St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-03-15
REFUSES TO SIGN CONTRACT
For the Completion OF the
New Bnildings--Only
$4,000 Needed.
THEOLD BUILDING CROWDED
With Suffering Patients, But
What Cares He?--Dr.
Ancker Talks.


city hospital at the present moment
is sufficiently deplorable to warrant
some very active measures being
taken, and at once, to remove all
the difficulties that stand in the
way Of the completion of the new
buildings. Owing to the very hard
year, a number of people, princi-
pally of the industrial class, have
found it necessary. when in need of
medical attention to apply to an in
Stitution where such attention could
be had without any cost to them
pital building, which has long ago
outlived it's usefulness, is crowded
beyond it's capacity-in fact to such
a degree that the patients are suf-
fering from the crowding process.
Two beautiful, well-equipped, we'll
planned new buildings stand almost
completed, but, on account of that
guardian of the city purse, Comp
troller McCarGy, the martinez. the
gas fixtures cannot go in, nor the
elevator be built, nor can the few
remaining things that would make
the new hospital buildings habitable
be done until he Of the city comp
troller's office says so, and the fact
that Mr.. McCardy is responsible
for the diScomforts that $50 people.
and sick people at that, are putting
up with evidently does not prevent
him from going his daily rounds
with the greatest equanimity and
having his meals with his accus-
toned regularity. Speaking of the
situation, DR.. Ancker said yesterday
to reporter of the GLOBE:
THAT the hospital commission or
board has not been doing the high
and mighty act that it has been
credited with by McCardy in a. re-
cent interview is shown at once from
the fact that the commission has
not the authority to spend, or con-
tract for the spending of, one dollar
OF the appropriation made by the
conference in December, 1898, with
out the proposed expenditures first
receiving the approval of the COM
mon council, the corporation attor-
ney, and lastly the city comptroller.
AS a proof of the length of time and
amount of red tape necessary. 4
might state that bids that were adj
vertised for last November for the
furnishing of coal to heat the build
ing while the men We're working. in
1t only reached the corporation. at
torney this month, and the amount
of these
$50 BIDS WAS ONLY $500.
The commission has only the power
to advertise for bids, and contracts
must be signed and approved by the
ABOVE named authorities before they
can be awarded. Hence the thigh and
mighty doings of the board. to which
Mr. McCardy referred, are all in the
air.
Before the passing of the 1894 budget
by the conference, Mr.. McCardy had
been repeatedly asked by the special
hospital commission how much money
would be forthcoming for the use of
the commission in the new work Mr..
McCardy finally informed the commits
sion that S25,OG0 would be the amount.
and that the commission might go
ahead and make contracts for all Of
this. This was in November, 1893, and
before the passing of the budget for
1894. In December of that year the
city council appointed a committee.
consisting of o. o. Cullen, the then
president of the common council. Civ
Treasurer Miller and Mr.. McCardy. to
tho taI
mate of the amount needed to finish
the buildings. Cullen and Miller re-
ported that $4,000 was the lowest
amount with which the work could be
done, While McCardy reported that in
his estimation $4,000 was sufficient.
The architect, with a member Of the
commission, had previously made a.
very close estimate of what the cost
would be, and reported the same to
the council at $4,000. At the meeting
of the conference in December to pass
upon the budget for 1894, $4,000 was
granted to the commission from the
general fund. On April IS, 1894. bids
for the completion of the buildings
Were advertised for and awarded in
June, and Immediately approved by the
council. Not until September, how
ever, did Mr.. McCardy attach his sig
nature to the contracts, and once III
the meantime he informed the commits
sion that there was only $23, GOO to the
credit Of the board but that if we
would wait until 1895 we might have
$4,000
This is exactly what has happened
between the hospital commission and
Mr.. McCardy, as the other two mem
bers of the commission-F'rank Sey-
mour and Alex Speel-also state, and
in the face of the fact that S42, 600 was
placed to the credit of the commits
sion in January, 1894, Of which only
$4,000 has been expended to date, Mr.
McCardy states that there are, no
more funds. This is what he in
formed Secretary Prendergast, of the
hospital commission, when the CON
tract for placing gas fixtures in the
new buildings was presented to him
for his signature.
Had Mr.. McCardy's estimate of $25,-
COO been received in December, 1893. in
stead of the majority report Of the
other members of the committee, which
called for $4,000 it seems possible that
he might not now be doing what will
delay the completion of the buildings
that are so much needed. But as it is
there is about $1,000 to the credit OF the
special commission, and only about
$1,000 of this is needed to complete a
group of buildings that will be a credit
to st. Paul.
WHOLLY UNHOLY AND HOLY.