The San Francisco call., 1904-02-24
.DISCLAIMS ALL
RESPONSIBILITY
Supervisors Health Committee
Explains Connection With
Beef Contracts at AImshOuse
MAKES LONG STATEMENT
Says 1t Always Insists on a
Strict Compliance With Speci-
ficatiOnS Regarding Supplies

The Board of Supervisors yesterday
received statement submitted by SUI
pervisor d'Ancona, chairman Of the
Health Committee, relative to the po-
sition occupied by the committee in
the matter of awarding contracts for
beef at the Almshouse. The state
ment follows:
As the action Of the Committee on Hospital
ana Health of your predecessors in awarding
contracts Tor beet at the AlmshCuse has been
commented on in report of a committee OF
the Board OF Health as published. by the press,
present the following statement in order
that your honorable body may be advised OF
the facts in relation thereto.
About three years ago the hospital commit
tee in open session was considering the bids
Tor dry goods. drugs, supplies, etc, for the
tlty and County Hospital. Representatives
Of the various bidders were present The bids
for the Aimshouse had already been opened
ana contracts awarded by the Board. of Super
yisors. / called the attention OF the commit
tee 20 the fact that the bids higher for
several articles. notably coal and beef, than
Tor the same articles the schedule OF the
Almshouse and asked the committee TO con-
flaer the adNisability OF rejecting all such
bids. Ii was explained by one Of the bidders
that ne cost Of some supplies furnished the
hospital would be greater because under the
terms Of the specifications the contractor was
required TO deliver the supplies at the hos
pital whereas the AlmshOuse attepded 10 the
while the then Superintendent Of the Aims
house Uhe late Captain Reddy) required first
class meat the commissary Of the hospital de-
manded meat that was not only hrst-class,
but the choicest and best of the first class. re-
1ecung beef for the most trihing reasons. None
Or the bidders and member of the commit
tee suggested or implied that meat or anything
else was 10 be supplied the hospital or Aims
house inferior in quality TO the requirements
OF the specifications. Considering that the in
mates Of the hospital are sick with acute dis
eases the committee decided that the city
should be willing TO pay little more that
the patients at the hospital might receive the
best obtainable supplies During the last four
years beef furnished the AlmshOuse has cost
32-1O0. 53-1O0 -36-lO0 and 36-1OO Of cent re-
spectiveIy, less than that furnished the hos
-itaL II the specifics tions prepared by the
Supervisors calling for i'eef, fresh, first quality
American steer be enforced by the superin-
tendent and commissary, the meat received by
the inmates Of the Almshouse must be salts
factory
Your Committee on Hospital and Health has
invariably informed the bidders at the time
awards were made that so far as fl was within
the power Of the Supervisors contractors would
be required 10 meet the terms Of the specif-
cations. and where the superintendent of the
hospital or Almshouse has complained that
contractors were Offering supplies that were
not in accordance with the specifications your
committee has directed that the supeFintend-
ent reject the supplies and make their pur-
chases IN the open market, charging the eX-
cess in price TO the contractors During the
four years that the undersigned was chair
man or your committee and during the two
months Of the present administration there
has not been one case in which the commit
tee or any OF its members has allowed or agreed
70 allow the acceptance Of supplies except in
accordance with the terms Of the specihca-
tions.
As the superintendents and commissaries of
the hospital and Almshouse are not appointed
by the Supervisors and are not subject to their
direction receiving their appointment and or
ders from the Board of Health. the Super
visors cannot be held responsible for the man.
ner in which they perform their duties
During the last four yaers - -9spital Com
mittee has taken the greatest pains to arrange
contract schedules that would include every
thing that the various institutions would re-
Quire, 10 prepare specifications such that the
greatest possible number of bidders may com
pete for the city's business and that con-
tractors may be held to the terms of their
agreements. For the faithful execution OF
these contracts the Supervisors are dependent
upon the Board Of Health.