Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-01-15

HOSPITAL CoxrnACr AwAaDnn

HosPIrAL COxTnACr AwAaDnn.
The Act ~ ths csmmiGslssers Causes
Jast Inaisnattea.
The bids tor taking care OF the
INDECENT sick Of this county were
opened last Tuesday morning, and
wore found to be = follows: Phillip
Ranft 1885; Frank Cooper, u, $50;
Mn. 9. g. Msiert. 1896. Mrs.
Mefsrt's bid being $50 lower than
Ranft's no one had the sli ghtsst idea
that the Commissioners would have
the audacity 70 award the contract to
any but the lowest bidder, everybody
knowing that no one 10 the county
has better accommodations for the
sick than Mrs. Mefert, or that would
give them more careful attention.
With these facts generally known,
and by none better than the members
of the Board, when it WAS known
Wednesday morning that the con-
tract WAS awarded to Mr.. Rant, m
dignation ran high. A mistake Of
judgment does not deserve severe
csnsure, but in this case there il not
the shadow Of an extenuating circum-
stance that any one can conceive Of.
The Commissioners knew that : bet
ter bidder than Mrs. Meffsrt could
not be found in the county, and her
bid WAS the lowest. If Ranft's bid
had been the lowest everybody would
have favored givlng him tbs contract,
Notwithstanding there would be rea-
sons that could be advanced ia favor
Of Mrs. Msffert, even If her bid had
bean little higher. There are times
when the road il not opea to Star
Ranch, Mr.. RANTS place, and there
is no telephone line, and is At Center
vile, where the hospital would have
been had the contract been awarded
as it should have been. Centerville
is on the stage road, and the road is
always open during the winter months.
Mrs. Meffert is generally conceded to
be the best cook in the county, and
is known to be unequaled in caring
for the sick. However, if Mr.. Ranft's
bid had been the lowest these points
would not have been advanced, and
everybody would have been satisfied
with the awarding of the contract to
him. Two years ago Phillip Rant
underbld Frank Cooper, and Martin
Cathcart, then member of the Board,
conten6ed that the contract ought to
be awarded to the lowest bidder, not
withstanding the fact of the Warm
Springs being the better place was
advanced. He proposed to let the
contract to the lowest bidder, and
his action was generally approved OF,
even by those who were satisfied that
the Warm Springs was the best place
for the hospital. Now he turns
around and does not favor letting
the contract to the lowest bill.
der. A petition was circulated yes
terday morning, asking the Conmis.
sioners to reconsider, and giving good
reasons. They were notified before
that petition would be presented Sc
that they would not complete the
contract until consideration of the
petition, but in this great mistake
was made. 1t caused the Board t.
act with great haste to finish up ths
business before the presentation o
the petition. J. G. Watts appeared
before the Board in behalf of the pc
ritioners, bet was immediately shu
off by statement from the angus
body that the contract had been com
pleted, and that they could not theI
reconsider. Mr.. Watts, however, ques
toned the Commissioners as to th,
reasons for their action. MartiI
Cathcart, who seemed to be the chic
spokesman, did not propose to Civ
any reasons, and said in effect: !"
am not accountable to Mrs. Meffer
nor to you," (Watts). Mr.. Watt
said: "You are accountable to tn
tax payers, are you no,9" He replied
al am accountable to no one." Fl
said, however, "if Havird had been
gentleman, it might have been differ
ent. And besides, l am opposed t
the hospital being located in town.
Havird asked him in q sarcastic man
j ner if be (Cathcart) was the only gar
| t!eman in the house. Martin the
, stated that Havird neglected to pr
in bid for Mrs. Daily, of Horsesho