Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 98, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 March 1916 — MAY KILL HOSPITAL PROJECT [ARTICLE]

MAY KILL HOSPITAL PROJECT

Appropriation of St o,ooo Asked for Has Hern Increased Illegally to $19,000. It now looks as though the building of the proposed Jasper county ho6pital • was going to be another new court house deal, unless some taxpayer steps in and puts a stop to the matter by enjoining the payment for same. Notwithstanding the fact that the law provides that the petitiou for shall set out the maximum amount to be expended for biiiming , and grounds—which was donot} this case, SIO,OO0 —and also specifies Hie limit of taxation, etc., the hospital board has asked for and now obtained appropriations from the bounty council aggregating $19,000! Of this amount, SI,OOO was heretofore made for a site and SIO,OOO for the building, or SI,OOO more than could be expended under the law and the petition therefor. When the council met Monday SB,OOO more was asked for and the appropriation was granted. This makes $9,000 more than was asked for or could be legally expended under the law and the petition filed. And not a shovelful of earth has yet been turned! Those who have had experience in the payment for the construction of public buildings know that more money is always being asked for “to complete the building” after it is partially done, and unless something is done to stop proceedings in this case, it Is probable that the taxpayers of Jasper county will be bled for $35,000 to $40,000 before the building Is completed and ready to occupy. And then there Is the cost of maintenance to add to all this, too. The men whose names are on the petition for this hospital signed same with the distinct understanding as set out in the petition that the building and ground should not cost to exceed SIO,OOO, and it is very probable that the scheme to spend three or four times this amount will be brought up with a short turn. It should be at least.