The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-03-18
SMITH 70 LOEB[NSTEN MONEY FOR GOOD ROADS
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAKES
REPLY.
Drugs and Medicines Purchased Out
side of Contracts Were in Small
Amounts and in Emergency Cases.

Attorney General Smith replied at
length this morning to Representative
Loebenstein's questions concerning
the drug and medicine contracts. The
replies showed that the department
had been economical and had incurr-
ed no large item of expense.
As to the first and second questions,
the amount paid for vaccine virus be-
tween October I, 1896, and October 1,
1897. and whether it was included in
the Board of Health contract, the re-
ply was that the amount was 5000,
and was not included in the contract,
but was imported under special
agreement that had been in force
number of years.
The third and fourth questions were
as to the amounts paid for drugs and
medicines for Oahu Prison, and as to
whether they were purchased under
contract. The reply was in the form
of letter from James A. Low, the
iailor. This letter gave table of the
monthly expenditures, showing total
of $66O.42, or an average of fifty-hve
dollars (S55) for each of the said
months, or $1.S1 per day. The daily
populace for this period being 172
prisoners, the actual cost per prison
er per day was fraction over one
cent.
'sIn answer to the second query:
"Were the items referred to let out by
contract, and if not, why not?' The
purchases were not made by contract.
1t never has been the custom here; in
fact the quantities purchased are so
small and varied, that it would be
difficult to figure in advance what was
necessary.
"The prisoners we have for hospital
stewards are selected for their intel
ligence for the position, yet we have
none who understand medicines, and
mixtures are not all put up here. 1t
could not be done without keeping
larger stock of drugs on hand, and
this both the prison physician and my
self object to, because of it being
more expensive.
"In further relation to this matter L
beg to enclose you copy of the Rules
of Prison Inspectors adopted in con-
ference with yourself and the Mar
shal. These rules were those of the
Oahu prison during the administration
of the Monarchy, with slight changes,
those pertaining to physician, howev-
err, are the same.
"The custom is for prison physicians
to order the supply from the druggist
and I seldom order except in urgent
cases.
81 beg to refer you to Table f of the
Prison Report for this period which
compares relative cost of the different
accounts for this period with that OF
the previous period and which shows
reduction of nearly ten cents per
month as the medical cost for each OF
the prisoners"
The fifth and sixth questions relat'
ed to drugs and medicines for the Hilo
Hospital. The bills amount to $133.o4
The surgeon in charge purchased them
from local firm in Hilo, as he need,
ed the supplies and did not know OF
the contract.
The seventh question was as to DR.
Alvarez's purchases abroad.
His purchases were all authorized
by the Board of Health, and were
such as required special selection ant
could not be procured in Honolulu
They amounted to 5000.
In reply to the eighth question i
was said that the anti-toxine used b,
the Board of Health was not purchas
ed from the contractors, because the.
did not have it, and it was required
Immediately.
Inc nlHtH anu u'ttHth HutStiohS "Si
as to whether the contracts for sup
plies and medicines for the Queen
Hospital were let out by the Govern
ment. In reply the Attorney Genera
said:
Answer: The answer to these tw
questions is that the Government ha
no control over the matter. TIL
Queens Hospital is private corpora
ton under the control of trustees, an
while it receives certain aid from tn
Government, the trustees have tn
whole control of it's affairs.
The last question was whethe
drugs for the enlisted soldiers wer
purchased by contract. The reply wa
that they are not, but are procured b
the surgeon in charge as they are II
quired.