South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-22
The LEGAL ASPECT
OF The SITUATION
By Lem J. Dare.

It would seem existing conditions it might
be more feasible enlarge present hospital fac
ties rather than a hospital re owe a great
deal present hospital organizations which have
the needs OF city under con
ditions the last years would seem a
shame TO discontinue these organizations burden
them with competition OF publicly maintained hos
pltal. To say the least II would not accord them
proper gratitude for the services which they have
cred However eventually St Joseph county must
establish county hospital and the present law under
which county hospital be established should be
carefully perused by citizens in order that might
be amended necessary 20 take Of needs when
The occasion arises for the establishment Of such
hospital
THE ACT OF 1917
1917 the Legislature passed act enable
establish and maintain public hospitals II ia
provided that whenever the board OF county commits
IS presented with a petition signed by
dent freehoders. $50 OF whom residents the
city in which is proposed locate the county
pal, asking that annual levy may be levied
the establishment and maintenance Of a county
pital place In the petition named and specified
and the maximum amount Of money proposed he
expended. the county commissioners shall order spe
cial election for the purpose OF taking the
legal voters OF the county the question whether
the proposed hospital shall be established II major
ity OF the the election of the
establishment Of the hospital then the board of
mssloners shall enter order establishing such hos
pal authorizing the purchase of the the
building OF such hospital and shall fix the
be paid therefor and shall fix amount of tax
be levied the assessed property OF The county
for the maintenance thereof
the maintenance the hospital shall not
exceed mills the dollar period exceeding
20 years. The commissioners may provide the
issuance of county bonds to provide funds for the
chase a site. the erection a county hospital
and for its support maintenance
LIMITED To 100000.
Since the assessed valuation OF the property in ST.
Joseph county Is approximately $2O9OOooOO tax of
mills would yield $41s,OOO per annum. and a
2O-year period provided In the act. than
SS0OOOOO would be available were 1t not for the fact
that the provides that the total amount OF the
bonds that may be issued shall exceed 100000.
Consequently the the county would
be IN o Oh
poses for the period OF the succeeding years
after its establishment except that the county council
may appropriate each year in addition TO this
exceeding 10 per OF It's general fund
for the Improvement and maintenance of the county
hospital which has been established. The fund
In this county apprOxinatlng S25O.O0O would
therefore make approximately $4,000 annum
available in addition the bonded indebtedness that
might be levied TO the extent Of 100000 In other
words. the total that could be realized
this law for hospital would be the 100000
that could be realized by bond issue and the appro-
priatons from the general fund OF approximately
$4,000 per year. OF course. the county and
the assessed valuation Of the property increases the
general funds will materially become larger and the
amount that might be appropriated by the county
DONATIONS POSSIBLE.
However. II these sufficient
balance raised by private donations as the
act specifically provides donations may be used
hospital is frequently considered objection
able for the reason that it might be politically
efficiency by evils OF party
politics However, the legislature this
everything possible to obviate this objection
board of four trustees. two OF whom may be
that citizens Of
the at large bur that than two the
said trustees shall be residents of the city in which the
hospital IS located and not more than two shall be of
the same political party
These trustees elect OF their number as chair
and secretary and the county treasurer
shall be the treasurer OF the board. The
ritaI trustees have the power TO make bylaws
rules and regulations for the government OF
NItal they may deem expedent is this board
that has the exclusive control of all money collected
fha of tqI fund Of
q the purchase construction of the building
buildings and the supervision. custody OF
the hospital and grounds This board also has the
power 10 appoint a superintendent and fix the
pensation OF all the hospitsl employees
To FIX REASONABLE FEE
The county hospital shall be the benefit of the
inhabitants OF the county any person fall
ing sick being injured within the county. but the
board OF trustees shall in their rules regulations
prescribe reasonable compensation To be paid by pa
uents which fee prescribed shall be applicable 20
every patient unless he be an INDECENT Consequently
the idea which is somewhat prevalent 20 the effect
that county hospital IS for the INDECENT only
erroneous.
SUBJECTS FOR CHARITY
In order that the hospital might the poor
needy as wei as those who afford TO pay reason
able compensation fixed by the board OF trustees
provided that The trustees may determine whether
not patients presented at the hospital
surgical operations are subjects for charity II such
patients be deemed subjects charity then the town
ship shall treasurer of the hospital
board the cost OF the hospital Of patients as
may have been admitted from their respective town
ships.
The act also provides the establishment and
laintaning Of r-iniug school for nurses depart
1lent the detention and examination OF persons
hose sanity being officially inquired into a DEPART
Tor tubercular patients and veterinary lab
oratory.
have given this in full but merely present
of the law Whether this act is sunl-
amended m contemplation OF county hospital be
established some time lH the ruturc or whether