The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1916-09-07
LEVY FOR HOSPITAL
( PROMISED MONDAY
Ruling by Court Makes New
Call for Bids Necessary
JUDGE BABC0CK HOLDS STATUTE
WAS NOT COMPLIED WITH.
Court Says Hospital Such As That
Planned Is Needed For the County
For Present and Future.

Following a ruling by Judge w. A.
Babcock Wednesday to the effect that
the contract with the w. G. Reed COM
pany for the construction of a county
hospital was void because the commits
sioners did not previously make suffi-
cient provision to pay for it, the coun-
ty board determined to meet Septem-
ber II for the purpose of making the
the bids for plumbing and heating
which were to have been considered
yesterday.
In reversing the order of the board
on legal grounds Judge Babcock said
in effect that in his opinion the insti-
tuition of the kind and character pro-
posed was required in this county and
that this opinion was based on the
testimony elected on the stand and
his own observations as to conditions
prevailing here. While testimony had
indeed shown that the number of in
digenS sick actually cared for by the
county or operated on at the expense
of the county was small, there was in
fact a large element of people who in
times of health could get along, who
in case of sickness could not in prac-
tice secure the attention needed under
present conditions. To man of small
means sickness is a calamity. Should
such a man die his family must in many
instances be cared for at public ex-
pense, and as a matter no less of hu-
manity than OF economy it would be
advisable to provide means for pre-
serving men in such condition in good
health.
The decision was rendered after
something over an hour had been con-
sumed yesterday morning in introduc-
ing testimony and examining wit
nesses for the defense, and in discuss
ing legal points. The attorneys for
the county raised a question as to the
legality of the contest on the ground
that such appeal should have been
made twenty days from the time that
the first steps were taken and motions
made for the erection of a hospital
and not from the time of the last steI
involved in the letting of the contract
and that for this reason the contest
was made too late. Another poin
raised was that the appeal did no.
specifically say that DR.. Boyd was g
taxpayer in Twin Falls county at the
time that the appeal was filed. These
points were not passed upon by tbs
court as the matter of the legality of &
levy made too late was considered vi
tai and rendered the other questions
immaterial
DR.. j. ~ Davis of Kimberly, was the
first witness put on the stand by DR.
Boyd. He testified that in his opinion
from twelve to fifteen beds woulC
meet all present requirements for sicl
indigents and inmates of the poo
house.
DR.. Boyd was recalled and said tina
during the time which he had the con
tract for the caring for the pauperi
and for the INDECENT sick that wer'
provided for by the county, he had al
average of less than one hospital case
and that the total number of depend
ent poor in his care averaged five HI
said that the population of Bannocl
county was, he had been informed, il
the neighborhood of $4,000, the mum
ber of INDECENT poor would probabl
be much greater on account OF tn
fact that Pocatello had become grea
railroad center and would draw
larger number of the class from whic
INDECENT poor would come than cit
sustained by farming community. H
said that the actual number of indie
ent sick cared for in the Pocatello in
stitution averaged three. Attorney
for the county admitted that if presen
Dr. Clouchek would testify as to eel
tain facts in connection with the nun
ber cared for by him when count
physician six years ago and that ID
Newbry if present would testify tha
in his opinion the proposed hospits
was much larger than required fc
present needs and that one with frol
ten to fifteen beds would be bi
enough.
Attorney c. M. Booth for DR.. Boy
offered to present testimony to til
effect that the board of commissioners
intended to construct a hospital nj
only for the paupers and INDECENT sicl
but also for the care of pay patient
that they had repeatedly so stated an
that they had this in mind at the tin