Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1910-04-19
Long Opinion By
The A!t!ll00l Attorney
General.
HIS REASONS
spsoiar g the EYENINa NRWs.

special TO the EYBNiNG NH VS.
Trenton, April 10: Governor
Fort today announced his disapprov-
al Of the Assembly bill No. 156,
known as the Osteopathy bill, intro
duced by DR.. w. q. Ramsay, of Mid
dlesex county. The governor sets
forth his reasons for withholding
his approval as follows:
This bill is known as the Medical
Bill, drafted for the purpose of plac-
ing the osteopathic physicians under
the law, and to insure the regulation
of that school in conjunction with
the several schools of medicine now
regulated by the act approved May
22d, 1894 The bill before me is
teehnieally drawn, and | am advised
Chairman of the, legislative
-g0mmittee of the State Mej al So
ciety was, as originally intrms, iced in
the assembly, drafted by e three
schools Of medicine now Regulated
by the act Of May 22d. 1894. The
osteopathic physicians were not, ac-
cording to this statement, consulted
or conferred with in drafting the act
under which it was proposed to place
them. When the original act was
drawn in 1894, providing for the
licensing Of Allopathic, Homeopathic
and Eclectic schools, it was, as am
informed, drafted after conference
with representative men of the three
schools. Personally | have no
knowledge of any of the schools of
medicine that is superior to that of
any of my fellow citizens who are
not of the medical profession. / be-
lieve in the proper regulation of all
schools and in reasonably high
standard of preliminary educational
qualifications These are essential to
lile protection OF the people Of the
state from all kinds Of imposition,
and the profession itself from incom
petent members.
At the hearing given by the exec
utive on this bill, which was held In
the executive chambers on Monday,
April the eleventh, ! requested the
attorney-general to sit with me, that
might have his disinterested and
official advice as to the Justice and
legal effect of the provisions of this
bill. He was requested on the day
after the hearing to prepare an opin-
ion as to the bill and submit his con-
clusion to me. 1t was my purpose
TO be guided largely, IL not wholly,
by the result he should reach. He
was not advised as to my views upon
the matter. We had no conference
upon it. His opinion has been re-
ceived and in 1t ! fully concur. 1t is
against both the justice and legality !
Of Assembly Bill 1866, and for the /,
reasons given by him have with
held my approval Of 1t.
The opinion of the attorney gener-
al on the bill the governor also
makes public. 1t is as follows:
Trenton, N. j., April ID, 1910.
Hon. John Franklin Fort,
Governor of New Jersey:
Dear Sir-In accordance with
your request for an opinion upon
Assembly Bill No. 156, entitled An |
act to regulate the practice Of medi-
cine and surgery, to license physic-
ians and surgeons, and to punish |
persons violating the provisions
thereof | beg to submit the follow
ing, commenting not only upon the
legal features of the measures under
consideration. but as well upon the
provisions of the bill generally,
which understand to be your de-
SIRE
The purpose Of the act seems to
De the TeSulaLlOn Oh tile pFdCIACS "a |
0steopathy. For all other purposes
the present law constituting board
Of medical examiners seems to be
ample. / have, therefore, consider
ed the bill in view of what believe
to be Its purpose, and while ! do not
believe the bill to be without consid-
cradle merit, 1t seems to me at the |
same time to be accompanied by
Objectionable features which would
render the beneficial effect OF the
act, If approved, more than doubtful. |
The act provides for the appoint
ment of board of medical examin-
ers, consisting of ten members,
which shall consist of five old-school
physicians, three homeopathic physi-
clans, one eclectic physician and one
osteopathic physician. The osteo-
pathic school. for the regulation of
which this bill is professedly design
ed. would have, under this method /
of arrangement, but one representa-
tive upon the board.
Section four OF the act provides !
that no person shall practice medi-
cine or surgery in any OF its branch
CONTINUED on page g.