Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-15
DENTISTS URGE LAW
Strict Regulation in District Is
Advocated.
BEFORE HOUSE COMMITTEE
Congressman Oppose Final Author
ity of Dental Board.
PLEA MADE FOR INEBRIATES
Hospital Strongly Urged-Universal
Transfer Hearing on
Monday.
PLEA MADE FOR INEBRIATEs

lie i1ouSe b1SlTlcI committee toudS
was urged to enact into law bills provd-
ing for the erection of an inebriate hos
pltal and for the amendment of the laws
governing the. practice of dentistry in the
District. Hearings on both these meas
ures were given at the committees
meeting.
In the interests of the bill for the
amendment of the law relating to the
practice of dentistry DR.. II. j. Nichols,
DR.. Starr Parsons, DR.. c. w. Culbertson
and DR.. H. ]. Allen appeared before the
committee, DIR. Nichols acting as spokes-
man.
DR.. Nichols declared that the present
law. which is twenty years old, is entirely
Inadequate.
He read the proposed bill. The. ques-
ton arose as to the extent of the au-
thority which the bill proposes to place
in the hands of a dental board consisting
of five men appointed by the District
Commissioners. Chairman Johnson, Rep
resentative Prouty and other members of
the committee took the stand it would not
only be unjust, but also would not meet
the approval of the courts. if the board
should be made the final tribunal to pass
upon the revocation of a license to prac-
tice dentistry, as is proposed by the bill.
Clashes Frequent.
There were frequent clashes between
DR.. Nichols and Mr.. Johnson. One men,
Der of the committee asked why the
dentists were urging the passage of the
bill, to which DR.. Nichols replied
Because there are lot of scoundrels
who are practicing dentistry in Washing
ton and this is the only way We can get
at them. They lie to their patients and
to the public about what they can do.
and about vegetable compound secrets,
which are known, they say, only to
themselves"
Chairman Johnson declared that the bill
proposed to give the dentistry board
authority to call for books and to summon
before it dentists at will. and finally to
take away their licenses. This was en-
tirely too much power to place in it's
hands, he said. Such power should be
vested only in the courts, he said.
Want No Misrepresentation.
Representative Kahn of California ask
ed if the dentists did not wish the board
to act much as the bar association acts in
bringing action for the disbarment of
lawyers who have been guilty of wrong
doing But Mr.. Johnson pointed out that
in that case the disbarment was not made
by the bar association, but by the court
itself.
Representative Anderson asked If the
bill was not aimed at dentists who ad-
vertised in the newspapers and elsewhere.
The dentists replied that they were only
after those men who advertised things
which they could not perform. They said
they did not care what prices were ad-
yertised for operations, SO long as the
dentists advertising were actually per-
forming these operations correctly
Dr. Nichols told the committee that the
dentists did not wish judicial authority
placed upon the dentistry board and that
they would be satisfied to have the bill
amended 1t was decided to give the
dentists further hearing next Wednes-
day at 10 o'clock.
Advocates Hospital.
C. c.. Lancaster appeared before the
committee in the interests of the inebriate
hospital bill which he said has the back
ing of all the citizens associations, the
Board of Trade and the Chamber of Com
merce. He explained that the bill pro-
posed the erection of a hospital here for
the treatment of inebriates who are now
sent to Jail in default of a proper place
to lodge them. He argued that drunken
ness was in many cases disease, and is
such should be treated at hospital. He
mentioned the case of a young woman
who had been employed in the state De
partment as trans lator, and who year
ago was arrested as yagrant because she
was an inebriate, and sentenced to year
in the workhOuSe among the lowest KIND
of Grimm ais.
Representative Kahn suggested that the
plan was to care for these people just
as the insane are now treated, and to
this Mr.. Lancaster agreed, though he
pointed out that there would be less pub
licity about the proceedings for sending
the inebriates to the hospital, saying that
because man might get drunk was no
reason for taking his reputation away
from him forever.
The committee will give a further hear
ing on this bill next Thursday.
Transfer Hearing Monday.
Before adjournment Representative An
derson announced that those persons in
terested in the bill amending the law gov
erning the Sixteenth Street Herdic Com
pany, were satisfied with the Senate bill
as amended, and that they would not
ask further hearing. Mr.. johnson said
that he himself might offer an amend
quorum present the matter would have
to go over until another meeting.
Chairman Johnson announced that a
hearing before the committee on the
universal transfer bin would be given
next Monday morning.
He said also that he would address
letter to each member Of the COM
mittee asking what action each pro-
posed should be taken in regard to
the Oldfeld bill or the Gallinger bill
for public utilities commission.
William Mckee Clayton, president Of
the Federation Of Citizens Associations
and secretary Of the democratic COM
mittee of the District attended the
meeting to request that he be given a
hearing should the committee take up
the Norris bill for presidential pri-
maries in the District. He said that
the democratic organization was OPP
posed to the measure. Mr.. Johnson re-
piled that he had agreed to hear Rep
resentative Norris and that the same
privilege would be accorded others
interested in the measure