitted. Last
year the total number of provision
orders was 1920, necessitating total
expenditure of $7,229.21. These or
ders were distributed among twenty
different dealers. There was no COM
petition in the matter.
The cost of the wood distributed
last year was $5,671.4O. Eleven shoe
orders were issued at an expense of
$56.
Secretary Tong then made a de-
tailed explanation of the manner in
which the board Of control deter
mines who shall receive aid. The
system was shown to be very thor
ough and we'll calculated to prevent
fraud and imposition on the part of
applicants for aid. The associated
charities makes the Investigations
for the board of control, and re-
ceives from the board of control a
compensation of $50 month therefor.
The total number of different per-
sons given relief last year. was ,599.
Recurrent cases were numerous.
About 20 per cent of the total num-
Der of cases in year were recur-
rent. Mr.. Tong estimated that about
$50 families were permanent on the
relief list.
Secretary Tong said that the poor
department of ST. Paul spent less
than that of any other city of it's
size that he knew of. At the pres
ent time the department is not aid
ing any persons who are able to
work.
The committee then turned it's at
tention to the almshouse. The total
| expense of running the institution
last wear was $10,113. The number
| of paupers cared for was 1876 and
the number discharged So. Twelve
died.
Supt. Henry explained the conduct
of the almshouse and the manner
in which supplies are purchased. The
method is the same as that employed
by the city physician in purchasing
supplies for the hospital. No tramps
were admitted to the poorhouse.
This concluded the investigation of
the poor department. Chairman
Parker then announced that the COM
mittee would adjourn until 3:15 p. m.
| Monday, when the presence of the
mayor and chief of police would be
requested. in order that they might
enlighten the committee regarding
the work of the police department,
/ and the manner of conducting 1t.
| After the police department is dis
| posed of the committee will next
examine the fire department, the
park board, the city engineers de-
partment and the board of public
works.