The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-20
HOSPITAL BILLS
WILL Be PAID
IMMEDIATELY
Starvation No Longer
Threatens.
AUDITOR FINDS A WAY OUT
EXPEDIENCY MORE POTENT
THAN THE LAW.
City Officials Confer and Decide That
the Statute Should Not Be Too
Strictly Construed.
AUDITOR FINDS A WAY OUT
EXPEDIENCY MORE POTENT
THAN THE LAW.

Auditor Wells will stand between the
patients a the City and County Hospital
and starvation. This was decided yes
terday after conference between the
Auditor and the Finance Committee of
the Board of Supervisors.
The amount OF money available for the
maintenance OF the hispital for the
present fiscal year is $4,000. Some time
ago 1t became apparent that there would
be a deficit in the hospital fund before
the LIST OF July unless retrenchment were
inaugurated by the Board Of Supervisors.
MS was not done. and al the end of
March Auditor Wells found that the de-
mands presented for that month exceed
ed the monthly apportionment BY about
5000 Bills 10 this amount were held
up, il being the intention OF the Auditor
to pay them out of the April apportion-
ment-
A few days ago it became apparent
that the bills for April would exceed
the apportionment for this month, and
% s ettner the March or the April bills
have TO suffer. When this was ascer-
tanned the merchants rebelled. past ex-
perlence having taught them that there
was small prospect of obtaining their
money under the circumstances. To meet
the emergency the Board of Supervisors
at Its meeting last Monday passed a reso-
luton transferring TO the maintenance
fund OF the hospital the sum of 5000 re-
naming in the appropriation for repairs
10 that institution. This resolution was
transmitted 10 Auditor Wells who in
turn submitted the question of the legal
ity OF the act OF the board TO his legal
advisor, General Dickinson.
The attorney submitted an opinion TO
the Auditor in which Il was held that the
act of the board was Illegal and that il
had no power under the provisions Of the
consolidate act to transfer money from
one fund to another. Acting on this adj
vice. the Auditor notified the merchants
that he would refuse 10 audit demands
against the 5000 added to the mainte-
nance. fund. The merchants in turn
supply the hospital with fuel and pro-
visions until their demands for back pay
had been satisfied
Yesterday the Finance Committee Of
the Board of Supervisors held a confer
ence with Auditor Wells for the purpose
OF discussing the situation and finding,
II possible. some way out OF the diff
Guilty. General Dickinson was called in
and II was finally decided that the Au-
ditor should. on the score of eXpediency,
nance fund OF the hospital and audit de-
mands against IL.
There is a very grave doubt about the
legality Of such a course, said the AU-
ditor later in the day, but the situa-
ton with which we are confronted is A
make the unfortunates who are confined
at the City and County Hospital suffer
because of a too strict Interpretation of
the law. This being so, l have deemed
ity, to close my eyes TO technicalities in
this particular case and use such money
as IS & hand for the payment of the
hospital provision bills in order that the
patients may not be made to suffer |
have so notified the Board of Super