Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-01
Representative SulIoWay Says
1t Injuries the Teeth.
DENTIST FAILS TO AGREE
It's Use Severely Condemned, How
ever, at District Committee Hearing.
ON BILL CONSIDERED
Police Sergt. Lord Makes Plea for
Passage of Measure to
Help Comrades.

At today's weekly meeting the House
committee on the District of Columbia
favorably reported two bills. listened to a
fierce denunc:atio of the of tooth
brushes by Representative Sulloway of
New Hampshire, and heard further argu-
ments on the police and firemen's pension
bill
Ore of the bills favorably reported was
introduced by Representative Carlin of
Virginia by request" and provides for
the relief of Spencer Roberts. member
of the metropolitan police force. The bill
authorizes and empowers the Commits
sioners to promote Roberts from class
one to class three.
The other bill favorably reported was
introduced by Senator Gallinger and al
ready has passed the Senate. 1t pro-
vides for the relief of Clara Doughterty.
Ernest Kubel and Josephine Taylor own
ers of lot No. 13; of Ernest kubel own
er of lot No. Al, and of Mary Meder,
owner Of the south 17.1J feet front and
the full depth thereof of lot IA, all Of
the property in square 12, on account
OF the change of grade due to the con-
struction OF Union station.
Opposes Use of Toothbrush.
AIR. sideways dissertation on den
tistry. wherein he declared himself an
enemy of the toothbrush, was the most
interesting feature of today's session.
There was hearing on the bill intro
duced by Representative Johnson of Ken
lucky, chairman of the committee, to
regulate the practice of dentistry in the
D.Strict. G. CuttroertSOn OF this
city was testifying in favor of the meas
ure when Mr.. Sulloway interrupted him.
Don't you know, asked the New
Hampshire member. that the use of the
toothbrush, especially in child's mouth,
is the most harmful thing iTnaSina bic !!
1t removes the gum above the enamel
and makes work for you dentists
DIR. Cuthberson looked somewhat dazed
but started to make a protest when Mr..
SullOway continued.
When l was boy said Mr.. Sullo-
way. reminiscently, "our fathers all
chewed tobacco and many good
mother smoked or dipped snuff. l can
remember that but by heavens it has
been a long time since l can remember
any of them sending for dentist and
seeking relief for the toothache."
The witness said that if mothers
would wash the teeth of their babies
until they grew old enough to attend
to 1t themselves, the dentists would
have less to do.
In addition to DR.. Cuthberson DR.. H.
]. Nichols and number of local dentists
were on hand to advocate the Johnson
bill which proposes the creation of a
board Of dental examiners in the Dis
trict. and which makes more strict the
regulations regarding the issuances Of
licenses to dentists. 1t will be the sub
ject of another hearing before the Dis
trict committee two weeks from today.
Would Retire in Twenty Years.
Police Sergt c. L. Lord addressed the
committee on the retirement bill, urging
that policemen and firemen should be
eligible for retirement at half pay after
twenty years service instead of twenty
five years, as the measure now proposes.
The patrolmen." said Sergt Lord
work on an average of twelve hours a
day. which does not include special as
sianments and Police Court work.
The majorities of the cities which
have a pension system provide for re-
tirement after twenty years service.
We think this bill should be amended
in that particular. Under existing law
the Commissioners and the board of
surgeons are given discretion in re-
tirement matters and may fix the pen
sion at anywhere from 81 to $50 a
month. We want Congress definitely
tosadjust our status and to name the
retirement rate which we will receive
after a certain length Of service"
Mr.. Suloway asked how many men
there are on the force who have served
twenty years or longer. The witness an
swered that out of tine 723 members of
the force there We're about 100 who had
served two scores years or more.
Chairman Johnson asked if the chiefs
of the fire department., who do not go
into danger" should receive larger pen
sion upon retirement than the private
who faced the danger.
"You place me in All uncomfortable
position said Sergt Lord, las / am
subordinate to the chiefs and would not
like to criticise the scale of the pen
sions. But I may say that the present
chief has worked his way up through the
ranks and still faces danger at fires
The committee took no action on this
bill