The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-21
that $4,000.
Mr.. Backes Says State Hos
pital Investigation Should
Go Further.
MORE IN IT THAN BAD FOOD
Charges. of Mismanagement
Go Like Wildflre Through
the State.
Especial to ..rhe Jersey city News."l


a sensation, confined not alone to this im-
mediate locality, but extending through
out the State. Mr.. Backes is very posi-
tive in his position, and does not hesitate
to express himself freely on the subject.
In explaining the stand he has taken, M.
Backes said yesterday
Under the law all of the money which
the State appropriates and which the
counties must pay is turned into the
treasury of the hospital, and is checked
out by the treasurer on the order of the
warden.
1.-THE money so paid into the treasury is
a specific trust and to employ single
penny for purposes other than the main
tanning and supporting-in other words,
feeding, clothing, entertaining, etc.-of
the patients is a legal violation OF the
trust but the Misrepresentation of the
So, 900. as charged in this instance, in
wolves more than a mere technical breach
of duty.
with a large fund in the treasury, the
disclosures made Monday by the head
cook that yearly during the months OF
March, April and May, not a vegetable
other than potatoes-and those soften
was served to the insane patients, shows
that the money was misappropriated at
the expense of the health of the afflicted
entrusted to the care and tender mereies
of the managers and wardens.
Instead of wholesome food and of SUI
ficient quantity being purchased by the
warden, as it was his duty to do, one
third of the money SO cheerfully contri-
buted by the State and counties during
the year 1900 was checked out for the con-
struction OF a handsome mansion for tho
warden and it's furnishings and for other
State buildings upon the grounds.
1.-The excuse that the Improvements
were made upon State lands is no defense
or justification legally or morally. The
unfortunates went hungry that the war
den might live in luxury.
THE States and counties, plus the
money paid by private patients, put into
the treasury of the asylum $1s6,0OO dur
ing the year 1905.
There was surplus balance of $780,
COO saved by false economy, all of which
belonged TO the patients. and should have
been used in their interest only. In
stead of that more than $4,000 was ap-
piled for new building, nearly $4,000 in
the repair of the old building, grounds
and lighting improvements, $1,000 for
household furnishings and other minor
disbursements, EIlISlIS Tie tOtd4 " AAAOiS
than $65, 600.
IF these improvements were needed
the asylum managers should have applied
to the Legislature for the necessary ap-
preparation instead of dissipating the
monies entrusted TO them by the taxpay-
ers for the nurture of the mentally af-
fiicted.
.sThe managers say the expenditures
were made out of the savings, and it is
all the more shame on them that the mon
ey was falsely accumulated at the ex-
pense of many hungry stomach. The
savings were bearded in the treasury
while the sick were unnourished and I'M
cared for
The "True American printst today
letter from an employe of the hospital re-
garding the disposal of milk. The letter
is
To the Editor Of 'The True American" -
Sir At a meeting of the managers of the
State Hospital for the Insane to inquire
into the charges made by the attendants
as to improper food served to them and
the patients, Lawyer Backes asked what
becomes of the milk of forty-fve COWS.
He received no satisfactory answer. l be-
lieve I can give him very satisfactory
account of the distribution of the milk.
81 will divide the distribution into five
sections.
First. The officers and their families
without limit.
Second The tables of the petty officers.
Those whom designate as petty officers
are the bookkeeper, storekeepers. type
writers and supervisors.
Third, The married employees, i. e.,
those of them who are living in houses
belonging to the State.
Fourth. The kitchens.
Fifth. The patients. They get what is
left, and it is often very short when it
comes to their turn.
The married employees are allowed one
quart of milk per diem, with one excep-
tion. That one gets four gallons per diem.
He has charge of the washhouses. He
hires, pays and boards his help; he has
his house, fuel and light free, and the
institution furnishes him with soap,
starch, ETC., and gives him $4,So0 per year
for managing the business. Milk is a
mart of the food of his table, but, in my
opinion. he has as much right to buy his
milk as he has to buy potatoes and meat.
He is given about one dollars worth of
milk every day flour gallons).
There are four other employees who are
getting big wages and who can afford to
buy milk One of them gets sl,2o0 per
year and his board; two of them gets
1000 per year each minus board, and one
gets s2.75 per day.
There are three. getting good wages;
one gets $50 per month, one gets 500 per
month and one gets sl5 per month There
are three others who are paid much less,
but they get their board. One gets $50
per month, the other two $40 each. In
addition to their milk, they are allowed
four tons of coal per year and free
house. They all get that, no matter what
their wages are. There are several other
married employees who are fortunate
enough to occupy houses belonging to the
State They have to pay rent and buy
milk and coal. ST this just state of af-
fairs?
During the time DR.. Butdolph was
superintendent all tn nearried employees
living in houses belonging TO the State
nad to pay rent for the same. and buy
iheir milk and coal. and for several years