Mohave County miner., 1893-12-16

durable diseases, as such persons are more
liable to find fault with trifling matters
and to magnify their supposed i'll treat
ment than q person In good health
would do.
Mohsve county has always been noted
for the generous and charitable manner
In which It's INDECENT sick were cared
for, and while every right thinking citi.
zen is no doubt proud OF its record in
this respect, the officers Of the county
should not forget that there are people
who take advantage Of this magnanimity
to collect unjust and unreasonable
charges for services rendered to the
county's poor. The bills on file in the
office Of the clerk Of the Board Of Super.
visors are full Of instances OF this kind
| find that while DIR. Lsppeus was county
physician. unjust and illegal charges for
nursing INDECENT sick were frequently
collected. As for inst lnce in the case OF
Long, During the third quarter Of this
year the county paid for nursing this
man $50. Afiidavits herewith show tha,
he needed and received no nursing what
ever. The same is true Of John Crowley
and others. In the case OF John Barkle
the county paid 1922 90 for nursing, while
affidavit submitted herewith shows that
he was up and around until three days
before his death, and that the only
nursing he received was at the hands OF
his friends during the last three days OF
his life The result is that the cost of
caring for the INDECENT sick has been far
greater than it should have been The
contract for caring for the INDECENT sick
specifies that no charge shall he made
for nursing while inmates Of the hospital
are able 10 wait on each other. No at.
tention has bee paid to this provision
by the contractor, but charges have been
for nursing while other patients
in the hospital were fully capable OF rem
dering all The attention needed and, also
while the person supposed to be nursed
neither required nor received any nnrs.
ing. In this way the amounts allowed
Tor the care Of INDECENT sick has been
probably one-third greater than the pro
visions OF the contract would admit.
| find that in many cases bills have
been presented to he Board and allowed
when not properly certified to as required
by law.
To obviate all or many of these errors
would suggest that no bills |
De allowed in future by the Board unless
he same have been duly presented and
lied at least three days before the meet
ng OF the Board; and that it be required |
# the District Attorney to inspect all such |
bills, investigate their merits and en-.
lorse thereon his approval or disapproved !
II the same before being acted upon by
he Board And that the Board publish |
III of It's proceedings after each session,
is hy 20 .loing the best interests OF the
axpayers will be furthered. and az the
anne is undoubtedly contemplated by
he provisions of the statutes. |
While find all these errors and others
n the business Of the Board Of Super
irors, irel il my duty to say 'hs, be-
ieve none of these mistakes or illegal
cts have been done by the Board or its
Members with any bad motive. or with
ntent 10 deirand the county, as believe
ach OF them to be honorable men, who
ave the best interests Of the tax payers
{ heart But in the hurry Of it's business
essions matters are overlooked or given
,sufficient attention, that il looked into
lore thoroughly would be acted upon
ifferently.
have not investigated the affairs Of any of
lie Offices further back than the beginning OF
IFS year. But one matter acted upon by
lie old board Is deserving OF your attention,
Iz: That after refusing to allow the tax col
ctor his percentage Of the delinquent rail
'a1 taxes, Whlch were cOiiected during lsZ,
ld which percentage was provided for by law,
Ie board allowed the district attorney one per
mt. Of these taxes without any provision OF
w therefor.
/ have not made thorough or searching In
into the other Offices Of the county,
ecause did not believe 1t was necessary and
" instructions did not contemplate It. How.
yer, from partial investigation and from my
,neral knowledge Of the manner In which the
lsiness OF these several Offices is conducted /
n prepared to report as follows:
The business OF the sheriff is conducted in
Iorough and systematic manner The books
e IN first class condition and there seems to
general disposition TO an economical ad-
and to spare the county all un.
ecessary expense
The books OF the treasurer's Office were never