The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-07-29
HOSPITALS
HEAD MUST
STEP OUT
econtlnued from First page,

Scdmmeli, secretary OF the DOdNu u
managers of the State Hospital for the
Insane at Trenton, for the purpose OF
going over testimony of DR.. John w
Ward, preparatory to the meeting OF
the managers in Judge G. ID. w
Vroom's Office.
When this conference was completed
Warden William p. Hayes, of the hos
pital. was called to the stand. and
Mr.. Backes at once launched out on
what promises to be a thorough ex-
animation of the witness.
Mr. Backes asked the witness what
his duties were. and he replied hat
they comprised supervision of outside
help and the property of the hospital.
He testified that the only thing he has
to do with the medical side of the in
stitution is the preparation and pur-
chase of food. The attendants get from
1923 to $28 a month. He has been war
den of the asylum about ten years.
Mr.. Backes asked who has charge
of the dairy. The witness replied that
William Cheeseman, who is assisted
by one outside helper and one inmate
Of the asylum. The inmate helps in the
milking and general dairy work. Mr..
Hayes said, referring to he first case
of typhoid fever at the hospital, he
did not recall when 1t was reported,
and that when he did hear of 1t 1t was
only a rumor, as cases of illness are
not reported to him.
The first time DR.. Ward conferred
with the warden concerning the ty-
phoid was after the doctor received a
letter from DR.. Henry Mitchell on June
II. The warden said he cut off the
water because it was suspected of con-
tamination from overflow of the Tren-
ton sewer in the spring. The water
was cut off at his suggestion and when
this was done he had knowledge OF
several cases of fever in the hospital.
Mr.. Hayes did not know as a fact that
samples of the spring water had been
taken and tests of 1t made by Dr.
Hammond.
He had not cut off the water until
some time after the tests were made.
He suspected the spring long before
the water supply was stopped, ard he
approved of the method of cleaning
the spring. Observations of a about
the spring had never suggested to him
that the water vas in dangr of con-
tamination because the curb OF the
| spring is from six inches to n foot
above the ground. He said that a pile
of animal excreta 100 feet from the
spring, In his opinion, was not L men
ace, and he said the same as to out
houses and places where scavengers
deposit refuse.
HAYES said he knew nothing of the
dump three-eighths of a mile from the
spring until in July. Mr.. Backes asked
him If he had any disputes with DR..
Ward. The witness said he had had
no dispute, but that there was feeling
between the warden's and medical
directors departments. This friction
did not extend to the warden, but did
to DR.. Ward. 1t had existed sixteen
wears, since the office of warden was
established.
DR.. Ward, said the witness, had often
refused to grant his requests for help.
Under the preceding warden he con-
ditions were worse than they are now.
Hayes then testified hat the medi-
cal and warden's departments are
nearer together 10y than when he
went there.
I'm any request / made l was gen.
orally hindered by DR.. Ward. Some
times this friction interferes with me
when I wan work lone in a hurry"
said the warden. DIR. Ward has great
" felt the steering of his power since
the two offices were separated"
HAYES said he received one order to
clear the coward, and that came from
the Trenton Board of Health. He has
nothing to do with preparing the die
tary. That Is made up by the medical
committee of the board of managers.
The present dietary was made in 1902,
and has not been changed since.
Hayes said DR.. Ward n himself
were consulted when the dietary was
made UP. He considers that the food
list contains too much meat. Pork
/ which is served is not ook upon by
him as a suitable food for hot summer
days His Jurisdiction over the food
supply ends when the meats are de-
livered to the attendants. The warden
visits the kitchens several times a
week, he added, but he never goes to
the dining rooms because they are out
of his jurisdiction. He goes into the
halls once in a while to look after re-
pairs, etc,
The table utensils are cleaned in the
dining rooms by patients who r in
charge OF attendants Two or three
patients in each kitchen help prepare
the food.
The helping patients in the kitchens,
Hayes said, know what they are doing.
They are supplied by DR.. Ward. The wit
ness said he has never suggested a change
to the board of managers, but he thinks
they understand that his opinion Is that
the food is too heavy.
Mr.. Hayes was then called upon to give
testimony as to asylum finances. He said
the total expenditure last year was be-
tween $272.0 900 and $4,000, including $4,000
for salaries. No contracts for supplies are
given except for beef.
These contracts were awarded after
competitive bidding. He makes the awards.
The contracts are let every three months.
For other kinds of meat Hayes just asks
for prices and buys at the lowest. Gro
ceries are bought from Trenton firms, and
the business Is divided among three firms
at Hayes's pleasure. In 1906 $93, 992.54 was
spent for meat and groceries. The gro
ceries alone cost about $4,000. The beef
cost between $685. 900 and SIS, 900 last year. 4.
Hayes says he buys from the whole
sale grocers each week and that the only
things which influence him are prices and
quality. Under the contract system he
would not be able to get things cheaper.
In 1906 he spent about $4,000, without any
competitive bidding.
TIT asylum makes its own flour. about
1000 bushels of wheat are raised, and be-
tween 5000 and 5000 bushels. are bought.
Hayes thinks the institution saves money
by this method.