Evening star., 1898-06-28

%, 1884 PAGES.
fective collusion to the great detriment OF
the government.
1t appears from the admission Of the
steward that the out-resident cooks have
been In the habit, under cover of his per-
mission, of taking home what they want of
sEch meats and other articles of food as
are left over. mo one suspects what they
take, and thus they have been privileged
to lay hospital Supplies under contribution
for the support of their families. The stew
ard inEoceltly declared that they didn't
take too much although he left 1t to them
to take what they want.
Concerning the quantity of the food. the
board says there was general complaint
that the food served is not well prepared,
and although the material employed is of
proper grade, it is spoiled by improper
pi preparation
Patients Neglected.
Another important discovery was made
by the board in the matter of food for the
patients. 1t found that the patients were
neglected in order that the large force OF
employees received enough. The board
found the food supplied to the doctors ta-
bles to be much better than that furnished
convalescent patients. THE steward ad-
mi.ted that he had made eight or nine
freezers of ice cream about a dozen times
about 10S gallons in all, but that the pa
tients had gotten none of it. He explained
that the roasts would not go around the
wards, and that he furnished meat stews
right often to the patients, with an occa-
sional slice of beef or mutton, but that the
employees tables were furnished roast beef
or mutton with stew maybe once or twice
week. The steward protested that he
did the best he could for the patients,
which no doubt is due under the conditions
named. But We are of the opinion that the
sick and helpless are entitled to the first
consideration, instead of the last in the
distribution of the supplies for the hospi-
tai. And care should be taken to see that
the sick receive those delicate dainties
which their condition demands, and that
Congress intended for their benefit.
The board recommends that the steward
be required to live in the hospital; that
he should be a person of intelligence, alert
and vigilant, able to keep proper accounts
and as well to devise daily menu and
suitable dishes for both sick and Well
Insufficient Records.
Concerning the hospital office the board
says: I'VE were not a little surprised at the
insuffcency of records and the meager
character of those which had been kept.
This office is the clerical touchstone of the
hospital, and should contain permanent
records showing its actual state in every
department at all times. In the condition
in which We found it, it would have been
difficult, if not impossible, to formulate
reliable report TO the hospital in the va
rious departments OF its administration.
The board found that formerly the hospital
kept and rendered a quarterly report of
property to the Secretary of the Interior,
but for several years such a thing has
been practically unheard of. and when the
incumbent took charge of the hospital no
invoice of hospital property could be found,
nor was there any way to account for prop
erty that was lost, stolen or abandoned.
The board says it is impossible to con-
ceive how, in the absence of such infor-
nation, the hospital can know how to
regulate its demands upon the several
funds subdivided in the appropriation or
know the state of each particular fund
thereof
The report goes on to say that the clerk
was surprised himself at the loose meth
obs, but says he was not instructed to OBJ
tam or keep such records. although he call
cd the attention of the proper officials
thereto.
Commenting upon the system of checking
the accounts of contractors the board
characteriZes the methods as not only un-
DuS1nessllke, but dangerous and vicious
ana deny TO the government any sure pro-
lection The board finds upon investiga-
ton of the vouchers on file in the District
office and in the Office of the auditor for the
State and other departments that quite a
large saving could have been made in the
purchase of stationery, printing and blank
books had the District authorities made
requisition on the Interior Department
The board believes the office of the
matron has been largely overpaid and re-
duction of the salary. together with her
duties and responsibilities, have been rec
commended.
Hospital Property Removed.
S'"rtlng admissions We're made to the
b1--d as to the sale of property. Hereto
fore record of this was kept, the proceeds
going to miscellaneous uses, such as buy
ing stamps, car tickets. etc. For several
years past, the board says. this practice
has been abandoned and the proceeds from
such sales were appropriated to the private
uses of the seller. The cook sold old
grease and pocketed the money as part of
his perquisites: With no check over his ac-
tions, it was easy to increase the grease by
shaving the food of 1.-The patients. I'm a
word, any food supplies might have been
sold under the mysterious term of old
grease, and with no checks upon the abuse
of such privilege, and no one to inspect
packages taken out. the hospital might
have been Systematically robbed of its sub
sistence stores"
The board has checked this leak When
the order was given the cook called on the
Surgeon-in-chief and said If his old grease
was taken away from him he must have a
raise in pay.
The board calls attention to the fact that
the District Commissioners have charge of
board of visitors have perfected hereafter
a proper method will prevail for the sale
of old material.
The board found that the hospital work
had been impeded by friction between its
officers, and already several changes have
been made which will remedy the evil. The
fault has been, the board says, in the alb
sence of rules and system and central di-
rection.
The board recommends a ward in the
hospital for pay patients, and the estab-
lishment in the city of an inebrate hospi-
tai. 1t also recommends that the surgeon
in-chief be made a bonded officer, a bond
in the sum of $1,000 being required.
Divided jurisdiction.
The board points out the unwise provision
which divides the jurisdiction of the hospi-
tai and characterizes it unwise and in
expedient. 1t would be far better, the
board states, If Congress would place the
hospital either under the District Commits
sioners the Secretary of the Interior
Secretary Bliss has approved the finding
and recommendations of the board of Wis
itors and within few days the Freedman's
Hospital will enter upon a new career.