The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-27
.BLAMEs The BOARD.
The Grand Jury Reviews Work
house and Hospital Conditions.
CITY PHYSICIAN IS COMMENDED
He Is Held to he COMPREHENSIVE.
Mcdonald Might Do Under
Guidance.

Guidance.
ALI the trouble at the workhouse and
the city hospital are laid at the door of
the board of charities and corrections by
the grand jury, in it's report sub
mitted to Judge Brooks yesterday after
noon, Superintendent Mcdonald of the,
workhouse is commended as honest in his
management Of the institution, but is
criticized as being incompetent for the
position on account of his lack of expert
ence, while the lack OF discipline is due
to the fact that the superintendent has
no voice in the selection of his subordi-
nat es.. City Physician Nelson is compli
mented for his management of the city
hospital, but the board of charities and
corrections is again criticized for inter-
fering with his appointing power, while
the hospital committee is accused of reck-
less extravaganza. ~ -
Superintendent George Coburn of the
poor farm is commended for his manage
ment of the institution, which is found in
good condition. The jury does not com
mend the practice of sending insane peo-
pie to the farm.
The jail is found in fine condition., ex-
cept portions of the asphalt floor in the
cell room, but the central lookup gets
its regular roast and is referred to as be-
ing disgrace to the city, for reasons too
numerous to mention. " --
Workhouse Conditions.
| The workhouse is in fair condition.
There is some dissatisfaction among the
prisoners, but not more than would be eX-
pected in such institutions from the class
/ Of people found in them. 1t is shown that
| 500 a month could be saved by closing
the conservatory, which is an unneces-
| sary extravaganza. The opinion is ex-
pressed that more use could be made of
the prisoners in the regular work about
| the institution.
Referring at length to the workhouse,
the jury says:
| No fault is Found so far as the financial
management of the place is concerned, but
| Superintendent A. f. Mcdonald has never
had any experience heretofore in manag ns
an institution of this kind and he appears tc
| be wholly incompetent ana to have abused
/ his authority to satisfy imaginary Sights
There does not appear to be sufficient dis
cipline. This may be due to the fact tina;
subordinate positions are filled by appoint
ment of the workhouse committee of the
board of charities and corrections whose
| members do not always work in harmony
| with the superintendent.
| In certain cases of convicts confined there
many privileges are granted to which they
|
makes their sentence amount to nothing more
| than detention, but because of the friend
| ship of members of the board of charities
and corrections, orders are issued to the
superintendent to give these convicts the
''best of it
| At present there appears to be no means
of determining whether material purchased
for the institution has been properly dis
| tributed, or money received from quarry
- r1x tn6
The Superintendent should be authorized
| without hindrance from the board of chart
| ties and corrections to buy material at whole
| sale from such places as offer the bes
| prices. ...-
| There has never been any systematic ex
! animation of the books of the lnstltutlol
since it was built and there appears to bt
too much chance for leakage 10 pefmi. Inl'
loose way of accounting.
| Hospital in, Excellent Order.
Of the city hospital and it's manage
| ment the Jury says that 1t Is IN excellent
order, there appeared to be good sys,
Item of accounting for all materials and
"a perfect record of all goods purchased
and received and the books show ex-
actly the condition Of affairs The nos
pital committee hires all the help and
dictates Where supplies are TO be pur-
ichased HThe hospital board should be
required to explain the reason for the ad-
| ditional and unnecessary expense with
regard to fuel at the city hospital. In
I December the coal bill amounted to $476,
but change was made to edg1ngs IN
! January and the expense was increased
to 1858.
s'Tt appears to u.s. says the jury, that
! the city hospital has in Dr. Nelson a
competent man who, if left to his own
| Judgment, could run it with satisfaction
to the city and obtain better results than
il his appointments and management is
interfered with for political purposes.
| "In the case of the workhouse, while
1.-The superintendent has not the right
Qualifications to make him we'll fitted for
the position, the jury believes that the
lack Of harmony between him and the
other appointees of the board results in
1.-The very unsatisfactory conditions which
exist in that institution. .-.
''The board of charities and corrections
is largely at fault for the conditions
which exist and the troubles which have
arisen in both of these institutions and
i in their efforts to divide the positions at
their command so as to satisfy all poll
tical elements and patronage demands
within their body, the city has been and
still is sufferer to no little extent"
Appointments Are Criticized.
Regarding the method of making ap-
pointments the jury says further:
There seems to be little, if any, regard fo
the ability or fitness Of the men for thu
place to which they appointed, the place
: being given wholly for the payment o
political obligations, implied or actual, ant
without regard to the best conduct of tn,
institution or the best interests of the city
This has caused and is still causing 8 grea
deal OF friction in both the workhouse ant
in the city hospital.
| Numerous recommendations are made
by the jury for the purpose Of securing
a more businesslike administration OIL
Icounty affairs. No money should be PAID
to any county officer other than the coun-
ty treasurer; no inquests to be held ex.
cept on the written order of the county
attorney: auditor to keep record of pris.
oners in the Hennepin county Jail from
other counties in order to collect for theil
board; probation officer to take charge o,
children sent to the state institutions ant
to be allowed actual expenses only.