The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-30

list steward, w. A. Cox. Part Of IL was
as follows:
".Q.-were you ever told TO furnish the
patients with double supply OF oatmeal?
Al was told TO use II as fast as pos
sibie. and as much as possible. and TO sub
stitute 1t for other articles whenever
could.
"'Q.-Did the superintendent have full
control OF the internal affairs of the hosps-
tai?
Ale did not The auditor found fault
with the superintendent on account of the
amount OF medicine purchased. and said
10 me that we were buying too much med
iciHe, and that We would have TO cut IL
down. remarking that dose OF salts was
all those fellows needed.
cit was also in evidence that the letting
of contracts for supplies which by law
should have been In the hands OF the su-
perintendent had been taken entirely in
hand by Mr.. Lister. We also learned that
on one occasion Lister had visited the asy-
lum and given instructions that the pa
tents IN two wards should be concsntrat-
ed into one, In order to reduce expenses.
Perhaps in the light OF recent develop
ments. IL may not be amiss TO cite from
our report some Of the facts which We be-
lieved were fully established BY the evil
denee submitted to us.
First-That tine personal relations existing be
tween Superintendent Lockhart and The assist
ant superintendent. DIR. Mclean, and W. A.
Cox. steward are not cordial
Second-That Superintendent Lockhart has
not been allowed BY the board Of audit and con-
troll to make such appointments and dismissals
Of employees as Ia his Judgment were necessary
for the welfare Of the institution.
Fourth-That old and experienced employees :
in this institution have been discharged to maze
room for Others who have generally had no e1-
perience in the management and care Ut the
insane.
Fifsh-Thst there are not sufficient attend.
ants at the institution for their own safety and
the care and wssli-being Of the patients.
sixth-That the appropriation for the past
two years. according to the testimony OF tile
r1xsap fnnf and axxtxfa ant N dent
was insufficient thereby causing many incon-
,enienees. and the management keenly felt the
want of sufficient money
Seventh -The beef supply has been reduced to
one-han, and pork has been substituted therefor;
at one time in place Of 2 500 pounds Of oatmeal.
In accordance with the requisiien for that
amount 2i750 pounds sent by the board
Of audit and control. With instructions to nse
freely, substituting it for other articles Of food.
cost
Ninth The superiniendent aud steward of the
institution have been instructed by the board OF
audit aud control that they. the said board.
would decide on the amount OF drugs to be puT-
chased.
Politics the Great EVIL.
Tenth--The merit systeni formerly in force
in this Institution. has been entirely ignored.
and party affiliations and political incinations
have become the chief qualifications required for
appointment to the various positions in the in
stitution.
Eleventh During the last campaign political
assessments were made at the suggestion Of
party leaders for partisan purposes Employees
/ Of the institution were in attendance at the
Z polls during the day of election. working in the
interest Of the fusion party.
lfth-The political leaders not connected
with the hospital have actively interfered in
the management and control Of the affairs OF
this institution.
Thirteenth Is but one engineer en-
picsed at the institution. and the plant in his
absence Is left In charge Of the fireman
Fourteensh-The in charge Of the pump
station is in the habit Of leaving his work and
plant without the knowledge of the superin-
tendent chief engineer.
Fifteenth-The number of patients in the in
stitufiou Is too large to each attendant In all
the wards. which has endangered the lives Of
the attendants aud patients There from
fifteen to eighteen patients To each attendant.
which number is often increased
Twenty -first-A reduction Of salaries and wages
and limiting and decreasing the number os en-
rinyes has reduced the cost Of maintaining said
institution during the past and nehalf
years TO the extent If several thousand dollars
at the cost ~ the efficiency az the service
Txenty-third change from the merit sys-
tenn and substituting the partisan system of ap-
pointments, for political purposes, has caused
unrest and dissatisfaction in the hospital and
has intarfered with the proper and efficient
furt n iusti init