Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1885-07-21
WHY THE "TIMESN HAS BEEN
SILENT.

SILENT.
Some aston,shment having been
expressed at the attitude, or lack Of
attitude, or Of expression of opinion,
in the TINES, on the matter of the
relating of the contract for the care
Of the INDECENT sick, it is proper that
our reasons for such conduct be stated.
Last winter complaint was made to
the TINES about the hospital accom-.
modations at Bellevue. The struct.
ure used was LIGHTHOUSE which adj
United the cold air quite freely, and
undoubtedly deficient for tho purpose
for which it was used. The matter
was mentioned to DR.. Jones. That
gentleman admitted that the hospital
WIS not as comfortable as it might
be-, but he said that it was the best
that he could do, as his contract would
expire soon, the profit was not great,
rs he DULY got s4o50 for the whole
year, he had no capital on hand, and
no certainty OF securing the contract
another year. The doctors position
was therefore unassailable.
Last February, County Commits
sioner Gillette visited the hospital,
and bis objections were met with the
same explanation. DIR. Jones, how
ever, agreed, if tho Board would
promise him renewal of the contract
1T the same rate as last year, to erect
= more substantial and comfortable
building at once. Mr.. Gillette said
that, ~ far Is he was concerned, he
could see no objections to DR.. Jones
having the contract again unless, in
the meantime, charges of lack of pro-
fessional knowledge and ability, or of
maltreat'ng patients, should be made
and substantiated.
Mr.. Kohlepp was afterward con-
suited, and he expressed himself SUBJ
stantially as Mr.. Gillette tad.
DR.. Jones erected new hospital;
and it VAS currently stated that he
had been promised the contract for
another year. This report reached
the TINES, and three articles were
prepared in reference to the matter.
One OF these was published. The
following or subsequent day DR..
Jones called 1T the TINES office, cx
planned his position, and added that
while he had not, and could not. under
tho circumstances, mention the matter
to DR.. Brown, still in confidence he
would inform the TINES man that he
was even then working up a scheme
that would result in more benefit to
DR.. Brown and to HALEY than ten in.
digent contracts.
Idaho had over 80 insane in an
Oregon asylum, for which the Terri
tory was taxed IS per patient PEEL
week. Governor Curtis and Joseph
Perrault, the gentlemen having con,
troll OF the business, were empowered
by law to have the insane kept at any
responsible asylum until the Terrific
rial Asylum could be built at Black
foot. II, after the INDECENT contract
was awarded, DR.. Brown was willing
arrangements could be made to have
the insane transferred to his hospital
and kept there until they could be
permanently removed to Blsckfoot
Governor Curtis had already given his
assent to the scheme, a mutual friend
Of Mr.. Perrsult's had assured DR.
Jones that he had no objections; while
the Commissioners Of Alturas county
seeing an opportunity to save the tax
payers $500 to $500 on the fare OF
every patieut sent to Oregon, would
doubtless support the scheme.
This proposition WAS entirely salts
factory to the TIMES. And unles.
we are mistaken. it will DO general,
acceptable to the people OF Alturs'
ooapry, I"asmuch as the care OF thu
INDECENT proved SO expensive an item
OF government two years ago, the tax
payers should not find much cause to
growing if it costs $4950 for anothe
year.
W~1l~ca "a Mkt. owY'n;tor