The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-10-10
COMMUNICATIONS.
some OF Honorable Samuel Keury,s
Peculiar Legislation

oduse ne Is n BANKER, and is. consequently
the synpathizing friend of the people-es-
pecially those who have not been blessed
| with superabundance of that which NH
IoSophers have termed ''the root of all evil
and one who, under not all circumstances
| but particular circumstances is ready and
! willing to extend the hand of charity to
those IN need, and who, We're it not for his
exceeding nlodeStg and which, / have no
doubt, is all that prevents him from so do
ing, might on all occasions exclaim In the
! language of the poet
VIII . take your friendship up at use,
! END fear not that your profit shall be small !;
Your interest shdu ercCed your principal"
But of course Samuel Henry is composed of
modesty and self-denial to that extent that
he would much rather decry his own good
ness of heart and superior greatness than ad-
init that he is such a man.
But, thank heaven, ingratitude does not
rule TO that extent that the people do not
admit, andsadmitting proclaim to the world,
| that he is all charity, purity and wisdom,
and acknowledge the fact that although
Cambria county has enjoyed the reputation
of having been the birthplace and the home
! of rs great men as ever figured in the State.
| yet, comparatively speaking, its citizens
! have been cropping in darkness that, al
I though it could justly boast of men of intel
lect, wisdom and ability second to none in
! the State, yet it remained for an adjoining
| county to send us Caesar who possessed
| these qualities to that extent that were the
| foremost men of other days still living they
might
| walk under his huge legs and peep about
| To find themselves dishOnorable graves
| And L have no doubt but that it was n
most happy thing for the people of this coun-
ty that they understood and recognized the
| eternal fitness of things" and chose this
| great man as their legislative representative
! during the past two years, because I have
| heard it said by those who are most intimate
| with him, and who enjoy the privilege of
| being his confidential friends, that he has
/ done so much for the relief of the people
! during his Legislative career.
Far he it from me to presume to doubt the
| wisdom of aught this great man has done, or
| question the motives which influenced him.
! yet / must confess that cannot understand
| wherein the people are to be benefited by
| some of his laws. However, | suppose they
| We're drafted in the great elevation and su-
| periority of Hon. Samuel Henry's wisdom,
and are therefore above the comprehension
of the common herd-are as much above the
| underst anding of ordinary mortals as Cali
| gula's laws, when suspended on-the pillars,
We're above the legibility of his subjects
| and, if they were explained, would be un-
derstOOd and appreciated.
Therefore, in that spirit of humility he
coming one Of the comnOt1ality, would ask
| this SolOn wherein the people are to be ben
efitted by some of his laws; and first would
suggest an explanation of an act regulating
the practice of medicine in Cambria county
| passed the 9TH day of April, 1873. This act
provides that any physician residing out of
! the county who shall attempt to practice
| medicine or surgery, or shall prescribe for
| any sick person, OF shall perform any surgi-
| cal operation, Sin violation Of this act, sha,
he deemed guilty of a misdemeanOr, and
| upon conviction, shall be fined in any sum
not less than one hundred dollars nor more
! than five hundred dollars, Onc-half of which
fine shall go to the informer." The provi-
| siOns referred to are that lie (thc physiCian)
! appear before the clerk of the court and take
! out license for one year. for which he shall
/ pay fee of t1cO hundred dollars"
Under this law, if n citizen of this county,
| even though he lived on the line of the cOun-
| ty. and near the office of n physician residing
/ in an ad Joining county, should be taken sick.
| or get hurt, lie could not, no matter in what
| danger he might be- send for this near ply
! siCian, because the physician dare not come
to his aid unless he is willing 20 risk 4 pros
ccution FOR miSdemeanor. the penalty of
| which is a fine of not less that 800.
To illustrate this law more clearly: Sup
pose that person living in the immediate
neigho0rhOOd of Cherry Tree, though within
the limits of Cambria county, shOuld take
suddenly sick. Now, under this law, the
physician residing in the town named could
not prescribe for this person unless he either
assumed the risk of a prosecution and heavy
fine or went all the way TO Ebensburg and
paid 5000 for physicians license. In the
meantime the patient would have TO send to
CarrOlltOwn, some twelve miles distant, for
n physician, Notwithstanding he might have
procured the services of one within n few
hundred yards of his own house, were it not
for the existence of this iniquitous and un-
just law.
This is one Of the many acts passed by Mr..
Henry, and L must confess that 1 cannot,
for the life of me- see what benefit the people
can derive from it. True, some quacl1 who
could get nothing to do under other circum-
stances might be employed sometimes. But.
under all the circumstances, is II not oppress-
i've and great injustice to the people to de-
prive them of the right to call in any physi-
clan they chose, especially when the imme-
| 1iata nj q DlvSici1y, fo1 hp ne
sary to the preservation of human life ?
If it is c0Hrenient for this mighty statesman
to explain the salutary effects of this law, he
| will confer n lasting favor; and, also, while
his hand Is IN lac might liISeVrisr i,'fo,s. ,,-
wherein the poor are to be beuefitted by his
monthly return day" act, by which writS
are made retunahle on the first Monday of
each month, instead of quarterly, rs hereto
FORE as well as several other enactments he
secured the passage of-all which your cor
respondent cannot, after Il careful eNamina-
ton, regard as being for the good of the peo'
pie. CAMBRIAN.