The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-31
COULD FIND TO CRITlCISE
RECOMMEND THAT THE ASSOCI-
ATED CHARITIES BE KEPT OUT
OF POLITICS.,
BUT OVERLOOK CITY HOSPITAL.
Municipal Court Clerks Handling OF
Bail Moneys Mentioned, But Not
Criticised.

| Judge Kelly yesterday afternoon and
was given a vacation until March To-
The report presents a review of the
management of county and city affairs
and makes several recommendations.
Ex-Sheriff Chapers management Of
the jail is condemned and the jury
/ finds that there is no coal trust in the
county. The report in full follows:
To the Honorable District Court of the
Second Judicial District of ADMINISTRATIVE
grand jury of the county of Ramsey, in the
state Of Minnesota, who have had numer-
Gus duties, made more binding by the charge
of this honorable court, beg leave to report,
as a result of their deliberations, exanina-
tons and Investigations the following:
The county Jail, court house and city hall,
wOrkhOuse, police headquarters and substa-
tions have been each visited and examined.
In visiting the county Jail, going through all
the different departments carefully, We were
! impressed with the importance if not the alb
sOlute necessity for new Jail building. AS
| we cannot secure that desirable object within
/ The immediate present, it IS earnestly recon-
mended that a general cleaning up and GER
! tain necessary repairs on the building should
/ be made without any delay.
/ Owing to the recent change Of county Of
! fcer5, we are unable to judge of the efficiency
OF the present management of the jail, but
would say that found an apparent effort
! on the part Of the new officers to put the
| building in an improved sanitary condition,
/ sleep and sufficient wholesome food.
We find, however. that the former sheriff
! OF Ramsey county, whose duty is the keeping
! of the jail, and who is responsible for the
manner in which the same is kept under the
provisions of section No. 1890 Of the Statutes
/ OF Minnesota, 1894, has been neglectful of his
| duty. We find also that under the provisions
of section No. 1892 in regard to food of pris-
| oners, cleanliness, ETC., that 1.-The keeper of
such Jail shall see that the same Is constant
| ly kept in a cleanly and healthful condition
ic nNr1 taTlt1y maid tO
| the personal cleanliness of all the prisoners
in his charge, custody, ETC.
VERMIN IN THE JAIL.
1t is the opinion Of the, grand jury that
| the requirements Of this section have been
violated, as we find many of the cells wherein
| prisoners are kept in an uncIean and
| healthy condition; that the walls of the cells
! and the beds for the use of prisoners are
! hlIed with vermin, so much that con-
! slider them unfit for the habitation of animals,
much less for human beings; that the build
! ing is filed with dust and dirt and cannot
/ have received the proper care required by the
! keeper Of the Jail as provided by the statutes.
! Our attention has also been called to the
| fact that the walls of the jail are filled with
rats; that the animals have been allowed to
| run freely through the corridor and cells of
| the building.
While this grand jury wishes to avoid I'M
! Justly criticising the action of public officers,
1t cannot conscentiously let pass what ap-
| pears to be such a fragrant neglect of public
! trust. We appreciate fully the condition of
I the present Jail building that it is old, dilap-
! idated and no longer a fit place for the care
! of prisoners, having outlived its day for
i usefulness Butw do not feel that even such
| condition could Justify such a shameful neg
| lect of the welfare of human beings commit
ted to public care. -,.
We call special attention to these condi-
| tons and if it is found that a public trust
| has been wilfully betrayed, that the proper
| person or persons guilty of such INSIDE
meanor be made to pay the penalty for the
! violation of the requirements of the statutes
| under the provision of section No. 1885
| The central police station when visited was
! found to be in a good sanitary condition, the
| cells clean and properly provided with nee
| essary cots and accessories for the proper care
| of prisoners. We examined the police pa
troll telegraph and electric alarm system now
in use by the department and believe it to be
| complete and efficient in every detail We
found the substations at Ducas street. Prior
| avenue Rondo and Margaret streets under
the same careful management. We find that
| complete set of books kept in all the
| stations, and can heartily commend the eff
| cheney Of the police department under the
| present management. We think it proper to
! call attention of the authorities to the condi-
ton Of the buildings at the Ducas street and
| Margaret street stations, which much in
! need of repairs to the roofs and floors of the
| wagon rooms in order to save the buildings
| from unnecessary decay.
| 1t is with pleasure and pride, citizens of
st. Paul, that we refer to our visit at the
| workhouse at Como. We found nothing in CT
! around the buildings-its cleanliness the SAN
ers are confined, the culinary department
workshops rules and regulations in both the
male and female wards, books; in fact, every
! thing connected with the management and
| maintenance Of the institution-that would
call for anything but praise and commenda-
| ton.
COUNTY TREASURER'S NEEDS.
| With reference to the court house and city
hall, would say that the building is kept
! clean and in sanitary condition. We de-
| sire to call attention to matter which seems
| to US of great Importance to the public well
! fare. The Office off the county treasurer is
! not provided with a fire proof vault for the
necessary protection of books and records of
! the county against loss by fire; that the treas
urer is not provided with a suitable safe for
the safe deposit of money which is Of neces-
| sity kept in the Office between banking hours.
The same is true of the books and records
in the office Of the board of public works. We
recommend that the attention of the proper
| authorities be called to this matter so that
the necessary changes may be made and the
| records of the county and its moneys be
! kept in safe place.
We visited the county and city hospital
! on Jan. 10, and found the same under the
management of DR.. Ancker and assistants,
! The wards rooms and corridors were well
! aired and clean. We were also shown the
pantries kitchen and laundry, and found no
reason for complaint in any particular but
| everything to commend.
There seems to be urgent need that an
additional boiler be placed in the boiler room
they have difficulty in raising sufficient
steam, and in case of accident, they have
| no reserve force. The engineer informs
US he could use less coal If he had an ad-
ditional boiler. We are informed that the
| engineer does all the steamftting and repair
ing. Upon our visit he was just completing
| table made of pine and glass for the morgue
upon plans furnished by DR.. Ancker. In addi-
ton to the extra boiler there seems to be
| needed dynamo Of sufficient size to light the
| hospital. This, it was stated would cost
s., 900. of which $4,000 has already been ap.
| propriated by the county and consequently
| but $1,000 would have to be raised by the
| city. We are informed that 81 900 per wear
| can be saved over what it costs to light with
| gas. The gas bill for December was over
| 5000. DR.. Ancker states that gas is Injurious
to patients, since the flame burns the oxygen
| out of the air.
OTHER INSTITUTIONS.
We are also pleased to learn from the
| doctor that there have been received from
pay patients during the past year nearly
| 1900, but it is the Doctors opinion that
his source Of revenue viii be increased from
now on.
The Ramsey county almshouse was visited
on Jan. g. and there found ninety inmates.
mostly old people, and many of them erin
pies and helpless, unable to do any work.
The rooms and beds were clean and well
| aired, walls neatly calcimined and whtewashed
and everything in clean order and excellent
discipline, under the management Of Mr. and
Mrs. Hendry as superintendent and matron.
They have six horses to do their farm work
and haul milk and vegetables to town They
have eighteen cows and forty or fifty hogs and
young pigs. The superintendent reports they
sold to the county hospital 81 200 worth Of
milk and vegetables during the past year
The superintendent also reported that the cos
OF each inmate is about $1.70 per week Thi:
includes the salary of all employees INCLUDING
the superintendent and matron, coal and wood
groceries, Clothes etc. This seems a re
markable showing and proves that runnin,