The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-12-25

eThese Wisconsin doctors have no
license to grumble,0 declared Assem-
blyman G. D. Rosa of the Second Rock
County district when asked concern
the big uproar that has become state
wide with physicians who claim that
examinations for prospective bride
grooms under the new eugenics law
cannot be given for $500, the fee pre-
scribed by law.
This eugenics law, continued
Judge Rosa, was introduced in the
senate by DR.. G. A. Hoyt of Menomi-
nee Falls, Waukesha county, and was
supposed to be a measure backed up by
the physicians. It passed the legis-
lature largely for the reason that it
was urged by the doctors Of the
state. don't see where they have
any legitimate objection to make at
this late date.
Limiting the fee for examinations
to So seems hardly fair, = said one To-
cal doctor in discussing the situation.
FDoctors receive SIS for life insurance
examinations, and if any thorough
tests should be necessary they would
have to be made in some big city
laboratory, and would cost $40 at the
lowest figure. I think the law is a
good one, however, and it should do
much to safeguard health.
If doctors generally refuse to make
examinations for the fee provided in
the law, prospective bridegrooms in
Wisconsin will face an embarrassing
situation. How and where can they
be examined? They must present
their certificate to the county clerk
before they can secure a license. It's
case of no certificate, no license.
County Clerk Russell H. Jones, who has
given the law some consideration, is
decisive on this point.
Another difficulty is added to the
situation by the fact that if couples
leave the state to get married in order
to evades the law they will be prose-
cuted, so that Opponents are made
dangerous practices. Of course the fact
that a couple left the state to be mar
ried might be construed by a court as
evidence in itself that there was an
intent to evade the law, which is an
other difficulty.
The law provides that in case there
is a dispute regarding the findings of
the medical examiner, Laboratory
tests shall be made in the state labora-
tory Of hygiene from material sub
mitted by such examiner and the find
ings of the said laboratory shall be
accepted as evidence Of the presence or
absence in the person examined of any
venereal disease.n
But further recourse is granted to
the person who has been refused a
clear bill of health. If he persists in
his fitness for the marriage bonds he
may file an application with the
county clerk setting forth that he has
not had a fair and impartial exam
ination and that he is entitled to a
certificate of health, and the county
clerk shall then certify the same to
the county court which must then
consider the matter at once without
expense to the applicant. AS to just
what course the court shall pursue
the law is indefinite and no provision
is made for a denomination at the
.caunfy % ay,,opeo 81 +bo ao,,r+ - a;x.a
ton although it is possible to assume
that such procedure might be within
the court S discretion. A ruling by
the attorney general is expected soon
ON this point.
As a result the road to nuptial bliss
promises to be an uncertain one for
Wisconsin couples beginning with
January l, 1914, when the law goes
into effect. Already societies of ply
sicians in Milwaukee and Racine
counties have denounced the fee limit
ing portion of the Law and agitation
is spreading throughout the state,
which is complicating situation
which was already made sufficiently
difficult of execution
As ] understand the law, physi-
clan who is not equipped with labora-
tory facilities is not required to make
the examination, says DIR. G.. A. Har-
per, secretary of the state board of
health. By SO refusing, the duty
goes over to the county physician, and
It is up to him to make the examina-
tlons. Some of the applicants would
pay him, and possibly others would
not, and the county would have to
make some sort of compensation to
make it worth his while to do the
work.
II think the physician who is not
prepared to make tests has the un-
questioned right to refuse At the
same time, the applicant for a mar
rage license has the right to health
certificate. The administration of the