The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-06
LEGALIZES THE PRACTICE
Minority Led by Mir. Starr
 Was Aggressive.
Measure Precipitated Warm and Pro tracted Debate-oodwyn Capito Bill Made Continuing Special Order for Today-Verner
 Bill Discussed.

The friends of the osteopathic practi- tioners in the Alabama House of Repre- sentatives yesterday after protracted parliamentary fight passed through the House a bill giving the practice of os- teopathy a legal standing. The measure giving legal recognition to the osteopaths got through over the protest of an agres- sive minority which exhausted every par liamentary refuge before it acknowledged defeat.
 The fight was by far the most inter- esting and warmly contested of the ses- sion. The formidable minority, friendly to the regular medical fraternity in Alabama and opposed, as they claimed, to attempt to break down the high standard or the medical profession, was led by one Of the veterans and one of the leaders of the House, Hon. E. $. Starr of Dallas The victorious majority was ably led by one of the younger men of the House who is rec ognized as one of the logical and elo- quent speakers of that body, Hon. Au- gustus Benners of Jefferson, author of the bill.
 The plea of the minority was to do noth-
 
 standard of the practice of medicine in the State, standard that had been raised only after twenty-five years of continued and conscientious work The majority pleaded for fair play and for the right of any citizen in the State to call in an os- teopath to treat him if he SO desired.
 Vote Was 70 to 20.
 The vote on the substitute measure which was accepted by the friends of the osteopaths was 70 ayes to 20 nays.
 The ostheopathic measure which Is House bill IF. came up at Il oclock as the regular continuing special order. The Judiciary Committee. to which the bill had been referred. reported a substitute which differed from ,De original bill as introduced by MT. Benners
 More than. two hours was consumed on the discussion of the bill and the House prolonged the session after its reg ular hour for adjournment in order that the bill might be disposed of before the representatives stopped work.
 The Capitol extension bill of Mir. Good wyn had been made the special order for F o'clock. but because of the prolonged debate 1t went over until today when 1t will be the first matter taken up by the House.
 Starr Leads Fight.
 The fight on the osteopathic bill was started by Representative Starr IS soon as it's title had been read. He had no objection. he said, to the practice of os- teopathy but the practitioners of right should ahe examined by the State Medical Board He declared that the bill provided that the osteopaths should be examined by professors of osteopathy while the State Medical Society, as at present con- stituted. was ignored. As an illustration of the way in which a practitioner of os- teopathy was to be licensed he said that.it would be similar to the applicants for a lawyers license who would appear before an examining board and say that he would take the examinati only as it related to criminal law. declaring that he had not studied civil law and that he did not intend to practice in that branch Such a divided examination. Mir. Starr declared would be refused him and the refusal would be no hardship. The osteo- maths, MT. Starr declared. proposed in this bill to ke such an examinat tion legal.
 He said that men who had only five months study in one branch of medicine should not be turned loose in Alabama to take in their hands the lives of the sick and aiing.
 Corrected by Benners.
 Mir. Benners declared that the appli- cants were required to have studied twenty months before applying for the examination
 MT. Starr accepted the correction and resumed his argument.
 He declared that the Legislature should not authorize the turning loose tn Ala bama of q set of incompetents and quacks to practice whether they did or did not administer drugs.
 If you pass this bill" declared Mir Starr. you will establish precedent and who say where 1t will end?"
 He declared that there were thousands of people in Alabama who would allow themselves to be administered to by quacks. faith healers or divine healers. He praised the standing. the high charac- ter. of the doctors in Alabama and he de- clared that the splendid standard of the medical profession had been raised with labor and pains. This bill. he said. would be the first step towards breaking 1t down. If 1t was passed he said, the faith healers, the divine healers. the herb doc tors and a horde of others who make claims to curing would come to the next Legislature clamoring for recognition.
 MT. Starr made a most eloquent and forcefuI presentation of the claims of the medical fraternity in Alabama and added 10 the leslsidtlVe reputation which he had already achieved
 Benners Answers Starr.
 The side of the osteopaths was cham pioned by Mir. Beuners in a forceful and logical speech, which was pronounced one of the very best efforts made on the floor during the present session. He was ire quently applauded and several witty allu- sions fin his speech brought roars of laughter from the House and gallery.
 ''The substitute now under discussion declared MT Benners. Ifs just as harm less as the bread pills which the doctors sometimes administer to us when there is nothing the matter with us."
 He confessed that since the introduc- ton of the bill with it's attendant dis cussion he had received liberal educa ton in all branches of medicine. He said that the doctors had no great objec- tions to the bin.
 Tt is not the thing they object to, but kaN &fw,s A. L.