The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-27
MANAGERS IN IT
Investigation at State
Hospital Turned
On Supplies.
WHO GET THE CONTRACTS
Family Interests Don't Seem
to Have Suffered at
Boards Hands.
TEN PER CENT. PROFITS
Books of the Warden Ex-
amined at Yesterdays
Session.
TEN PER CENT. PROFITS
especial to ..rhe Jersey city News."l

Especial to 1.-The Jersey City News."1
TRENTON, Aug. q, 1901.-The exami-
nation of the alleged killing of William
Funk by an attendant of the State Hos
pital was temporarily abandoned by the
Investigating Committee yesterday, which
resumed its inquiry into the food and
other matters pertaining to the institu-
tion.
Counsellor John H. Backes asked for
the books of the wardens department.
and even a cursory examination OF these
showed the deep interest of the
managers in the hospital supplies, and
explained why so many local merchants
have been told by the Warden that II
they wanted orders for the supplies they
must first see one or another of the
Board of Managers.
1t also developed from the testimony
that it has been standing practice of
the management to charge profit of
about 10 per cent. on all clothing fur
nished to county patients, exclusive OF
the profits of the original vender.
Governor Voorhees, and Judge Thomp-
son searched in vain for any provision
in the law to justify this unusual pro-
cedure. while Mr.. Backes declared that it
only excuse offered for charging this prof
1t against the counties was that it has
been the custom to do so for years past
Evidence on these points, together with
the examination of DR.. Felty and Dr.
Cort on the food question, constituted the
principal features of the days proceed
ings.
Mr.. Backes requested the committee to
take up the question of the insufficlency
of the force of night watchmen, which
has resulted in patients dying IN the
night without attention.
This Judge Thompson declined to do at
chat juncture in the proceedings, but
promised to take up the matter later
DR.. Paul L. Cort, the fourth assistant
physician was the first witness OF the
morning, his examination being taken up
by Edwin Robert Walker, the commit
tees counsel. Dr. Cort came to the hos
pital in 1897, and he described the food at
that time as being fair, well cooked, plain
food. Dr. Cort considered it his duty
to exercise a general supervision of the
food supply as essential to the mental
and physical welfare of the patients. He
visited the dining rooms on an average OF
two or three times a week 70 rthis pur-
pose.
Where do you eat?' tie physician was
asked.
.At the central hall, with DR.. Felty."
s.Do you get the same food as the
patients?"
"No, not exactly. We had few more
things
Ibid your dietary consist of the same
food as the patients, with some addi-
tions?'
1.-THE food came from the same source
of supply"
Ibid you ever hear any objections to
the food?"
II never personally saw any evidence
that the food was improper
'sDid you hear that the food was inn
properly cooked and served for six months
prior to July 17?''
81 don't know that did,
.sDid you receive any -complaints?"
Eyes. ordinary complaints"
..Was there, during that period, any
great deterioration in any of the dishes"
II couldn't say that there was. The
chief object of my visits to the dining
room was to keep order and make a gen.
eral inspection"
did you receive any complaints from
ssYes; a man named Foss complained in
April about a special diet to a patient,
and an attendant named sickler COM
planned about the peas being uncooked.'
sTf you had received numerous COM
plants, would you have reported the fact
to DR.. Ward?'
81 certainly would"
did you ever make such complaint?'
"only in the case of special diets"
"Did you visit the kitchens?"
.yYes. and found them generally clean
and neat"
"How many complaints did you receive
from April until the presentation of the
petition July 17?''
..A number, both general and specific
..What were the specific onee?'
.srhat the cooking was poor. the meal
had eggs bad, and other things.
"Did you ever investigated"
eyes and found nothing WI
.sHaye you had Irish stew
Recently"
"How was it?'
.'I never tasted it. :.
sHow were the prunes?
s'They were good
Pressed beef. DIR: Cort said. was mol
served at his table. The corned Deel anu
cabbage. prior to the advent Of the new
butcher looked bad and tasted pad. he
did not seem surprised that complain
had been made on the score.
The witness had not seen bad pola-
toes served on the physicians table. bu'
admitted that the potatoes there were az
ways peeled instead of being served with
the skins on (as in the case Of the pa
tiellts.
Coffee was good. and The tea he did not
drink The butter ives generally fairiy