New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-09
Critics Charge Kingsbury
with Shaving Expenses
Too Fine.
STATE BOARD STARTS
AN INVESTIGATION
Conditions at Sea View hos
pital Not Up to Standard,
Allege Compliments.

ties in This city, have led the State
Roard of Charities to institute
searching Investigation. -.
This was ascertsined yesterday from
Robert W. Hebberd, secretary OF the
state board and himself former
Commissioner Of Charities. Mr. HEB
herd WAS inclined TO be reticent. ne
admitted. however. that complaints
have been received, and inspections
we're now being made Of the various
city institutions.
Until the reports Of the inspectors
Of the state board have been made
said MIR. Hebberd, 81 must refuse 10
comment upon the complaints. In iaet'
do not desire 10 express any cru,
cism Of Commissioner kingSbury uh'li
NJ is certain that such criticism is JUS
tifed by existing facts hen com
plants first began TO reach the S'atS
board II was deemed wise 20 wait until
Mr. Kingsbury had been in once Tor
sufficient period TO become converssnt
v,itb the duties of his Office. Even now,
N the absence of the official reports Of
our INSPECTORS. we do not propose 20
express criticism which might prove
unwarrsnted."
The foes of Commissioner Kingsbury,
however, are not inclined to take the
lcnient view Of the situation which Mr.
Vebberd has assumed. One Of the fore
most critics is Father William z. Far
rel. pastor Of the Church Of IS. Peter
and Paul, Wythe az. and South I'd ST.
Williamsburg.
Father Farrell for many years has
been a trustee Of the Williamsburg
Hospital and is member Of the Hos
pitai Alliance Of New York City, which
I, composed OF representatives OF such
private hospitals as maintain am3u-
l4nces and accept emergency cases. IN
connection with his hospital worE the
priest has had frequent occasion TO
visit public institutions, and is IN toucn
, i'm conditions in the Department OF
Charities at the present time.
Sea View Below Standard.
4 few days ago he recited q list Of
allegations against the present admin
i.tration. He laid special stress upon
the conditions existing at Sea view
Hospital, the tuberculosis Sanatorlum
on Staten Island.
THE Sea View Hospital said Father
Farrell. els one of the best equipped
institutions OF its kind in the United
States The Board Of Estimate and
ApDortionment. at the earnest request
OF the last commissioner. provided 81
cents a day TO furnish nourishing food
10 each Of the patients. The craze for
economy, for publicity purposes, is so
strong with the present commissioner,
however. that he cut them down TO an
allowance Of 20 cents eachP q
Subsequent investigation Of Father
Farrells ,harge as TO the inadequate
diet furnished 10 consumptive patients
Il Sea View led to the discovery that
during the last six months food condi-
tions at the sanatorium have been so
Wretched that scores of patients have
left the hospital. II was further learned
that Dr. NJ. S. Schulman, of the Van
derbilt Clinic. had written a letter to
DR.. s. s. Goldwater, Health Commits
sioner. calling to his attention the re-
ported conditions at Sea View and the
general dissatisfaction existing among
the patients.
"One Of the worst features sale
Father Farrell. ais the total absence o.
screens for the open air pavilions. The
poor consumptives lie there, too veal
10 brush the insect pests away, and thu
filthy flies, poison laden, carry thu
disease into the kitchens and homes o
dcfenceless citizens throughout thu
borough
Another striking evil is that Their
are not sufficient attendants attached
q the hospital to perform the neces
sary work there. Commissioner Kings
bury, in his craze for economy. ha
attempted 70 have the work done b,
so-cslled 'smbulstory PATIENTS VIII,
arc expected TO give of their last littl,
strength the energy required to keel
the place eileen They are unabl
properly TO fulfil these duties, ant
consequently the hospital is not in al
ideal condition, from hygienic view
point"
Father Farrell added that he Ia,
been informed that recently a younj
woman patient at Sea View had died
and her body had been placed in
rsmshackle clubhouse, used as morgu,
II the farm colony, with the result
that the face of the corpse was mutt
lated by rats.
An investigation of this charge LEI
TO the discovery that the patient il
question was Mrs. Florentine Leon
srdo, whose husband, Edward Leonar
do, lives at f46 Fingerbosrd Road
Rosebsnk, Staten Island. When Mr.
Leonardo went to the so-called morRut
TO claim his wife's body, following hel
death, June II, il was found neces
sary 10 have the face of the corps,
filled in with wax by the undertaken
John T. Cakes, of 703 Bay St, Sta
pleton, Staten Island. The Indignant
husband laid the case before Distric
Attorney Each Of Richmond County
but was informed that he had no csus,
of criminal action.
Motor Bus Out of Service.
Father Farrell stated that an sddi
tional source Of complaint with The
administration Of the Sea View Hos.
pital was the fact that under Com
missioner Kingsbury the motor bus
service. formerly maintained 70 convey
visitors from the terminus Of the troll
lev line at Castleton Four Corners TO
the hospital. has been discontinued
This petty economy, he says, compels
relatives and friends of the patients
to walk a distance of three miles 70
the sanstorium.
u is charged by the critics Of Com
missioner Kingsbury that the eondi-
tions in the institutions on Black
wells Island are reprehensible
"The food supplies throughout the
department" said Father Farrell, "sre
VIGOROUSLY very poor and mean. Most
of the attendants in the BlsekwelPs
Island institutions are unpaid helpers,
recruited from the derelicts OF the
Municipal Lodging House. A few
weeks ago an unpaid helper, j. C.
johnson, reported siyk ut the Metro
politan Hospital. He was ordered TO
20 TO work or leave the island. After
he left the building. under compulsion,
he fell from weakness. doctor