The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-21

intUd1t. This dispsr.ses eth . means
OF Safeguarding purchases and preventing
possible ooll.Fion between q central treas
urer and q local steward or . central pur-
SSS S shss en- cEsnt such Is y Also provided Tor
This second new oficer thus created is
an agent appointed by the commission
Tor the purpose Of executing contracts for
staple articles Of supplies now entered into
Jointly ~ the stewards Of the various State
hospitals. Staple articles Of supplies in
clude crackes and cheese.
The new ONCE creates new salary and
new expense for work heretofore done
by the ste wards.
Il is suggested that this change Of system
State hospitals, for II articIes purchased in
this way are not Of the quality specified,
when they are delivered the superintendents
will have no way OF reaching the contrac-
tors except through the central purchasing
agent, AFTER h more ,s or less delay While the
huenced by the superintendents and the
contractors respectively would be open
Several Of the amendments to the preeent
law embodied In this bill relate to the Stew
most pernicious results Of last years law.
according to its critics, IL the duality Of
control introduced into the State hospitals
through transferring the power Of appoint
ing and removing the steward from the
superintendent to the commission.
Last years law related only TO the ap-
pointment OF the steward. and left him TO
perform his duties under the direction OF
the superintendent and subject TO the rules
and regulations Of the commission Now
1t is proposed, In defining the duties OF this
officer. TO strike out the words under the
direction Of the superintendent" Vouchers
found Objectionable by the Comptroller
are TO be returned by the commission 70
the steward instead Of, as formerly. 20 the
superintendent. The superintendent 10 re-
ministration OF his hospital, and as he pre-:
sents the estimates to the commission and
w thus directly responsible for this part Of
the business management, the communica-
tions OF the commission on matters relating
10 estimates and the expenditure Of money
the chief executive officer, some people
think. and not to the steward or other
subordinate officer.
What the critics OF the bill consider it's
most unbusinesshke feature is the appoint
ment Of one steward for both parts Of the
Manhattan State Hospital on Wards Island
In place Of the two stewards now provided.
That the Manhattan State Hospitals East
and West, which are practically two sep
arate institutions. working independently
OF each other, should share the services OF
a single steward il. they say. an anomalous
and impracticable arrangement. Such an
officer would be obliged TO work under the di-
rection Of two medical superintendents, and,
being equally responsible 10 both, could be
held completely responsible by neither.
The passage Of this bill will result In
the complete Capitalization Of the financial
and business management Of the State
hospitals involving the expenditure OF
nearly IS 900 900 a year, win create two
new paid officials to do work now done
without additional expense by the fourteen
superintendents and the fourteen stewards
and will remove safeguards which are now
afforded by the supervision exercised by
these twenty-eight officials over the IMAM
cial operations Of the commission.