Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-02-09
Witnesses before investigating
Committee Recommend One
for Asylum. NJ,
SUPERINTENDENT TOO BUSY
Gets Time to visit the Wards bat Osce
Week-Ab0llshment Of Office Of
Clinical Director and Medical
Adviscr-very Little Fruud
shown In Evidence.

Waterbury,. Feb. 3.-The committee ap-
pointed by Governor Bell to conduct an
investigation of the State institutions de-
voted the whole day to the examination
of witnesses and at 1880 adjourned until
the week after next. when it will meet
at Burlington. Another meeting will also
he held at the hospital at n later date.
Acknowledgement Clark G. Fits left on
the night train for Boston.
Judge G.. n. Markham Of Pomfret took
the stand again this morning and said
that all products raised on the farm were
carefully weighed and credited to tho
farm. as also was all the livestock and
increases Of same. The farm was also
credited with all wood cut on the farm,
all ice ETC.. and the farm was carefully
charged for all hay and other produce fed
out on the farm. The farm was also
charged for expense for carrying on farm.
with board of help, and all other out-
goes. All products raised on the farm
not used on the farm were accounted at
market prices. lie said that no complaint
had ever been made TO him or to the
other trustees so far as he knew. To-
garding the treatment and care of pa.
,ients. etc. either by the patients thcn,-
selves or from friends, relatives or
qua rdians.
Regarding the purchasing Of supplies
a steward he employed by the State for
that purpose, who should he held respon-
sihl" for this department. lie should have
full authority TO Judge as to quality. and
prices OF goods. and should have author
ity to advertise for bids on contract
prices on supplies used at tho institution.
This department should bc under his con-
troll thus relieving the supsrintendont
from thi, responsibility. and giving him
more time to attend to the caring for
patients. and to visit the wards more fire.
ducnt1N. He stated that he was perfectly
satisfied with tho superintendent man
agomcnt and considered him skilled and
amply qualified to fill tho position as SUI
| r~orintcndent.
SUPERINTENDENT HUTCHINSON.
The next witness was Superintendent
Hutchinson. He stated that the cause
for discharging Patrick Lyons as super
intcndent of plumbing. was because he
was not on duty full time. sometimes
absenting himself for days at a time,
without his permission or knowledge. His
work was satisfactory. but many times
he was not TO be found when needed
at the institution. He also assumed au-
thority which did not belond to him. and
undertook tn take mma of duties
wholly under my control. There never
was any conflict between Lyon and my
self regarding purchases for his depart
mont. Whenever he had authority to pur.
chase goods by reason OF a vote of the
trustees I never interfered. | never duc>.
toned anything the trustees authorized
anyone Of the other officers to do. lie said
he had never lowered the amount OF
%rations to the patients but once. in 1897.
when the crop OF potatoes was cxcecI-
insly small. hut afterwards increased the
amount when they had a larger supply.
No loss IN eggs had ever occurred by
way Of cold storage. except occasionally
a crate or two. which is inevitable in cold
storage eggs.
In regard to tho restraint of pati.nts
h" stated that liz hnd always cndeavorcd
to keep the number restrained at "A
minimum. In tnc last report there were
only II under restraint.
In regard to the grading of the grounds
around tho building. he never had un.
d"rtaken To do any such work contrary
to the advice Of thu plumber. In regal d
to the furnishing Of tho nurses home
h. said that it had been furnished by (,
local dealer under tho sanction of tn.
trustees. lie had always purcra sed sun.
kplies from an economic standpoint. and,
if he paid a little moro for a certain
Article. it was because in his ;ulgmen,
would he economy In the long run.
Regarding visiting tho different wards
he stated that his visits averaged about
one trip to each ward every week during
the year. He made less frequent trips on
the wards than formerly owing to tho in.
creased amount Of duties demanding his
attention. such as purchasing of supplies
etc, "" kept in close touch. however
with tho conditions on Zach ward through,
the ward physicians. and charts kept nv
tho nurses.
HAD TROUBLE WITH Dr.. PERRY.
He stated that his relations with Dr.
W ID. Berry, the clinical director ana
nIcdira! adviser. had not l.cn pieasan,
Or harmonious. neither had it been na.
tween Dr.. Berry and the other Officers
of the institution.
He cndcavOrcd 10 get beyond mis- az.
,hority and interfere with tie duties and
authority vested wholly in the superin-
tcndcnt. The purchasing of the supple.
f"r the pathological building was I,ft
with him entirely. ] did not intorfc r.
with his duties.
he thought it inadvisallc to allow Tin.
clinical director to work INDEPENDENT,
from the superintendent, aud in his iuda.
rdent il was not so intende By the trus.
tees who instituted this branch OF thu
work.
He believed it would have been fo,
tho interest of the institution had ho ,n
sIoncd before. Ir regard TO tho work
&C the mntron, Mrs. Upham. afterwards