The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-02-24
TWAS RATHER WARM
Between the Lawyers and the
Doctors Yesterday.
Committee on HssIth 0sci3ed 10 R. port avof-
ably Bill agains, Christian Scientists and
~Os:eopa'his.s.

For a Ittlc While there was rather n
warm tire yesterday afternoon in the
state Library With the Joint Committee
on Health. Senator Pollock. chairman.
The committee had met to take some
action on the bill to define the practice
Of medicine. which had been the object
Of such a long hearing the other after
noon in the senate chamber. when the
forces or Christian Science had launched
their catapults against il.
The Christian Scientists, many OF whom
were ladies, desired TO appear before the
committee again yesterday a~i5crnoon.
hut Senator Pollock had put his foot
down on it, and thereby hangs z little
tale.
Their attorney. w. W. Clark. of New
Bern, was permitted to appear before the
committee. and he told how Or. Pollock
had said 10 him.: Two had enough OF
those women
yes" said DR.. Pollock, 7 did say 50,
ana | say SO again
Mr.. Clark then proceeded to attack the
bill. saying it characterized Christian
Science a menace TO pubHc safety, ana
yet allowed it to be practiced if no fee
Were charged. 1EtN IniShI do 50
that murder might be committed, pro
yfdcd there was no charge for it.
Mr.. Clark said that DR.. Po1lock's ac-
ton in preventing these ladies to appear
before the committee was denying to cit
izens Of the state a constitutional right,
and none would be heard Of that in
another way.
He then made the point that the bill
should go before the Judiciary Commit
tee. in order that its constitutionality
might be tested.
This caused trouble at once. DR.. Alex
ander. of Mocklenburg. asked if the Leg
islature could require persons to be eX-
aminad before being allowed to practice
medicine.
Mr.. Clark said the Legislature would
have no right to require lawyers to be ex-
amined by q board Of blacksmiths.
DR.. Alexander thought that reflected. on
the Iedical profession.
Mr. clark said it did not in the least.
It was only meant to show that the Board
of Medical Examiners knew nothing OF
tie requirements of Christian Science.
Mr. Clark then went on to tell how
they had saved the committee from a ter
ribIe error by calling attention to the
fact that the bill had actually passed
TIE House without an enacting clause.
This was another argument to show that
laymen were not competent to draw bills,
and that it hould be referred to the Ju-
dietary Committee.
A good deal Of argument now followed.
Some were for reporting the bill favor
ably, some for referring it 10 the Judi
ciary Committee. and some for reporting
It without prejudice to the House.
Mr.. Nann moved to refer to the Judi
ciary Committee. This was lost.
Or. Alexander, Of Ne~cklcnburg. con
tended that the Committee on Health
was the proper body to consider this bill.
Christian Scientists were quacks, and
the practice was a menace to public
health and safety. The object Of the bill
was to prevent its practice altogether.
He moved TO report favorably.
Dr. Riddick, as a physician and chair
man Of the House Committee on Health,
considered ii a duty they owed to the
medical profession to have the bill eX-
araincd 50 that it could not be attacked
from any quarter. He favored reference
to tho judiciary Committee.
1t was finally decided to report the bill
fayorably.