Imperial Valley press., 1935-08-01
EDITORIAL PAGE
and
FEATURES
1 DECENT PLEA


We 60 all the way with Mr. John Het-
itch, in his by-iined complaint from ia
cun1ba against the buck-passing that de
lays hospital care for accident victims
on Highway go There is no sense in a
system that permits an injured kid to lie
around hours while underlings argue as
to whether his case should be cared
for by San Diego or by Imperial county
Thirty minutes Of honest conversation
between the Imperial board and our own
could put an end % this needless cruel
ty, permitting either hospital service to
save lives first and allocate the cost af-
terward
With reasonable men to make the ar
rangements, il will not cost either county
any more TO be humane than to be cal
lous.
The above editorial from this morn
ing's San Diego Union gives opportunity
for Imperial Valley to do some thinking.
Many Imperial Valley residents use
Highway so, particularly during the
summer season, and all are exposed to
the danger Of accidents on the route.
It was pointed out in an article re-
printed in Yesterdays Press from the
county line switches five times between
Mountain Springs store and the top Of
the grade
When an accident occurs in this sector,
it is an open question as to in which
county it has happened. Regard for hu-
man life, and particularly for those suf-
fering from injuries, makes it impossi-
bic to send out surveyor with maps to
decide which county is responsible before
the victims can be given care.
The idea of letting the injured suffer
until officials of both counties have
passed the buck back and forth, is repug-
nant to the people of both counties
1t is a fundamental law of humanity
and of Christianity-to which most of US
profess-to give help and assistance to
the unfortunate Immediately and reckon
the costs afterward.
All of Us know that if well-known
resident of Imperial county gets into
trouble on the road and requires ambu-
lance service, the county vehicle would
be dispatched for him pronto. But let
Bill Smith or Mrs Bill Smith, who may
not be so we'll known, yet who may be as
much entitled to county consideration as
the better known resident, meet with an
accident, and definite information that
the injured party is a bona fide county
resident must be furnished before help
is given. Meantime Bill Smith or Mrs.
Bill Smith suffers in agony, getting only
what assistance Good Samaritans"
along the way can administer.
The people of Imperial county are not
reluctant to give aid That is proved ev-
cry time there is an accident, whether it
is on Highway 80 or elsewhere. They
respond first and ask questions after
ward
The government of Imperial cannot,
or should not, be put in the position of
being unmindful of fundamental law.
As the Union suggests, half hour of
sensible talk between the supervisors of
the two counties can arrive at some
agreement which will make it unneces-
sary for men, women, and even children,
suffering while red tape is cut. It may
be you or your family next time and
Lord, what prompt service you will want.
Or, supposing it Is a transient, is that
legitimate excuse for letting him linger
in agony while we talk about it? Out
side of Imperial county we would be con-
sidered "transients.' Would we want to
have officials pass the buck while we lay
on the roadside suffering the tortures of
the damned? We would not. Then the
law Of do ye unto others" applies TO US