The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1900-06-01
Mr.. Coates Reply to the
Free Press.

To THE PUBLIC-The intelligent,
reading people of Hardeman County
have long been familiar with GER
tain affairs of the Western Hospital;
yet, it seems, at this late day, the
Free Press is attempting to make
a personal issue of a public question.
In last weeks issue of that paper,
statement was published from
Mr.. Luther, the Steward of the
Hospital, showing that while was
member of the Board, the amount
paid TO the Trustees from Dec. 10,
1897, to Mch. 20, 1899, was 1884,
81; and that while Mr.. Manson has
been member of the Board, the
amount paid to Trustees from Mch.
90, 1899, to April 90, 1900, was
$235.IS.
This last statement does not show
that the Trustees had all been paid
in full for services rendered from
Mch. 90, 1899, to April 90, 1900.
If the statement from Dec. 10,
1897 to March 90, 1899, had gone
back few months further and the
account been itemized, it would
have shown much larger amount,
and it would also have shown who
received the money, as did my arti-
Gle published in the BULLETIN of
March II, 1899.
The following statement explains
itself:
WESTERN HOSPITAL FOR INSANE,
Bolivar, Tenn, May &C. 1900
Amounts paid Trustees from Dec. 10, 1897, to
March 20, 1892
Austin Miller, Trustee and member of Fl
nance Committee .... 3b5
w. NJ. Wright, 20
j. II. Goodwin, 9l69
d. E. Durrett, Trustee and Auditing Agent
and member of Building Committee 227. 90
A. ]. Coates, Trustee and member of the FL
and Building Committees ............. $685.
sS74.97
hereby certify that the above statement is cor
rect. f. S. LUTHER,
F. and o. E. Steward and Accountant.
1t is a well known fact that the
exhorbitant charges on the part of
one of the members of the Board
was one of the principal causes of
my complaint. A number of full
meetings of the Board was necessa-
ry to straighten out and properly
arrange matters, in order to comply
with our duties, to protect the I'M
fortunate insane as well as the tax
payers of Tennessee, which was
DONE Con siderable time was also con-
sumed in having the burnt district
rebuilt. Since March 90, 1899, the
Board has only had one full meet
ing.
The Free Press says that the
$3.50 per month paid Mr.. Manson
is his salary as chairman of the
Board, as fixed by A. J. Coates and
the other members of the Board,
and that he is auditing the books
without pay except his per diem.
Now, the account of Mr.. Manson,
published in last weeks BULLETIN,
of $1,000, shows on it's face it was
as auditing agent and the word |
chairman is not mentioned in it.
l never had anything to do
with fixing the compensation of any
Trustee. That was fixed before |
became a member of the Board.
By the rules of the institution, it
IS the duty of the Finance Commit
Zee to audit the books of the Treas
Irer and Steward and 1t takes at
east two members thereof to do the
work, as one account must be check
ID with the other. As member
If the Finance Committee received
IS per day for the number of days
Ictually engaged and at other times
2 per day as Trustee, and no more.
Every statement | have made in
egard to the Hospital, on the stump
nd through the papers, is true and
orrect and cannot be successfully
Ienied.
Truth is mighty and will prevail.
honest men will uphold the right
nd condemn the wrong.
A. J. COATES.
Announcement /,