St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-03-13
1T HITS M'CARDY.
Caustic Comments OF the
Grand Jury Special Com =
mittee on Buildings 81
's
ANENT THE CITY HOSPITAL
Wards Uneomfortably Crowd
ed and a Great Plant /
Lies Idle.
BECAUSE M'CARDY REFUSES
1 =
To Sign the Contract for the
Addition--Vigorous Rec
concentrations.
BECAUSE M'CARDY REFUSES

The district court grand jury made
a final report to Judge Kelly yester-
day, and adjourned sine die. Com
mittees were appointed to investi-
gate the almshouse, county Jail and
city police stations, the city and
county hospitals, the workhouse and
the city and county offices. The re-
ports of these committees to the
grand jury were all concurred in
and embodied in the final report of
the jury to the court.
The committee that investigated
the city and county hospital took
occasion to administer a gentle roast
to Comptroller McCardy. The re-
port says that the business depart
ment was found to be we'll con-
Quoted, but that the patients do not
have the advantages and comforts
they should have, considering the
amount of money invested in the
plant.
1--WE find,' says the report, ''that the
inmates, particularly the males, are
crowded together in small, poorly ven
tiiated rooms, which were never in
tended for the purposes for which they
are now used. There is ID large addi-
ton which, when completed, will en-
able those in charge to properly care
for the patients, but at present the
work is delayed because the hospital
commission cannot enter into a con-
tract amounting to s1,O45, necessary to
make the addition fit for occupancy.
The last contract that was entered
into for this ad jitior vas awarded on
May 2, but was not signed by the city
authorities until September.
1T seems to your committee that
IT IS A DISGRACE
that $50 sick people should be crowded
together as they are now, when by the
expenditure of such small sum they
could be properly taken care of in
buildings that will be a credit to the
city when completed. We cannot see
that there is any hope of this contract
being signed any sooner than the last
ALI IN the meantime $7A.h( worth of
property lies idle. We are informed
py' the city comptroller that on behalf
OF the city he will not permit the con-
tract to be executed until the common
council provides the funds for meeting
payments under the contract. This
information has not, however. been
given to the city clerk or any of the
city authorities. The contract has
been returned to the city clerk with
Information from the COMPTROLLER thaf
ne will not sign it, but gives no, rea-
sons Tor not signing it, nor does he
inform the city clerk or city councR
what is necessary to be done before he
will sign it, -
Forty-two thousand dollars was an
proprlated from the general fund of
1881 Tor the completion of the addition.
anu contracts amounting to something
llhe Soo,ou0 nave been let, leaving over
So.ooo IN the appropriation.
But we are informed by the comm
tfolier that this money is not now
available, for the reason that the an
preparation was not made fixed
charge on the general fund. We rec
ommend that it be made a fixed cbarea
at once, as we can see no reason Whv
the care of our :
UNFORTUNATE SICK
should not <be.a fixed charge upon this
Iuhd as we'll as the care of criminals
Whlcn is now the case. we are of
the opinion that this is a matter of
sufnclent Importance for the city de-
partments that have anything to: do
with the matter to aid each other in
every possible way in removing all
obstacles standing in the way of the
speedy competition of this addition"
THE ALMSHOUSE.
The almshouse committee consisted
Of r. c. Munger, B. A. Cox. A ri
Hass and William H. Egan. The
committee reported having found
everything in a satisfactory condition,
the house being kept neat and clean
throughout, and the ninety aged in
mates seemed to be satisfied and
comfortable. Twelve COWS were found
That furnished milk, cream and butter
for the occupants. The manager and
his wife are complimented for the
manner in which they are eonductinr
the institution.
JAIL AND STATIONS.
The county Jail and police stations
committee reported through its chair
man; William Bickel, that the county
jail was found in as good condition as
could be expected, but new hunks are
recommended for the cells, those now
in use being too narrow. Attention
was called to the fact that boy eleven
years of age was found in the bows
ward with old offenders. 1t WAS
thought the reform school was a filter
place. 1t is recommended that the civ
acquire control of the ambulance pur-
chased by st. Paul ladies and that
the same be kept at the central police
station. -
AT THE WORKHOUSE.
The committee that visited the work.
house reported that it knew of 20 way.
in which the management of that M
stitution could be improved on. The
discipline was found to be perfect and
the utmost neatness prevailed through
out. The management of the knitting
works, the only industry carried on
there, was excellent. The workhouse
commission and Supt. John Fitzgerald
are commended for the manner In
which the institution is conducteaes
This report was signed by P. J. Bow.
lin, chairman. srJ
The committee that inspected the
county and city offices, of which e. RI,
Cutler was chairman, reported having
found but little of an adverse nature
to which to call attention. The ne
cessity for cleaning and calcinining
the various offices is commented upon.
and attention is called to the fact that
the city clerks quarters are too mar
row and cramped. The practice of
combining insane people in the county
ioi fc- I'D e.
the hope expressed that a department
for this purpose will be established in
the addition to the city hospital The
practice of allowing liquor dealers to
continue to do business for time after
the expiration of their licenses is crit
icised. It is made apparent by the
books of the city treasurer and city
clerk that about thirty of the licenses
in force at this time last year have
not been renewed. 1t is urged that