Ill HI Dr. william harty. '- S ( i 3 M ay ) no MINUTES OF EVIDENCE BEFORE SELECT COMMITTEE every person must know that if he offers at a rate lower than another he must get THEJFIF POSSIBLE THAT BY ANY FAVOUR OR MANAGEMENT THE CONTRACTS SHOULD BE GIVEN TO ANY EXCEPT THE LOWEST- BIDDER ?— I CONCEIVE THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FROM THE STEPS THAT ARE TAKEN, FIRST IN PUBLIC ADVERTISEMENTS, SECONDLY FROM THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY ARE SUBMITTED TO THE GRAND JURY. TO RENDER SUCH AN OCCURRENCE POSSIBLE, THE WHOLE GRAND JURY MUST BE CONSENTING TO A GROSS DEPARTURE FROM THEIR DUTY; AND THOUGH THE CORPORATION OF DUBLIN MAY HAPPEN ON SOME QUESTIONS TO ACT AS ONE INDIVIDUAL, THERE ARE CONTENDING INTERESTS IN THAT CORPORATION, AND THERE WOULD BE THE SAME OF COURSE ON THE GRAND JURY ; IT WOULD BE NECESSARY THEREFORE TO SUCH AN END, AND YET SCARCELY POSSIBLE, THAT ALL SHOULD BE CONSENTING TO A GROSS DEPARTURE FROM THEIR DUTY. ^ „, . 4 ARE NOT THE CONTRACTS READ IN COURT?— THEY ARE SUBMITTED TO THE COURT, AND EXAMINED. . HAVE VOU EVER KNOWN AN INSTANCE OF A CONTRACT PROPOSED TO A GRAND JURY IN THE CITY OF DUBLIN, THE PROPOSER NOT BEING A MEMBER OF THE GRAND JURY, WHICH HAS BEEN REJECTED IN FAVOUR OF A HIGHER CONTRACT MADE FOR THE SAME ARTICLE, EITHER BY A MEMBER OF THE GRAND JURY, OR A MEMBER OF THE CORPORATION ?— I HAVE NEVER KNOWN SUCH AN INSTANCE, NOR DO I BELIEVE IT; BUT ON THE CONTRARY, I KNOW ONE DECIDED INSTANCE IN WHICH A MEMBER OF THE CORPORATION WAS THROWN OUT FROM THE SUPPLY OF BREAD FOR THE PRISONS BY A CATHOLIC BAKER BIDDING UNDER HIM BY A SMALL FRACTION. CAN YOU SUGGEST ANY WAY IN WHICH GREATER PUBLICITY COULD BE GIVEN TO THE CON- TRACTS?— I DO NOT KNOW HOW GREATER PUBLICITY CAN BE GIVEN THAN BY ADVERTISING THEM IN THE DUBLIN PAPERS. A SUFFICIENTLY LONG TIME BEFORE ?— ALWAYS THREE OR FOUR WEEKS. IT IS NEVER USUAL TO ADVERTISE DURING THE SITTING OF THE GRAND JURY, BUT THEY DID SO ONCE TO GET CON TRACTS FOR POTATOES, WHEN THEY HAD HAD NO TENDERS. YOU KNOW OF NO ABUSE, NOR DO YOU THINK ANY ABUSES EXIST IN THE DISTRIBUTION O. THOSE CONTRACTS ?— CERTAINLY I KNOW OF NONE; AND I DO CONCEIVE THE SYSTEM IS IN THAT RESPECT AS LITTLE LIABLE TO ABUSE AS ANY HUMAN INSTITUTION SO FAR CAN BE. The following extract was read from the Report of the Inspectors General for 1823. MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF THE DUBLIN PRISONS. " WE HAVE FORMED A VERY UNFAVOURABLE OPINION OF THE EXISTING REGULATIONS, AFFECTING THIS DEPARTMENT IN ALL ITS BRANCHES, WITH RESPECT TO THE ATTENDANCE, THE ACCOUNTS, AND SUPPLY OF MEDICINES, BUT WE ARE NOT AT PRESENT PREPARED TO RECOM- MEND ANY MEASURES FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE SYSTEM. WE HOPE TO SUBMIT SOME OBSERVATIONS TO GOVERNMENT UPON THAT SUBJECT PRIOR TO OUR REPORT OF NEXT YEAR." HAVE YOU READ THAT EXTRACT ?— I READ IT WITHIN THE LAST HOUR FOR THE FIRST TIME. HERE IS ANOTHER EXTRACT FROM THE SAME REPORT, RESPECTING THE FIFTIETH SECTION OF THE 50TH OF GEO. 2. WHICH REGULATES THE QUALIFICATION AND APPOINTMENT OF SURGEON, PHYSICIAN, AND APOTHECARY OF THE PRISONS IN DUBLIN, VIZ. " DR. HARTY AND SURGEON READ ARE THE MEDICAL OFFICERS, AND THE DUTY IS EFFICIENTLY PERFORMED." IT GOES ON 111 THE 51ST SECTION, WHICH REGULATES THE ATTENDANCE IN THE PRISONS, AND STATES THAT THAT REGULATION IS COMPLIED WITH; ALSO THE NECESSITY OF MAKING WEEKLY RETURNS IS COMPLIED WITH: THE 55TH REGULATES THE APPOINTMENT OF THE APOTHECARY, AND STATES THAT HIS ATTENDANCE IS TO BE HAD WHEN NECESSARY : THE 56TH, 57TH, AND 58TH SECTIONS REGULATE THE SUPPLY OF MEDICINES BY THE APOTHECARY, AND THE OBSERVATIONS UPON THOSE SECTIONS ARE " THE MEDICINES ARE SUPPLIED BY THE APOTHECARY, AND DULY VOUCHED AT EACH ASSIZES OR TERMS." YOU HAVE HEARD THESE EXTRACTS READ, HOW CAN YOU ACCOUNT FOR THE CONTRADICTION WHICH APPEARS IN THE GENERAL REPORT UPON THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, AND THE SPECIAL ANSWERS THAT ARE GIVEN TO DIFFERENT SECTIONS RELATING TO THAT MEDICAL DEPARTMENT?- I SHOULD RATHER THINK IT IS FOR THE INSPECTORS UENERAL TO ACCOUNT FOR THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEIR general AND SPECIAL REPORTS; BUT 1 DO NOT HESITATE TO SAY THAT THE VERY UNFAVOURABLE OPINION GIVEN BY THE INA AGAINST THIS DEL, ARTMENT IL1 ITS BRANCHES, WITH RESPECT TO THE ATTENDANCE, THE ACCOUNTS, AND SUPPLY OF MEDICINES, IS UTTERLY GROUNDLESS, AND TRAIY IN MY JUDGMENT, NOT ONLY TO THEIR OWN SNECIAL RENNRT. h., t £ aWpthpr nnn • tJlF con- to -> 11 m„ f„" ' j special report, but is altogether opposed Who is ™ BXPer, len, ce ln the department. Craven and Nichols. THE APOTHECARY OF THE DUBLIN PRISONS ?— THE FIRM OF CRAVEN AND " ERE ^ ZLLZV^ HT S°' AM! WHAT IS THEIR PROFESSIONAL CHARACTER ?- THEY ihHr professional ! ^ P" fl0ng pi'evi° US t0 aPPointment in 1812, and - n professional character is undoubtedly of the highest description. Do