The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1900-04-26

Kenosha County Medical Association
Protests Against the Charges
Against The Doctors.
DEMAND AN INVESTIGATION

Last Evening and committee was Ap-
pointed to Go over All the Bills Presented
by Doctors to the City.-Members of the
Association Denounce the City Council
TOR the Statements Made.
The Kenosha County Medical Asso-
citation held a special meeting Thurs
day night at the Office of DR.. Jorgen-
sen. The doctors did not meet for the
purpose of discussing the matter or
presenting bids for the work of caring
for the poor during the coming year,
but to voice their protest against state
ments made by the mayor and several
members of the common council IN re-
gard to the treatment Of the poor and
the charges made by the doctors during
the year just passed. The meeting
was not called by any of the interested
parties but by one of the doctors who
had not presented bill to the city and
for the sole reason that he was unw1ll-
ing to allow the charges which had
been made to pass without a full in
vestigation of them.
One of the doctors was seen this
morning and in speaking of the mat
ter he said: "The society did not meet
last evening for the purpose of discuss
ing the question of bidding for the
office of city physician as that matter
has been decided for some time. None
of the doctors present at the meeting
last evening are expected to present
bids for the work. We are opposed to
allowing the work of caring for the
paupers.by contract, on account of the
fact that if a man bids low it is inn
possible for him to give the proper
care to the patients. The city physician
should have a salary, the same as the
city attorney, and then good man
could be secured to take the position.
If it is impossible for the work to be
divided among all the physicians of
the CITY the doctors are in favor of the
city council appointing good reputa-
bic physician who is able to and will
do the work. In the past when
the work has been given to some doc
tor at very low figure he has always
drawn the salary and the other doctors
have been forced to give large amounts
of time and skill to the care of the
poor for which they received abso-
1ute1y nothing.
''The real reason for the meeting
last evening was to take some action
in regard to the statements recently
made by Mayor German and some of
aldermen in regard to the work during
the past year.
"The doctors are of the opinion that
there is positively no ground for the
statements which have been made, but
are DESTROYS that this fact be proved to
the people and for this reason a COM
| mittee of Drs. Jorgensen and Winde-
sheim was appointed to make COM
p1ete investigation and compare all the
bills presented last year with those of
former years. The feeling among the
doctors is that the statements Of the
officials were without any foundation
show that the doctors have been most
| reasonable in their charges for the care
! of the pCor".
Other doctors who attended the
meeting were seen and all Of them
gave the same report and stated that
the society would insist that an inves-
| tigation be made and that the whole
facts III connection be made public.
For some time, the doctors declare
many of the poor have been treated
without any charge whatever. They
have been most careful in the work
and when possible have refused TO
answer calls where there was any ap-
pearance that it would be unnecessary.
| One of the physicians stated that it
was often the case that the doctors,
when called, had sent to the poormas-
ter for an order, but this was always
refused on the grounds that there were
none, and finally the physicians gave
up all hope of the poormaster directing
them and since that time they have
used their own judgment in the matter.
1T is barely possible said one of the
doctors, ''that calls have been made
| where they were not absolutely neces-
sary, but these are very rare cases.
However, all the physicians have been
liberal and III many cases their bills
for the care of the poor have been cut
in two before they we're presented to
the Council
Another physician stated that an
alderman recently called him to task
on account of the great expense OF
caring for the poor, and when the doc
tor stated that such work was absolute
1y necessary, the alderman answered,
''Why in h don't you let them die.
It would be cheaper.
This sentiment doesn't strike us as
exactly humane, but it may be new
way of putting municipal economy.
The doctors suggest, that if it is
absolutely necessary for the city to cut
down the pauper account it would be
splendid plan to look into the rent list
and see who are living on the city.
They all cry out against the poor house
and say that it is impossible for any
one to hope for health among the poor
as long as they are compelled to live in