The Washington times., 1921-05-10
Fight Menace
T0D.C. HEALTH
undertakers Favor ZihIman Bill
To Weed Out inexperienced
EmbaImers.

81 inexperienced undertakers and
embalmers in the District Of Column
bia rs a protection against spread OF
contagious diseases is being prepared
Tor enactment during the present
session of Congress BY the District
undertakers' Association. :.
Washington has long been the
dumping ground for incompetent
undertakers and embalmers, it was
pointed out today.
~ MENACE TO COMMUNITY.
Practices among a certain class Of
Washington undertakers have been
such, 1t was said, that the health Of
many families has been placed in the
gravest danger.
Improperly constructed laboratories
IN some undertaking Embellishments
have been noted by the local under
takers association.
Ono undertaken, 1t was stated to-
day. brought q body to his place.
stored It in woodshed in the rear
of his establishment and promptly
went out on spree" 1t was al
legged the undertaken allowed the
body to remain unattended for seven
days. endangering the health OF per-
sons living In the vicinity.
1t 10 such examples as these, brought
to the attention Of the reputable UNI
dertakers Of the city. that has prompt
ed the association to appeal to Con-
gress to, remedy the evil.
Toward the close OF the last session
Of Congress, Congressman Zihlman OF
Maryland introduced q bill providing
for the licensing Of all undertakers
and embalmers in the District or Coz
lumbia. This bill was referred to the
District committee. but 1t automati-
cally 'died7 when Congress ad-
5ourn.
FAVOR LICENSING BILL.
A. similar measure, sponsored by the
undertakers' association. will be re-
introduced during the present. session.
Circular letters are beino0 sent to
every undertaken and embslmer in
the country asking support of the
measure and urging that every Con-
gressman be asked to back. the bill
when II Is introduced.
The new bill, when presented for
Congressional action, will be virtual
1y the same as that introduced at the
last session by Congressman Zihlman.
The bill provides that no under
taker or cmbalmer shall be given .
license to practice in Washington un-
less he has been practicing his pro
In the jurisdiction wherein he has re-
sided or has been under the instruc-
ton for not less than two years In
the aggregate OF an undertaken or
an embalmer duly licensed and reg
istered.
1t further provides that the appli-
cant must have "embalmed arterial-
ly. cared for and prepared for burial
or shipment not less than ten hu-
T. -
. thorough examination. theoretical
ly and practically, in anatomy. sani-
tation. disinfection. embalming car
ing for and preparing for burial or
for shipment dead human bodies"
No applicant under the proposed
measure, will be allowed to hang
out his single" proclaiming himself
an undertaken or embalmer until he
has passed the examination.
WOULD PENALIZE MALPRACTICE.
The measure provides for the ap-
pointment OF an Undertakers' and
Embalmers' Examining Board. Each
member. shall have had at least five
years experience in his profession.
The appointment shall be for a term
of three years.
The bill makes the penalty for prac-
ticins without license in Washington
\ fne OF 5000, or six months in the
workhouse, or both. Strict cleanli-
ness Is demanded in the measure. This
section reads as follows:
Every undertaken and emblamer
shall at all times keep his undertake
ing establishment, and all vehicles
equipment and paraphernalia used in
connection with his business in a
clean and wholesome condition, and
as soon as possible after having used
his'eQuipment or paraphernalia In con-
nection with any body dead as
result of a communicable disease shall
Ix OF "a hn