The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-07
DOZIER DISCUSSES
 THE "JUSTICE BILL

To the Editor of The Age-Herald.
 Please permit me to have little space in your columns for a few words to the liberty loving, fair-minded members of the Alabama legislature regarding a cer- tain bill now pending before that body. and known as the Justice bill," a meas ure fraught with many lurking dangers that may prove a boomerang to sorae of the doctors who may have been misled Into an advocacy of it's enactment into a law. The very fact that it gives power to a star chamber court of seven men to sit in council. formulate charges, and bring to trial any other doctor for any real or fancied violation of the code of morals, medical ethics, or common law, without the privilege of having present a lawyer to defend him, and without the protecting laws provided for in the es- tabiished rules and customs pertaining to evidence and defense, and that such jury of seven men may by their verdict re- yoke the license, disgrace and disbar the accused doctor from ever again engaging in the practice of his profession in this state. and at the same time deny him the right to an appeal from their judg- ment and verdict to court of legal jus tice and trial by jury, is a most danger ous precedent to establish. Doctors as a rule have ever been known as the most cabalistic men of all professions, and there has not been lacking for long time sufficient evidence of tendency on the part of few great leaders in the medi- cal society to pull down and destroy their less conspicuous competitors.
 The very spirit of the bill is intolerant and inconsistent with all established laws of justice now on our statute books, and 1t will, if it becomes a law, create court with jury of seven doctors whose unan- imous consent is not necessary to a find ing of verdict. And this jury of seven will be under none of the usual con- straints of law as govern in ordinary legal proceedings pertaining to the life, liberty, and property of the individual. And furthermore, if this bill becomes a law 1t will make it impossible for a doc tor who may be tried and convicted before such tribunal to be not only disharred from practcing his profession but will deny to him the right which even the humblest negro charged with the theft of chicken can demand, viz: jury trial. Is it not therefore the height of imprudence and folly for the doctors themselves to sanction such a law, con- ferring such arbitrary and unsual pow CTS? Certainly it would seem to be, unless such advocates of the bill have assur- ances in advance that they will them selves be made members for life of such a court For who can know that the same serpent which they are now warm ing may not in time turn upon them and make them feel the poison of its sting?
 How can any doctor or firm of doctors think of investing their money in the in the purchase of necessary therapeutic equipment for a modern institution for treating the sick when he himself may at any time be made victim of the spite or jealousy of such court? Which would to all intents and purposes not only disgrace and disqualify him from follow ing the labors, of his profession, but would to all intents and purposes practically confscate his property in such invest ments as before mentioned
 Brother doctors. I ask you to read the bill carefully, think well and act quick if you would do anything to avert such a tyrannical, unjust, and mischievous law being placed upon the statutes of Ala bama The bill is to be acted upon Wednesday. o. T. DOzIER.
 Birmingham, March 6, 1911.