Omaha daily bee., 1897-03-07
INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED
Examination Of the Charges Of Nismanage
ment Against the Union Pacific.
CASES ARE TAKEN UNDER AMUSEMENT
Sensational Developments which
Were Anticipated Failed TO Ma
tcrinIize While the Tcsu-
mony WAS Being Taken.

The investigation into alleged mismanage-
ment on the part OF the officials OF the Union
Pacific railway. instituted by +. f. Gilliland,
the discharged station agent Of Papillion. aud
likewise an officer In the order of Railway
Telegraphers was concluded yesterday after
noon in this city The investigation occupied
several days in the court OF Master-in-Chan-
cery Cornish in December last, and after an
adjournment Of two months was taken up
again during the past week II started out
as though the most sensational disclosures
of misconduct on the part OF the manage
ment would be made, but before 1t was
finished 1t smmered down to a remarkable
degree Of mediocrity.
Two cases have been under consideration
namely: Alleged misconduct on the part Of
the heads Of the medical department and
mlsmanagement of the hospital fund, and
the complaint of certain employees that their
wages were cut during the depressed busi-
ness seasons of 1894 and 1895. All the testi-
mony in both cases is now in and
both cases have been taken under
advisement by Master-in-Chancery Cornish.
1t will probably be several weeks before
he makes his report to the federal court.
The hospital case was the only one con-
sidered at yesterdays session of the court.
The only witness examined was Chief Sur
geon Galbraith, who was called by the rail-
road company to explain certain charges
made against himself by f. Il. McMullen,
his former chief clerk. An unsuccessful at
tempt to break down Dr. Galbraith's testi-
mony was made on the cross examination
by Attorney Dolphin.
GALBRAITH EXPLAINS.
Asked why the Denver hospital of the
medical department had been closed, DR.. Gal
bralth said that the building there had been
condemned by the health and plumbing in
spectors Of Denver. He testified that II was
in such dangerous condition that 1t was
unsafe to take patient there. Had the
health authorities not ordered it closed. he
should have insisted that his superior officers
do so.
In regard to the complaint that an Italian
boy had been kept at st. Josephs hospital
| and that his medical and board bills had been
| paid out of the hospital funds, DR.. Gal
| braith said that no charge for this case had
ever been made against the hospital fund
| In the cases Of two men who were injured on
| the road and cared for by the department, he
| testified that when they were brought in, he
| had supposed that they we're employees of
| the road and entitled to medical service free
Later when he discovered that they were
| not employees, the hospital fund, he said was
| reimbursed by the operating department of
| the railroad for its expense.
The chief surgeon explained his action in
| endorsing the expense accounts of Assistant
| Canada of the roads special service depart
ment, while they were at Excelsior Springs
and Hot Springs, respectively, by saying that
| he wished to get ruling on the question OF
| such accounts, and therefore passed the
vouchers in order to get decision from the
general manager.
| Asked to explain why he had given away
| two sets of surgical knives to physicians, at
| the expense Of the medical department, DIR.
Galbraith said that last summer he had
under his care Union Pacific employe who
was afflicted with severe case of
appendicitis Two distinguished physicians
were in the city, one from Montana and the
other from Ohio. These he called to consult
with him in the case, and later they as
sisted him in an operation on the patient.
When the physicians left they were requested
| to send In their bills for services rendered.
Within a fortnight he was surprised to
receive two receipted bills, each for $3.50.
After this action on their part, he thought
| it no more than right to present them with
| the knives in question. Should similar
circumstance arise, he would do the same
thing over again.
TALE OF THE LIQUOR.
Regarding the whisky purchased at a
saloon, he said it was obtained there because
the druggis. from whom medical supplies
were obtained was out of that particular
brand of liquor. The whisky was used to fill
the wreck-boxes that were carried on all
along the lire. He did not remember ever
| having said to his former chief clerk that
! the best whisky must be had because certain
officers of the company were coming out
from the east and their cars must be sup
piled with the finest whisky. He denied
having been intoxicated while out on GER
tain hunting trip. though he said that he
had had "a very enjoyable time on that
occasion" Though cigars, beer and whisky
were used on the trip he was sure he had
not been intoxicated. He knew this because
he had killed more birds than any one else
in the party. He had never received any
complaint against any OF his assistant sur
geons, had he retained any inefficient
| surgeons in his employ.
On ross-examination Attorney Dolphin
made vigorous attempt to weaken the tes-
timony of the witness, banking heavily on
the sensational testimony of McMullen, the
discharged clerk of the medical department
to impeach the veracty of DIR. Galbraith