Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-02-11
STATE HOUSE.
Annual Report Of Maine
Board Of Optometry.
Law Has Caused Decrease Of
Itinerant Spectacle PeddIeIS.
list OF Persons Granted Certificates
Of Superintendent Grade.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Next meetinS Of Governor and Council
Thursday, Feb. "a, at 10 A. M.

NCHC hSSliIiS OF 0OVSTfiOT anu Sot'S'
Thursday, Feb. "a, at 10 A. M.
The first annual report Of the Maine
State Board of Registration and FIX
animation in Optometry, when has
bean filed with the governor and
Council. says in part:
In the matter of those applying for
exemption certificates the board have
er,-aVored to investigate each case
in a thorough and entirely impartial
manner. Where charges have been
filed against the applicant special
pains have been taken to arrive at a
complct" knowledge of the facts
Each of such cases has been carefully
examined and ,ne testimony of sever
al di5intero sted and reputable people
have been secured. There are now -
applications for exemption before the
board that are being subjected to fur
Their investigation before a final de-
cison in regard to them will be
reached.
In particular have the board given
attention to the moral character of
the applicant and his haoitual per-
soral conduct has been the subject Of
tIi'' NiOHChl StJu'Itn. y ii aDDllCt. y
WHO We're round 10 be grossly immor-
al We're denied a certificate
The board have established as a
schedule CT the minimum requirements
which must he complied with ry APP
DlicantS for examination BEFORE they
can be examined or receive ceriifi-
cate that each applicant shall have
had preliminary education of at
least two years in a high school or it's
equivalent.
THE board have established IN like
| manner as the minimum requirements
and rules for the recognition of schools
| Of optometrY the schedule adopted by
| the Regents Cf the University of the
| state of New York
| while the law under which this
| board vas created and under the pro-
visions OF which the board have been
| proceeding has been in effect hut six
months. Il marked change for the bet
| tar in the practice of optometry in the
! state has already occurred. Inquiries
! Instituted in all sections of the State
show conclusively that there has been
| q marked reduction in the number of
| itinerant vendors. In the more thinlv
! settled sections this has not been spec
| tally true, and it is conservatively es-
timated that the number of itinerants
has been reduced by 70 per cent
This class of spectacle peddlcrs,
without any permanent place of abode.
was for the most part composed of ir-
responsible, and, in many cases. en-
J tirely INSCRIPTIONS persons who ex-
plotted the public's eyesight solely for
the benefit of their own pockets.
Their knowledge of optometry was
generally very slight, and it was COM
| monty admitted that their vocation
was menace to the public
'All of the testimony received and
reports made to the members of the
board from the various parts of the
state allow Of but one conclusion ana
mat is that the number of these OBJ
jcctionahle itinerants have been de-
creased to marked degree
TIE board received a large number
or applications for exemption, particu-
larly from the more northern counties
OF the State, which, upon Investigation
We're found to come from men who
We're not iona fide residents of tho
state. Letters directed ty the board
TO the addresses furnished by the an
plicants We're returned by the post
ONCE department and further inyesti-
Sauon revealed that the appIicants
We're, in reality. summer visitors resi-
uehts OF other states. Refusal of GER
| 'lllcates was made in such cases
III appears that it has been the
! practice among q certain class of nom
| RESIDENTS to purchase small stock
| ct lerseS and frames. and to nav ro,, ,
| summer trip to Maine by the snecta-
cles "hlch the visitor would foist at
| eNortitant prices upon an unsusncct-
ing pubhc, Two of the largest whole
"i 'p'icdi concerns in the East re-
p"i' "'at their sales to this class,
winch usually have amounted to sew
Ht"i thousands of dollars a season,
,fPl'" 10 only few hundreds during
the past summer. Comment On the
advantages To the public by the de-
crease OF This business appears to be
unnecessary.
"Elle the decrease of the itinerant
mas occurred as noted. there has also
pe' F" general and appreciate adj
FaIic9 n'ace IN the quality of the work
peiiis uohe ny resident optOmetriStS.
lhcre nus oeeh a widespread ard no.
tlceaple increase of interest bv them
in their vocation. An ambition to
Keep fuliy abreast OF their fellows has
been aroused. They have been study
ing their work as never before. adding
new and improved fixtures and anpli-
ances to their Offices, and. as a result,
arc giving the public a better and inn
proved service.
IN carrying out the provisions of
the law the board have endeavored to
work no undue nor unfair hardship to
| any ono in any way. The minimum
| educational requirement will be ad-
vanced later, but the standard adopt
ed, although ii is not as high as it will
be at sore time in the future. seemed
to be wise for the present.
1t is expected that by the first day
of May next all cases of registration
that are now pending before the board
will have been determined, and the
board will then be in a position to
prosecute any alleged violations of the
statute regulating the practice of OPP
topoatry- that C13y bs r.,,ortad RI thor,,