The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-11-12
SUPPLIES FOR
THE HOSPITAL
(From saturdays Advertiser.)

THE position taken by the trustees
of the Queens Hospital seems to be
misunderstood by the public and con-
seQuently by the newspapers" said w.
H. McInerny yesterday when question:
ed regarding an item IN an afternoon
paper.
The conclusion OF the trustees to
ask for bids for hospital supplies is
not exactly the result OF any agitation
by Doctor Hodgins and his friends,
though his remarks at intervals dur
ing the past few months have prob
ably led the people to believe that
benefits would follow such action, so
we have decided to take 1t. About a
year ago George W. Smith. secretary
OF the board of trustees, suggested that
tenders be called for, as he understood
there was feeling that he was get
ting too much OF the business No
action was taken at that time.
Going into ancient history" con-
tinued Mr.. McInerny. II will say that
the statement that all of the instru-
ments for the hospital were bought
through Benson, Smith & Co., Ltd, Is
not correct. Three different firms on
the mainland were communicated with
relative to the supplies of this charac-
ter and bids were received from each.
They were ordered by the trustees di-
rect. The only connection Mr.. Smith
had with the transaction was attend
ing to the correspondence as secretary
to the board. We do not furnish sup
plies of any character simply because
some one Of the drug firms here car
ries them, we provide exactly what is
specified by the physicians and would
not dare do any thing else. One ar
ticle used in surgical operations is in
my mind at this moment and 1 wish
TO say that there are four different
makes of it, as much alike as two
peas. as far as the layman is concern
ed, but because the doctors differ as
to their value we must carry all four
kinds. Benson, Smith & Co. have the
agency for several articles used in the
hospital and those things have to be
bought there, naturally, the same as
if your company held the agency for
a certain make of paper in general
use; other dealers would have to buy
from you.
For twelve years Mr.. smith has
been secretary for the hospital and he
gets no compensation for the duties
ne performs and this fact may inspire
the belief that he has an advantage
over other drug firms. This is not so.
for there is a supervision over the
prices by the superintendent as wei as
the board of trustees. This brings to
mind the reason for this firm having
a semblaDce of a monopoly on the
hospital trade. In the beginning it
was found that there would have to
be, on an average, about seven or
eight thousand dollars worth of sup
plies for the use of the surgeons and
poses, and it was not considered good
business for the hospital to tie up
that amount of money in drugs, band
ages and surgeons requisites. The
question as to the advisability of ask
ing bids came up and they were call
ed for. II was found that some of the
articles had TO be bought from the
local agents, who happened to be Ben
son. Smith & Co., and after that ex-
perience the trustees decided that 1t
would be as well to buy direct, under |
certain restrictions as 10 quality and /
price, from the persons from whom |
The other druggists had to buy. The |
question was argued something like |
his: II we call for bids we shall ex-
1ect that the dealers can supply US as
We require. That will mean that each
If the drug firms in the city will have
o lay in stock All of them could
lot get the award and some Of them
would find themselves at the end of
he competition with stock of drugs.
&c, on hand which, in the natural
rider of events, would go stale and
ould not be used here We have had
nder consideration the plan of pro-
iding the drug firms here with a list
( articles used during a previous year
nd asking them TO bid on the same
uantity for a year. 10 begin at a date
* months following the call for ten
ers. In time 1 believe this plan will
e adopted. but it may follow that :
1me one will get stuff he cannot dis !,
ose Of if be is underbid.''