Great Falls weekly tribune., 1896-02-14
COLUMBUS HOSPITAL TAX SUIT
The Answer Alleges That the Sisters
Have Refused Admission to
Poor People.
Alleged That the Hospital Has Been
Profitable and, Hence, Is Not
Benevolent.

In the district court Wednesday, there
was filed the answer, prepared by County
Attorney Freeman, to the complaint in
the suit of the Sisters of Charity of
Providence in the Territory of Montana,
a Corporation, vs.. A. f. Dckerman,
Treasurer of the County of Cascade,
Montana, an action to enioin defendant
! from selling at delinquent tax-sale lots l,
2, 3 and 4, block 265, townsite of Great
Falls, the premises of Columbus hospi-
tai, owned by plaintiff.
The answer admits that defendant is
county treasurer and ex-otlicio tax col
lector and that the lots named, except
lot 4, were assessed and taxed in the
name of plaintiff and advertised to be
sold for delinquent taxes; but each and
every other allegation of the complaint
is denied.
Further answering, defendant alleges,
upon information and belief, that the
moneys received by plaintiff since the
erection of Columbus hospital, as fees
ON patients admitted to said hospital,
and upon contracts made by plaintiff,
have been much more han sufficient to
pay the running expenses and main
teuance of said hospital; but, as to the
balance so remaining, defendant is not,
at this time, informed as to what has
been done with the same.
Defendant further alleges that said
hospital ia large, three story, brick
building, containing many rooms, for the
accommodation of patients, besides
wnat is known as the general ward"
and alleges, upon Information and belief
that the regular chalge nude by the
plaintiff for the use of each of said
re oms is SO week and that
cnarge Of IS per week is made
for patient occupying bed IN
| the general ward and that these
charges do not include the medicines
used by said patient or his medical at
tendance; and further alleges, on infor-
nation and belief, that tle plaintiff has
large remunerative and profitable con-
tracts for the taking care at said hospital
Of the sick OF various corporations and
companies doing business in Cascade
county; that the aggregate of these con
tracts amounts to several thousand dol
| lbTb ehCH year, anu ulU bO dIuOuUt III tDe
year 1895; and that the receipts from
these sources in the year 1895, by plain
tiff was largely in excess of its expendi-
tur.s in paying the running expenses
and maintenance of said hospital.
Defendant alleges, on information and
belief, that during the year, 1888, the
plaintiff refused admission to said hos,
pta, to persons needing medical and
surgical care and nursing, for the reason
that said persons had no money and
could give no security for their board,
nulsing and medical care while at said
hospital.
| Defendant further alleges that during
the year, 1885, when patient or per.
{ IN who had become surety to the plain
tiff for the payment of the board nurs
ing and medicine Of any patient at said
hospital refused to pay for said board,
nursing and medicine, the plaintiff en-
forced payment Of the same, in all cases
where it could be done, by suit brought
in the courts OF said county.
Defendant further alleges, upon in
formation and belief, that in the year
1895, plaintiff refused admission to said
hospital to many poor persons who were
sick and needed medical and surgical
care and nursing until they were able to
get money to pay for the same or were
; able to get some person or persons to &c
surety to plaintiff for their board, nurs
ing and medicine while at said hospital
There will probably be no further pro.
ceedings in the case until the plaintiff
reply to the answer shall have been filed
although either party may move fol
judgment on the plesdings, but this il
unlikely.
:. The allegation in the answer that
plaintiff was not assessed for lot 4 arises
from the fact that plaintiff is not the
owner Of record Ct that lot, although the
plaintiff claims that the title has beer
transferred to it.
Certain persons not directly concerned
seem to be much interested in the suit
, and frequently annoy court officials BY
asking when the case will be heard.
II is comparatively certain that the
hearing will not be had until the replica
! ton shall have been filed and, even then
il either side should demand jury trial
!. the trial will not be had until the tern
Of court which will begin March 2, ane
after the criminal calendar shall hav'
"a