Telegram-herald., 1891-01-17
THE DOCTORS DIsousTKD.
Their Profession lnsuissd by the supsr
visorA

visers.
The supervisors are getting . black
eye from nearly every quarter. Now
the doctors jump on their necks and
deliver off-hand opinions concerning
their action in awarding the county
physicians work TO thelowest bidder.
IL am not acquainted with she physi-
clan to whom the contract was award
ed, said one physician to tho rELE-
GRAM-HERALD yesterday, "but it cannot
be that he knows anything about the
duties and expenses of the Office, or he
would have never bid $243. ] am told
nearly $500 annually. did not offer
q bid because l was satisfied that the
work would be let at figure Tar bslow
what it is actually worth. It's . queer
proceeding for tho supervisors to lump
of the cure of the INDECENT sick, for it
involves possible inattention and in
ferior service. do not mean to reflect
on the successful bidder, for l under
stand he is . regular practitioner, but
under rule letting the work to the
lowest bidder, . shyster is apt to getlt."
Another physician grew very red in
the face and spoke with vehemence:
"fhey are q lot of hawbucka. If it is .
good idea TO let the care and treatment
Of the pauper sick at . low figure, 90
measure of economy, why would it not
be q good idea TO advertise for bids for
supervisors to do the work now con-
Stunning two or three hours . day and
for which they draw So? Their ideas of
economy are rank buncombe. If they
want TO be 80 - economic, why don't
they let the various county Offices TO
the lowest bidder? It's contrary 70
good business policy and contrary to
ordinary sense, this competitive bidding
scheme. 1t lowers the standard of eff
cheney and qualification, and insults
the profession. BAIL the idea of q
doctor doing thousand dollars worth
of business for $500. while the super
visors charge up mileage and per diem
accounts. Is richly absurd"
The statements of these two physi-
clans are fairly representative OF the
opinions Of several others, all OF whom
declined the use of their names.
1t appears that the superintendents
of the poor refused to act with the
supervisors committee on this ques-
ton, presumably holding that the
statute gave them the right to select
the county physician themselves.
The supervisors were not fully salts
fed on their night to make the contract
so they asked the prosecuting attorney
for his opinion and that gentleman
broadly intlmates 10 them that the duty
devolves upon tbs superintendent.
His opinion is as follows:
GRAND RAPIDS, Jan. l3, 1891.
To the Honorable Members Of the Board Of
Supervisors. Kent County. Mich:
Gentlemen--In the matter OF the ap-
po;ntment of . county physician. re-
ferred to me, desire 20 respectfully
report as follows: ] find no special
statute giving the Board of Supervisors
power TO act in this matter, yet the
general power given them is sufficient
providing there is no special power
given TO any other body. think How
ellis statutes, section 1859, gives the
county superintepdepn of the poor
power 70 Act IN this matter.
Respectfully,
VIZ. r. McKxrsuT,
Prosecuting Attorney.
Notwithstanding this opinion the
board ignored its plain intent and
awarded the contract 10 the lowest
bidder.
fla cheap county physician 10 . good
thing, why not cheap county attor.
ney. clerk and sheriff. The hoard
ought 70 tackle this problem Of "econ.
1 nrryV