The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-03-15
HEARING ON
EMBALMING
MEASURE

There was a hearing on the rising OF
the senate today before the Joint commit
tee on public health on an act 20 estab-
hsb a state board of embalming. The act
provides for the appointment by the gov
Ell or OF three members no shall he
practical arterial embalurIa. who shall
have had at least five y experience
actual practice
Sc ction provides for compensation Of
the members at the rate OF IS per day ana
a secretary with a salary OF 500 per year.
The act further provides that the board
shan have fun supervision over the busi-
iAss OF embalmers making necessary a
lkense with a $40 fee and helicensee must
rg.ster with the board before being al
lowed to continue the business.
Section II OF the act provides for hne
o. from $50 TO 500 for all embalmers who
fan 10 comply with the act and who con-
tinue within the business after July l.,
1aS
Section Il provides that the fees for IL
censes shall be used TO defray the ex-
Lenses OF the board.
There was a large attendance Of under
tni ers and embslmers at the hearing In
dieating an unusual amount Of interest IN
the act.
Charles L. Barber Of Providence spoke
OF previous efforts TO secure a similar bill
He said that the act would prevent telay
in shipping bodies on railroads. He de
ciared that certain railroads had passed
certain rules. which provided that when
en1balming had been done by licensed
embalmers there were no ''hold-ups He
said the act was practically the same act
now I'm operation in the state OF Connecu-
curt, where II was generally approved Of.
Dennis r Mccarthy OF Providence said
ne could endorse all that had been said
and I'm addition he declared that IL would
be OF great benefit 70 the public. lie
thought the act would result in the Inn
proving the profession. He said there
was nothing in the act that would par
ticuiarfy favor any embalmer. but would
he simply TO better the public He
further said that Rhode Island was one
OF the very few states that had not al
ready passed an act OF this character
He urged the passage of the act.
Mr. Barber answered some questions re-
garding features of the act, particularly
the clause which provided for $500 to he
devoted for educational purposes II was
also explained that under the act no ono
IN TIE business before July /. 1905, would
he Obliged 10 take an examination, but
could have license by the payment OF
s. fee,
Robert r. Carroll Of Providence favored
the act along the same lines as those
who had previously spoken.
Chairman stoddard OF the committee
asked II this act should pass II under
takers living I'm other states could come
into this state and practice their work.
Mr. Carroll said that in such case
q resident undertaken could sign the
certificate
John D Orio of Providence wanted 70
know about the section relating to the
firm and this was explained 10 him.
Or. @. 7. Swarts. secretary OF the
state board Of health explained that in
his opinion the act would be a good one.
j. ". Carpenter Of Providence said
that he never had any dtfculty I'm getting
bodies shipped through western states pro-
vided they are hermitically sealed He
declared that when this was done no un-
dertaker ever had any trouble.
John OKeefe OF Providence said that II
was expensive 70 hermitically seal q body
and the passage OF this act would result
sn a great saving 10 the poor people OF
she state.
Mr. Carpenter was in favor OF a good
bill but he did not think this was a good
one He objected because he had not
before had a chance 10 see the bill.
John II. Walsh OF Providence objected
20 the act because he tnought IL looked
like graft" act because he believed it
was formed 10 keep men out Of busi-
hess.
Mr.. Carroll thought Mr. Walsh was
pnis,sken and there was no desire to keep
knen out Of the business.
-, Ase,rtEp ADuEaTtsING an TAE