Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1898-02-19

WAS WISE dnu pTuutHt Is -dppiIt Gnu
from an examination of the case cited
which is found on page 225, volume p.
Kansas Reports. The facts are as
follows:
Joel Alexander. a pauper resident of
Athelstane township in Clay county,
was shot and dangerously wounded.
w. H. Renner. physician and sur
geon, living and practicing in the
township was employed by the trustee
to attend Alexander. The physician
made 120 trips, or visits, travelling 6
miles each time. For this medical
service" he charged 1920. The county
commissioners refused to allow the
bill but the district court gave judg-
ment for the full amount. The COM
missioners appealed the case to the
supreme court where the judgment
was affirmed.
Here is bill for 1920 for medical
attendance upon a single pauper. The
service was ordered by the township
trustee and was rendered by Il prac-
ticing physician in the township. He
was propably the nearest physician.
The trustee did not send TO the coun-
ty seat for a physician and yet the
bill for the one pauper is more than
our county commissioners pay under
contract system for years attend
ance upon all the paupers of the coun-
ty. The Independent was unfair
when citing the decision and with
holding the material facts
Take notice that the supreme court
says such bills must be paid by the
county. They are not paid by the
township whose trustee orders the
service.
Such cases may arise and such acct
dents may happen to any pauper OF
any township, hut Trego county can
n he compelled to pay such Il sum
for any or all of them under the pres
ent contract. Our commissioners have
made contracts for the very purpose
OF orestalling such bills by any ply
Sician, far or near.
Again, the trustee may employ d
physician outside of his township OF
even outside of the county. Does any
one suppose that any such foreign OF
! imported doctor would have any more
5 .mpa thy for tie taxpayers who pay
the bills than :; re ,ident county ply
sician'' who is, ia a measure, RESPONSE
BILE to his constituents and who i:
mutually interested in the we, flare O
the county? Would such a doctors
bills De any Smaller? Nol
The question arises, can. not til,
commissioners legally make such con
tracts under the general powers anC
duties conferred upon them by law
T K law does not make it mandatOr
upon tIIem To make such ii contrac
but, Or the other hand, no law or de
ciSion has been found to prohibit Sucl
action. SucIf duty is clear in countie
which have Il poor house and IL eV
such bills as that described above an,
allowed under the township system
would soon make Il poor house nee
essary in order to bring all the poo
together ana save expense. Physi
clans bills must be paid 10y the count
and not by the township. The CON
miSSionerS are the legal eXecutiy
head of the county and to say tina
trustees have greater authority
anomalous. The contract SysteI
saves money and when established b
custom and precedent such contract
would seem to be legal and bindin
until terminated by limitation.
There is still another and Il vail
argument in favor of the county cor
tract system of giving medical assist
: ance to those in need OF it:
, Township trustees as oyerseers c
the poor receive So per day for thei
services. Trustees are not more care
! full of public expenses than count
, commissioners or county physician.
Ii the trustee desires he can nurs
j, his job. He can charge s. for invest
eating the case to determine if d ply
sician's helps needed. Next day II
can make s. by calling the doctor an
, again on the succeeding day third 5
will pay him for going after the med
cine. all of which tS6l must be paid b
the county. but is saved under on
present arrangement. A few sue
, cases will paw the county physician
salary JuNo.