The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-11
WAS WELL PRONS|0NED'
DR.. Titus Had Ordered Extra
Supplies for the Hos
pital.
TO TIDE OVER TWO MONTHS
The Finance Committee VIII Not
Allow the Bills of the
Dealers.

The Finance Committee of the Board
of Supervisors refused to allow certain bills
yesterday for extra provisions, which DR..
Titus of the City and County Hospital had
contracted for that institution to tide it
over the period which the depleted general
fund had threatened.
The committee was alarmed over the
increase in the monthly expenditures OF
the hospital and commissioned Robert
Bell to make an investigation of the stew
ards department. Bells report showed
that DR.. Titus had gone far beyond the
limit in ordinary provisions, having aimed
to get sufficient goods on hand to supply
the hospital for the two remaining months
of the fiscal year.
Among other things the report stated
that there were 1900 pounds of faxseed on
hand. 1t was decided to send back 1000
pounds. Tiedman e. Co. delivered 1140
dozen of eggs from April 4 to May 4.
Fifty-six additional cases, or 1880 dozen, had
been ordered on April %, but were not de-
liyered, though the affidavit to the con-
trary of J. c. Renners in the employ OF
the egg-dealerS accompanied the bill that
was sent to the Finance Committee.
Captain TAYLOR chairman of the Finance
Committee, ordered thorough investiga-
Sion OF the matter. In view of the present
condition of the treasury he thought the
action of the hospital superintendent was
not above criticism.
It also appeared from the statement of
Bell that there were Isl tons of coal on
hand, and, as the hospital only consumes
ton each day, this item also received the
disapproval of the committee. 1t was esti-
mated that with the supplies on hand the
hospital could be run for $3S06 81 until
July l. The average monthly cost OF sun
plies for the last ten months was $685. 81.
The contractors furnishing the City and
County with supplies and material sent
the following explanation of their position
to the committee:
We have to notify your honorable body that
after further Investigation Of the condition
OF the general fund. we believe that there will
be money enough from the income of this
fiscal year to pay for supplies that are abSO-
lutely necessary to run the City and County for
the next ten days or two weeks, and we there
fore modify our notification previously sent to
you to the effect that we would not deliver any
more goods to the City and County under our
contracts after the Both ult., and we now sta te
as there is Il reasonable prospect of our re-
ceiving payment for supplies furnished under
our contracts for the next week or ten days,
we are ready to fill acquisitions for one weeks
supplies.
At the end of that time, If the condition OF
the general fund shall warrant it, and 1t shall
be such that there is a reasonable prospect OF
our receiving payment for further supplies
that We may furnish, we will with pleasure
honor further acquisitions, but if the con-
dition OF said fund shall be such that at the
end of one week from this date cannot
reasonably expect that there win be money 10
pay us we shall then again refuse TO I'LL requl-
Sitions that are made upon us under our con-
tracts. Yours respectfully,
T. J. Parsons
Chairman Committee.
No action was taken in the matter, as
the Board of Supervisors has petitioned
the Supreme Court for relief in regard to
paying the deficit of one fiscal year from
the tax-levy of the next.
Frank NJ. Powers was appointed special
counsel to collect the delinquent tax Of
1894 al per cent of the amount collected
His bonds were fixed at $40, 600.
The Assessor was authorized to appoint
100 men to make the assessment of the
City and County under the new tax-laU
passed by the last Legislature.