Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-07
INVESTIGATE THE HOSPITAL
Conditions Not Ideal, but Hardly 30 Bad as
Has Been Painted.
sTIRs UP COMMISSIONER CONNOLLY
No Money TO Pay Extra Nurses, but
COmmissioner's Father Has n WIN
ter Job ne at
Institution.

Tue board OF county CommlbslontIs met
at its chambers at 10 o'clock yesterday
morning, and then, on motion Of Connolly,
chairman Of the charity committee. ad-
journed to tho county hospital and there
held an Investigation OF the conditions
prevailing at this institution. This inves-
tigation served to prove Just two things.
First, that some religious workers who have
often visited the institution believe there is
immediate and urgent need OF an additional
nurse for the male ward and more rigid
discipline Of the entire force OF employees,
with close surveillance Of the inmates that
they may be permitted to receive no liquor.
Second. that Commissioner Connolly con-
siders it none OF Will Browns business that
Mr.. Connolly's venerable father is the man
who is drawing S25 per month and his liv>
Ing for serving as gardener through the
winter months as well as the summer
months.
The evidence brought out In the ~investi-
cation lacked a great deal Of justifying the
sensational character given the charges by
an evening publication, but both Rev. C.-H.
Young Of st. Johns Episcopal church. and
VIII Brown OF the st. Andrews society.
who were the chief complainants, asked to
be excused from responsibility for the ''yel-
lowish' Interpretation of their remarks,
and explained to The Bee that II had been
their purpose merely TO call attention to
needs in certain departments and not to as
sail the, institution In general.
what Rev. Young Saw.
In the course OF the investigation, Rev.
Young was the first to testify. He related
that he had observed neglect OF some Ut
the male patients at critical times In their
sickness and that he had observed also
some drunkenness among the inmates on
Christmas day.
VIII Brown substantiated these charges,
explaining more explicitly that the help
less had not been washed nor had their
linen changed often enough to keep them
even decent.
Mrs. Priess further stated that George
Sayres, consumptive, had been a ~particu.
larly distressing case and that her husband
had been complaining of being beaten dur
ing her absence, but said that Mrs. Henry
Oest had been an excellent matroD.
County Physician Lee Van Camp said he
did not notice material difference in the
conditions now and those prevailing when
he was intern. but that he then had two
nurses, including one whose work be had
shouldered, in part, that the latter might
attend medical school.
DR.. w. f. Milroy thought the conditions
occasionally might be criticised, but that in
a general way the hospital has been very
creditably conducted.
DR.. Stokes of the surgical staff SAID he
thought this hospital compares favorably
with that of Cook county. Illinois. Rev
Young interpolated the statement that he
has seen vermln crawling on the pillows Of
the patients.
II. G. Manville said he had seen the closet
bowls in a nlthy condition, evidently from
neglect.
Commissioner Ostrom stated that h
thought the complainants, IL they desired
merely more attendants at the hospitpl
should have approached the board in per
son instead Of leaping into print.
Hits ut Connolly.
Commissioner Connolly made the an
no~uncement, hitherto kept secret, that tn
nurse-druggist had resigned som time age
but that the board had refused to accep
such resignation because not yet able I
find anyone willing to take his place a
the salary offered.
Then came the clash OF the day.
What Is the salary?' asked VIII Brown
1T is S25 per month and his living here,
said Chairman Connolly OF the charit
committee.
well, couldn't there be a Topping o.
somewhere else to increase the pay 10
this work." was Browns next question.
II don't know of any" were Con
molly.
Haven't you a gardener here now?"
Yes"
What does he get?"
THE same salary as the other"
What is his name?"
We'll. Mr.. Brown, l will answer that b
saying that 1t is none Of your business
He is not under investigation. Now
you feel satisfied"
Yes" answered Brown serenely. .
knew his name without asking"
II thought you did" responded Cor
molly, and very shortly the hearing az
journed to the court house.
Nothing was done there. 1t is said thu
Ostrom was ready TO move to employ al
, other nurse, but that the other commiI
sioners prefer not to take the action ju
at this time.
When Mr.. Brown was asked what Il
complainants would do next, he answers
that they would walt to see what the boai
does and II It does nothing, probably wi