The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-11
SPENDING TOO MUCH
Hospital Committees View Of DR.,
, Nelson's Administration.
THE EXPERTS COMPLETE REPORT
Superintendent Mcdonald of the
Workhcuse Comes In for
Brace of JOlts.

The hospital committee of the board of
corrections and charities at last nights
meeting Of the board took the occasion OF
the completion Of the report of the ex-
perts employed to investigate the drug
supply at the city hospital to impress
upon DR.. H. S. Nelson that his admins
tration was proving a very eXtravagant
one, and that if he kept up his present
gait the hospital appropriation would be
exceeded at the end of the year by many
thousands Of dollars. The increase in
cost of maintenance over former years
had beeH about 80 per cent, Commission
er Rinehart reminded him. while the in
crease in the number of patients had been
but ne-seventh. OF the appropriation
of $4,000 for the year ending July /, next,
there had already been expended $26,9OS.
AS an aid to more economy in the drug
department the hospital committee will
recommend that a pharmacist be employed
to take charge of the purchase and dis
pensing of drugs at the hospital. And the
committee made it plain last night that
the appointee would take his orders di-
rectly from the hospital committee and
not from Dr.. Nelson.
Commissioners Woodland and Rinehart
approved the thoroughness with which the
experts had done their work. The report
showed that the drugs in stock now In
voiced $4,000 more than when DR.. Nelson
assumed charge. Many things had been
purchased that were not necessary, they
declared. At the same time they were
careful to- say that there was no sus-
picion of dishonesty on the part of DR..
Nelson. Commissioner Rlnehart also IN
Weighed against the practice of holding
out bills from one month to another in
order to make a showing. This was a
wrong principle for a public official, he
declared.
The hospital committee will submit the
report Of the drug experts, accompanied
by written conclusions of their own. at
special meeting of the board next Thurs
day evening. -
The city hospital matter out of the way,
the board took turn at Superinten
Mcdonald of the WorkhOuse. Commits
sioner Russell lead off with the greatest
zest. 1t is asserted that Superintendent
Mcdonald has been rubbing 1t in" on
some of his subalt ems at the workhouse
again, and the board felt that the occa-
sion called for interference on their part.
julius Rick, the workhouse gardener,
complained that he had been forced to do
guard duty in addition to his other work,
and declared that there was no reason for
[ it except that Mcdonald wanted to punish
him for testifying against him at the re-
cent workhouse hearing. The board
promptly ordered Mr.. Rieck's relief from
guard duty. Then Quartermaster Hoban
st ated that Mcdonald had ordered his
horse off the premises and had also de-
prived him Of the services of chore boy
from among the prisoners. The board
gave Mr.. Hoban his chore boy again, and
then informed Mcdonald that if he had
any charges to prefer against his sub
ordinates he could present them in writ
ing at the special meeting Thursday even
ing.
All the bills, including those of the
"A. D. Thompson Drug company for the
past three months, were formally allowed.
This was a practical denial of the init
nation that there had been overcharges
and the firms interested felt entirely vim
Dictated by the boards action.