The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-24
TRUSTEES IN A BAD PLIGHT.
OFFICERS OF STATE sANITARIUM
HAD a GOOD THING.

8unt Charged with Appropriations
state Money to His own Use - Also
Charged the Sanifarium for Pro-
fesSionnI Services Trustee Jo-
Sephs. as Agent for Merchants.
Got Large Commissions on stun
sold the Sanitarium.
Atlanta, June 23.-The legislative joint
committee, appointed to investigate the
affairs OF the state sanitarium, or lunatic
asylum, which has been in session al the
capitol since Monday, filed its report with
Gov. Gambler this afternoon.
Trustees Josephs and Hunt are severe
~ scored for their acts in obtaining money
from the institution by selling it goods
and otherwise, the report beng in line
with the charges intimated against these
trustees during the session of the legis-
lature.
Senator Underwood and Representative
Park of Green, Newton and Copeland
compose the committee, which began its
work at AIilledgeville May l, taking testi-
mony there and compiling the report since
reconvening at the capitol last Monday.
The following extracts from the report
VIII show the rather sensational state of
affairs at the sanitarium in connection
with Trustees Josephs and Hunt:
I'VE very much regret that the evidence
which we file with this report discloses
the fact that more or less friction of dis
agreement exists among the trustees of
the institution. The line of disagreement
seems to be well defined, separating three
trustees, long in Office, from seven, whose
terms In office date back a few years
only. This we find TO be unfortunate and
more or less hurtful 10 the states best
interests.
Trustee Hunts Graft.
1.-The committee finds that in 1895 the
law relative to the state sanitarium was
compiled in pamphlet form, covering four
teen pages. A compilation was made by
Hon. w. II. Burwell of Sparta, Ga, Mr.
T. NJ. Hunt then and now a trustee of
the institution, contracted with Mr.. Bur
well TO do this work for S66.66. On the
18th day of April, 1885, Mr.. Hunt collected
the sum of $3.50 from the steward of the
sanitarium for this service, filing a receipt
therefor.
1--WE further find that MIR. Hunt paid TO
Mr.. Burwell 1886 of said $3.50, and Illegal
ly appropriated the balance, namely
$1SS "a, to his private use. We unhesitating-
ly condemn this conduct on the part of
Mr. Hunt as trustee. and urge that legal
proceedings to compel the return of said
sum Of money, namely. slS3.S4. to the state
treasury, where it legally belongs, be had;
and that the legislature take cognizance
of said trustees conduct in said matter.
The committee further finds that Mr.. Hunt
as trustee received sums of money from
the institution as follows:
- n.
on one other occasion, SIS; and that dur
ing the year 1898 he was paid $25 for ser
vices and expenses in going to Macon, Ga,
10 purchase mules and wagons for the in
stitution. In view OF these occurrences, the
committee recommends legislation making
il criminal for any trustee officer or agent
of the State Sanitarium to directly or in
directly accept or receive money or any
thing of value for services other than the
compensation or salary therein provided
by law
Charges Against Josephs.
"The committee finds that Adolph JOS
ephs, of Baldwin county, who was APP
pointed trustee for the sanitarium In De-
cember, 1894 has since his appointment as
agent for Fried & Co, wholesale dealers
in merchandise and for other merchants
who were frequently successful bidders for
the sale of goods 10 the sanitarium, shared
whose agent he was. In several instances
Mr.. Josephs received so per cent. of the
profits from the merchants he represented
as agent. The evidence shows that i'm some
cases the successful bidders made profits
ranging from 20 TO % per cent, so per cent.
of which Mr.. Josephs received.
THE evidence clearly shows that while
Mr.. Josephs was in the employ of ]. r.
Fried & Co. of Macon, Co., on a salary
of ST. 400 per annum, that company was
frequently successful in selling large
amounts of goods to the sanitarium That
MIR. Josephs, as the agent of other bid
ders, made frequent sales of goods to the
institution, amounting in the aggregate TO
thousands of dollars. In the last named
instances, the evidence does not disclose
the amount of profits made, but does dis
close the fact that Mr. Josephs received
a commission on the profits made by the
merchants he represented
The committee condemns the practice
on the part of Mr.. Josephs and recon-
mends legislation prohibiting such conduct
In the future on the part of trustees of
the institution or other officers or agents
thereof"
on