Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-12
COMMITTEE HEARINGS.

K
There We're several hearings before
the judiciary committee. on Tuesday
afternoon, one of which, that on the
Dill To regulate the practice of osteo-
pathS, developed heavy firing. The
nrst hearing was on the bill intro
dueed some weeks ago in the house
by Rep. Stargis of Auburn to punish
the crime of white slavery Mrs.
Qtlimby of Auburn, State president of
the w, {. +. u, appeared in behalf of
the bill. She reeited the history of
legislation of this character and said
that all but seven State now had such
laws. Maine was one of the seven.
She referred To a clipping from a
Bangor paper setting forth the dis
coVery OF a typical white slave case
III that city. This clipping further
quoted the county attorney of Penob-
scot as having said that there was no
law in the statutes of Maine by which
the woman guilty of the crime could
be punished by a sentence more
severe than 30 days in jail
Rev. H. A. Markley, representing
the Uniyersalist churches of Maine al
so advocated the passage of the BILL
He declared there was a call for such
law II, Maine. This was manifested
by the case in Bangor referred to by
Mrs. Quimby. He discussed the case
further by explaining 20 the commit
tee that a woman there had made =
practice of enticing young women into
her place. He thought it would be
claiming TO much to say that Maine
was different from other States and
did not need this law
Uniformity of Jurisdiction.
Judge Merrill of the municipal court
of Portland appeared before the com
mittee on the bill to provide uniformi-
" of jurisdiction in municipal courts.
His principal objection to the bill was
that If it was TO go through the salary
of the judge and recorder in Portland
ought To be increased because of the
additional work which it would bring
to them. Hon. w. r. Pattangall and
Judge Benedict F. Maher, Ellery Ben
son of Bar Harbor. judge of the court
there. E. P. Spinney, Judge of the
Yorkshire municipal court, and A. E.
Verrill. recorder of the Auburn NUM-
eipal court appeared in opposition to
the bill
Practice of Osteopathy.
The big hearing of the afternoon
was on the bill to regulate the prac-
tice of osteopathy and to provide a
board of registration for those osteo-
paths. Hon. w. C. Philbrook APP
peared in behalf of the proponents of
the BILL He said that he wanted to
he permitted to present the position
of the petitioners and then hear the
opposition to the measure after which
he would make answer. The issue in
volved. he said, was the regulation of
the practice of Osteopathy and not its
recognition.
The Osteopaths, he said, were not
asking to be boosted into practice, but
wanted the inexperienced unskilled
persons shut out. He said there were
now 30 osteopaths practicing in Maine.
He gave list of some of the schools
which teach osteopathy and stated
that there Were more students en-
rolled at the Los Angeles school than
in the Harvard medical school.
Or. Gordon of Portland.
DR.. Seth C. Gordon of Portland lead
the opposition. He declared that the
osteopaths wanted to practice medi-
cine and that they ought to pass the
examination of the regular medical
board of the State. He held that this
board was competent and that his
position was reasonable. If the os-
teopaths We're as we'll qualified as
they claimed he could see no reason
why they should have a separate
board. He declared that the regular
practitioners did not care who prac-
ticed. or how they practieed SO long
as they know what disease is when
they see it.
DR.. Donovan of Lewiston also spoke
against the bill as did DR.. r. H.
of Dover, president of the Maine
Medical Association. DR.. Miller, SUI
peritnendent of the Augusta State
hospital opposed the measure on the
ground that it would permit signing
| certificates of insanity, but when
questioned by Senator Dutton said
| there was, at this time, bill before
| the Legislature giving a man the
right to commit himself to the asylums
| for the insane.
| Rep Smith of Presque Isle. house
| chairman said: Doctor YOU are not
answering the questions. and Rep.
| Smith of Patten added: You seem to
| be asking them, instead"
| DIR. Marshall gave it as his opinion
| that the practice of osteopathy was
an exaggerated form of massage and
| in some cases of brutality. he said
| that a practitioner of medicine was one
who practiced the healing art. 1t was
fContinued HHll Page Four.)