Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-06-06

0uLleI 1oCOIu AVVAb 0au'
Abilene's representative with the
Pop administration, James Butler,
steward Of the Topeka asylum, seems
to have reflected little credit on tho
town. He resigned the other day
rather than stand investigation and
now State Accountant Challinor init
mates that he had good reason to. In
his report Of the State institutions he
says the records at the penitentiary
are in wretched shape and furnish ev-
licences Of what he calls high-handed
plundering. At the insane asylum
the State accountant says he found an
even worse condition Of affairs than
at the penitentiary. He opens his
report as follows:
"a more critical examination OF
the books and accounts OF the Topeka
insane asylum demonstrates the fact
that the board OF charities, in con-
junction with the superintendent and
steward, under the Populist admins
tration, have expended the funds Of
the asylum in reckless and unbusi-
ncsslike manner and to such an ex-
tent that the integrity Of the board
and Others is open to grave doubt and
places the parties concerned in a very
suspicious position. At this date it
would be impossible TO attach the
odium to any particular person or
convict anybody or person of what is
plainly demonstrated elsewhere in
this report, /. e., outrageous plumber.
"Dr. Eastman, the present incum-
bent, is exonerated, the increase in
expenditure having occurred during
the regime Of DR.. McCasey.
"The duties Of the steward relating
to accounts have been performed
perfunctorily, and practically no ac-
counts Of receiving or issuing stores
have been kept by him. A daybook
has been attempted, but kept in such
a manner as to be unreliable as to
dates, quantities or values. Outside
OF acquisitions there are no records in
the stewards office showing what
disposition has been made Of the
stores, hence the steward at no time
has been in position to give an ac-
count of the stores on hand or to
whom issued. There is, however, a
record kept by the bookkeeper, taken
from original invoices and duplicate
acquisitions.
"Thc period Of Steward Buffers
tenure has been characterized by
gross incompetency and neglect in
both purchasing and accounting
branches, and from general observa-
tons he has been the puppet of the
board Of charities and the superin-
tendent."
At this in stitution, also, Mr..
Challinor found that fictitious prices
had been paid for stores, in many in
stances the price being 80 per cent
more than the market value Of the
goods when bought, As throwing
some light on why these prices were
so large Mr. Challlnor presents the
following letter, which, somehow,
fell into his possession
Insane Asylum, Feb. Is, 1894,
To'Armour Packing Company, Kan
sas City, Mo.
| mailed you check for amount
due as per voucher today and expect
to receive by return mail the usual
discount to jobbers. Hoping to hear
from you promptly, | am fraternally
yours, JAMES BUTLER, Steward.
The discount asked for, Challnor
says, was refused by the Armour
company, whose whose price was 1871
cents a pound against 23 cents
charged by another dealer and
from whom purchases were made
thereafter.
The report also makes comparisons
showing that from 80 to So cents a
hundred more was paid for cornmeal
than the market price, and 20 to 40
cents more for graham flour
The detailed report shows that the
Populist administration of the asylum
cost the State many thousands more
than an equal period under any Re-
publican administration. Jim would
better come home.
Silver in Mexico.