The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1913-04-19


w. A. V. Zellen, Arvon, Bara-
ga and L'Anse townships. 900 90
W. A. V. Zellen, for the entire
Baraga county ........ 49,. 1850 90,
r. S. Buckland, fer the entire
Baraga county ........ 1900 90
and on motion of McKercher supported
by Howes, the chairman and clerk were
instructed to contract with L. l.. Good
now for Spur and Covington town
ships for $4,000, and w. A. v. Zellen
for Aryon. Baraga and L'Anse town
shids (includng villages for 1890. 90:
total of si300.00 as against bid of
$500 90 from DR.. Bucklard. This mo-
ton received affirmative vote of Been,
Schwalm, Howes, McKercher and
Foote.
Thus in four years the different coun-
ty boards contracted to and did unnec-
essariIy spend sl56O.00 of the taxpay-
ers' money without any reason for such
arbitrary action appearing in the rec
ords.
In conversation with prominent
physician was informed that such
methods on the part of the board had
practically killed any competition for
the Office of contagious disease physi-
an: he and others not deeming it worth
while to submit bids and then have
contract awarded to some higher Did
der
March 80, 1911, but two proposals
were received, one from Dr.. Isiah ST.
cote for Spur and Coyington town
ships $4,000. and from DR.. w. A. V.
Zellen for Arvon, Baraga and L'Anse
townships, 100000.
These were accepted on motion of
Been, supported by McKercher, on
votes of Been, Erickson, McKercher
and Schwalm-Maxey dissenting.
At the meeting Of Feb. 9th, 1912,
motion by Maxey supported by Erick-
son, that the clerk advertise for bids
were lost by vote of Been, Schwalm
and Erickson, Maxey and McKercher
voting for the motion. And at the
meeting of March 18th, 1912, the board
! by the same vote as the previous year
repeated that action in awarding the
present contract which expires April
I 81. 1913.
AS previously mentioned in this re-
port was unable to get any check on
the actions of the various boards of
county poor commissioners prior to five
or six years ago as the records back of
that time had been cost"
The present record book of the COM
missioners does not indicate that at any
time they received bids for physicians
contract either higher or lower than
that at which contract was let. At
their various meetings when the mat
ter of awarding contract for the year
was brought up it seems that the con-
tract was usually awarded to some par
ticular physician without any record
whatever being made of the various
bids received.
From the records / should judge
there was considerable dispute between
the board and physicians of the county
relative to claims for services, as at
meeting of June q, 1897. the secre-
tary was instructed tonotify DR.. r. S.
Buckland Of Baraga, d. L. Goodnow of
Michigamme, John o. Zellen and Wal
fred Zellen or L,Anse to produce their
49, &c xoaIa nil cttn.rip-
tendents of the poor, if they had any
at present, on or before the 18th day
of July, 1907, or their contracts would
b, declared null and void; and in the
m ,antime DIR. w. r. Stringham was
engaged as such poor doctor for the
Barage county poor at salary of $50
per month (ncluding medicines) from
May 18th, 1907, until further notice
from said superintendent of the poor.
This proceeding would indicate that
there was difference of opinion be-
tween the superintendent and the ply
sicians relative to action of previous
boards, records of whose proceedings
they were unable to consult, the same
having been lost as before mentioned.
At the meeting of Aug. Goth. 1907,
the bd6rd took further action. On mo-
tion Sof Commissioner Fleming they
passed resolution to rescind the
agreement whatsoever same may have
been between the board of superintend-
ents of the poor of Baraga county
and DR.. j. o. Zellen Of L'Anse
and r. S. Buckland of Raraga for
the following reasons, appearing in
the minutes of that date.
Absolute neglect Of duty.
Failute to visit the county poor.
Did absolutely abandon the sick and
poor of the county neither furnishing
drugs nor medic mes. neither surgical
nor medical aid to the said county poor
for the townships of Arvon, L'Anse and
Baraga for long space of time, to-wit
for the space of six months.
This motion was adopted by the full
vote of the board. At this same meet