Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-12-17
Common Sense.

control of public affairs is constantly
being put in better and more experien,
eed hands, that the mellenium OF
economy is fast approaching and some
of it has already been here.
The County Board of Wood county
has finally appointed committee on
claims who have begun the economy
in dead earnest. This penny wise and
pound foolish economy has cost the
county about $3.50, besides the pay
ment of the sum requested with a
legal exception.
1t appears that on this committee of
claims were two persons who for short
we will call Marshield men, who
asserted that they were put there to
see that the county was not robbed.
These august two (with the rest of
the committee) came to the bills for
medical service against the county.
This year the medical bills were all
quite reasonable and even low, (with
a very small legal exception But
these Marshfeld men of the committee
by the way, banker and manufacturer
became at once the head and front
slashers in these medical bills, cutting
right and left without skill or sufficient
knowledge to know the value of the
medical service. They worked and
judged almost wholly by comparison.
The rock and basis of their comparison
of medical service was that all other
physicians must come down to the
price Of the Marshfeld doctors, for
one of these two most adroitly said
with the whole depths of his knowl-
edge at hand that certain Marshfeld
man was the best physician in the
country and that his price was just so
high.
We have no objection against COM
portsons, analogous and proper, but
the mistake lies just in the fact that a
banker or manufacturer of Marshfield
though he be the foremost man of all
this world is incapable and has not
had the right kind of training to
judge of the value of medical service.
any more than physician is able to
Judge what lawyer should charge his
client. But they never asked other
physicians whether the bills were
reasonable or not. One case is sufi-
cient proof for Marshfeld error (if
not rivalry.)
DIR. Witter performed the operation
of castration and charged $40. This
is less than half that generally charged
Right here, it is said. the Marshfeid
part Of the committee began conpari-
sons of the same operation in animals
which was valued at just So. $3S
was too much difference for them so
they cut with mi ght and main to what
they called backbone prices Cor Marsh
field standard DR.. Witter of course
would not accept the Marshfeld stand
ard or veterinary price and sued the
county. Good old DIR. Phillips, of
Stevens Point, whose genial, honest
face and snow white locks has toward
DER the wrecks of time and other
things in medicine for the short space
of 3S years said, when called as an
expert witness, that the operation was
worth from $50 to S75. That his
charge would be little larger than
DR. Writer'S.
DR.. Robinson testified as an expert
witness that because of the value
placed on the function of reproduction
the most important in man, that such
a responsible operation was worth
from $50 to 500. The verdict of
the jury and court is that DR.. Witter
got the amount Of his bill and Wood
county pays bill and costs.
The rigid Marshfeld economy now
becomes apparent when some $3.50 is
added to the expense of the county
above what bills called for. We think
the District Attorney, Mr. Gaynor is
not to blame for this extra expense as
it is known that he suggested that the
committee raise some of the cut bills.
The moral of this whole thing is, that
the Marshfeld part of this north pole,
frigid, economical committee has
gained penny and Wood county has
lost a pound. 1T is the old story of
the blind leading the blind and ditch
ing each other.
Why should a reasonable bill be
cut? No business man expects to do
business for Wood county for less than
an individual and why should lawyers
physicians or even bankers and man
ufacturers May this be lesson to
the county and claim committees. May
the Marshfeld part of the committee
rest in peace and fold themselves
with the self suficiency of official
slumber and may they remember in
their dreams comparisons and that the
evil that men do live after them while
the good is oft inferred with their
bones.
SCHOVENDYKE TRIX d. ID.
Ice Skating Rink.