The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-18
LOOKS UP THE BILLS
.Rinehart Processes Astonishment
at Certain City Hospital Items
CHAF1NG DISH AND FINE CHINA
DR.. Nelson Says His Conscience Is.
Clear-Some Grand Jury
Inquiries.

The contention between the board Of
charities and corrections and Che city ply
sician Is likely to take a new turn before
long. Members of the board are now in
vestigating the charges Of extravaganza
made against DR.. Nelson's administration
outside Of the drug department. The grand
jury. 1t seems, has asked some of the
board members questions intended to
bring out facts along this line, and it
happened that those questioned were not
prepared to give the information desired.
Commissioner Rinehart was one of them.
This morning he appeared at the office Of
the secretary Of the board and spent the
forenoon in delying industriously among
the hospital records covering the supplies
purchased outside of the drug department.
The hospital has an appropriation Of
$4,000 for the year ending July I. At &
recent meeting of the board Commissioner
Rinehart declared that unless a halt was
called the expense for the year would be
more than $4,000 and might possibly run
up to 100000.
Reinehart Processes Aston shment.
The situation so far as he had gone this
noon convinced him that he had not over
stated the case at all before the board.
Said he: '.&
The expenditures for the past three months
show an astonishing increase over The figures
LoI lu0 odAAc llSuQS Ill pESflOuS yCd1S. Cdu-
not understand why there should be such a
great disparity. The bills for ice, and milk
and cream, for instance, are almost double
what they were in other years. Then find
bills here aggregating more than $50 for
Haviland china and upon. investigation find
that it is for DR.. Nelson's personal use. A
channg dish is also included: There is an
other bill for typewriter
Now I do not believe the city physician has
Nfeybf $,, Hrrg 1o1,i,,
his personal use and charge the same to the
city. 1t never has been done before, and the
fact that he makes his home at the hospital
does not give him any such privileges. Neither
has he any right to buy supplies at all with
out the authority of the board. I have con-
suited the city attorney and he tells me that
the board, under the law, is supposed to at
tend to all the purchases itself for all depart
ments under its control. This used to be the
custom, but of late years the board has tactly
allowed the department heads to do all the
purchasing of supplies without any check.
Now that has got to stop. We have begun
the work Of reform by voting to put a pnar-
macist at the hospital to purchase all the
drug supplies, and now to be consistent we
should next hire a steward to look after the
purchase of all other supplies there. We
could undoubtedly save good deal Of money
by doing so. At any rate we have got to stop
NY SOuC ucouS lie pIcSSul ISChlSSS chLidVtS-
ance in the management of the hospital or
there will be tremendous deficit at the end
of the year.
Nelson's Conscience Clear.
DR.. Nelson was In to see the mayor this
noon. He wants an understanding as to
who is to have the appointing Of the
pharmacist at the hospital. The law, he
declares; gives him the right to make
the selection of all subordinates and he
will insist upon his full rights in this re-
gard. = am not going to let them make
any such. mess of it down at the hospital
as they are making at the workhouse,''
said he this morning. .'The hospital is
all right and am all right. Ny con-
science is clear. And so long as T know
that everything is open and aboveboard
there am not going to be put down by
the board. shall insist upon all my
rights"