The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-23

WITNESS SAID no saw seVcfal invoices
for sn,thfeld hams, but made no regi-
lar list Of the delioacies purchased.
Chairtlinan sadler-Q. Were these
| lux,,ries Only purchased at board meet
| ings? 4
4. No, 1t did not seem so to me.
Q. Could tho board have eaten them
ali?
A. Not possibly.
Witness said that venison was pur-
than beef and that the wild turkey was
cheap.
The committee then adjourned Until
23O o'clock.
The members Of the committee were
the guests OH Sunday Of DR.. Booth, at
Carriers Grove" his ancient and splen.
did country seat on James River seven
miles from Williamsburg.
DR.. Booth has been n regular attendant
on the meetings OF the committee, and
has given the members the benefit Of his
wisdom and experience.
Afternoon Session.
The committee met again ut $3.50 o'clock
and Mr.. I3oudar continued his testi-
rony.
Senator Sadler said that Mr.. Brooks.
the steward, received 500 n month. and
that Mr. Mercer. the clerk. received 500
a month. when the law set out that they
should receive $500 and $3.50 n year. re-
spectively; that the engineer, Mr.. Wini-
cuff, received s75 per month, when the
law placed Ills salary Mt 500 n year.
Witness said he had made no examina.
ton OF these matters.
The chairman then instructed him to
DO 80, saying that these matters had
come to his attention from the people
Of Williamsburg, and that he felt the
matter should be investigated.
Colonel Lawless then stated that the
steward was also storekeeI'er, and that
the clerk was also assistant steward.
The Witness then explained the expense
accounts Of the superintendent, and tho
members Of the board. which. he said,
were moderate.
Witness said that the clerk, Mr.. Mercer,
received Is for recording the minutes Of
all tho meetings Of the board and the
special committee.
Chairman sadler then said that the law
fixed the clerks salary at $3.50, and that
he was receiving a fixed salary OF 1920
a. year, or $3.50 moro than the law al
lowed.
Tho witness said he could not testify
rs to the salaries paid, as he had made
no examination along that line.
Chairman Sndler read from the code
a section which sets out that the officers
Of the various hospitals shall not re-
celve additional pay or emolument.
Witness then stated that he has como
to the conclusion, as sct out in his ic'
port, that the business Of the Eastern
state Hospital was administered with
great 'laxity'' and that the board should
have been cognizant of this state OF
affairs.
Witness then set out in detail why he
had reached this conclusion. pointing
out the awards to bidder at a greater
price than other bids. "They did not
fully comply with their duty"
Mr.. Boudar mentioned especially the
commissioner Of hospitals Colonel Lane)
the steward (Mr Brooks, and in gen
cral way condemned ALI
Was Neglectful.
"The superintendent. regarding the
business end, was decidedly neglectfu"
Witness said he alluded to the i'm
proper approval Of bills.
Witness told OF an interview he had
with DR.. Foster. in connection with the
overcharge made by r. A. Saunders's
Son for -four.
Dr. Foster. he said, declared that he
was not responsible as he came after
the purchase was made. Witness said
DR.. Foster approved the bin. and should
not have done so, unless he had first
examined 1t. 81
@. "Have the patients suffered through,
this negligence asked Senator Sadler.
A. '"They defrauded the patients OF the
money that should have come to them
when they used it for other purposes
and turned It towards other ends" re-
piled Mr. Boudar
@. 'Tf there had been no such losses.
could not there have been employed
more attendants or pay them better
salarles?"
A. "Yes several additional attendants
could have been cmploynl.'
Colonel Iawless here declared that
there was 70 law that conra',cd Er.
Foster to approve the bills. go
In answer to question asked by DR..
Dunn:
Witness said that 1t was the. duty Of
the commissioner of hospitals and tho
speclal board to examine carefully the
various bills and accounts
Witness said he might, out OF the
natural kindness of his heart, excuse DR..
Foster, but, as an accountant, he could
not.
On cross examination by Colonel Law
less. witness said that the expert exam
nation had extended over n period OF
seven years Witness said that the
award book had been changed since he
made his report, and that an omission
had heen filled In,
81 hate to make such a charge" said
Mr. Boudar. 1T Is too serious a matter
Chairman Sadler then asked the COM
mittee to examine the entry. 1t was
seen that the number "7O'' had been In
serted. Chairman Sadler gave notice that
he would traco the matter and discover
who had made the alteration OF the
books.
Alleged Overcharges.
Mr.. Boudar was then asked number
Of questions regarding the alleged over
charge on goods, especially along the
line testified to by Captain Lane.
Colonel 1awlcss ondeavored to make
tho witness testify that the alleged over
charges were not errors.
Witness replied: II regard them as
errors"
G. If 1t wns shown that the steward
in good faith purchased In the open
market, would not that change the state
of affairs?"
<, 1T would, to my mind, show
fearful state Of business methods"
Colonel l.awless brought out tho fact
hat u',i ,,,it l,k,