The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-07
The DOCTORS, TOO
They Must Be Inspected Like
Drug Stores.
Their Prescriptions, Offices
and Medicine Cases.
DOCTOR BEHIND THE BILL
1t Is Before the House for
Consideration.
New Ballot Law Passes Both
Houses.

Representative Cummings OF Fort
Scott. himself a physician, would COM
pei Kansas doctors TO keep a record OF
all medicines compounded and prescrip-
lions issued and would put the pill
merchants under the supervision Of the
state board of health and in the same
classification with the state druggists.
The Cummings bill will arouse OPP
position among the Kansas medical
fraternity. Even Cummings himself
admits that Think of a Kansas doc
tor submittino to all the fndignities to
which his neighbor across the street,
the druggist. is subject. Think of
doctor m citing a representative of the
board of health at his door and being
told with a display of authority that he
must forthwith submit to an official
investigation. right in the same office
where he has proudly displayed a half
dozen college diplomas which tell
things that no one but doctor nder-
stands. Well. that is what Cummings
would do to the members of his own
profession. And Cummings expects to
go right on practicing medicine, too.
There is one thing, though, to which
Dr. Cummings may point with pride
His bill has the endorsement OF the
state pharmaceutical association. But
then the pharma ceutical association
and the doctors have not been on really
intimate terms for some time. SO that
is another thing the Kansas doctors
viii consider when they look over the
Cummings measure which IS SUBSTITUTE
for house bill No. 500.
1t is provided in the Cummings OH
that every doctor who prescribes, or
who compounds medicines, must keep
:, record Of his prescriptions and of his
compounds. That isn't SO bad. But
the doctor who prescrfbes and COM
L. fN<ff 70 T
inspection under the direction of the
board of health just as does the cor
ner druggist. And that is what hurts.
DR.. Cummings declares that he will
fight for the passage OF his Dill ana
when he goes home will make peace
with the members of his profession as
hest he can. He believes his bill is
right and just. So Go the druggists.
T;ut there are a good many Kansas
physicians, DR.. Cummings admits, VINO
have an entirely different view of the
matter.
Kansas is to have a brand new ball
lot law. And into the provisions ere
sting the use of the MassachusettS
ballot system in Kansas is a nice little
joker which makes 1t a misdemeanor
for any person to distribute or circu-
late any sample copies or facsinliles
of the ballot before the day of election
when the new law Will be given its
test.
With full approval and hearty ac-
cord the Democratic members of the
house put their o. K. on the bill late
Thursday afternoon and by a vote of
SO to 80 enacted the new law The
same bill, with but a few amendn1e e. ts,
has already passed the senate and as
soon as the amendments are concurred
in, the new Kansas ballot law will be
ready for the governors signature.
Brewster of Doniphan was the only
member who was able to slip into the
bill an amendment of more than pass
ing consequence. The Donipnan coun-
~ members amendment consisted of
4 change in the provision enabling
election officials to help voters with
their ballots. The original bill pro-
vided merely that a person physically
incapable of marking his ballot, should
have the assistance of a member of
the election board.
To pass the bill in that form meant