The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-01-26
Senate Kills 'Sore-Eye' Bill
and Passes ChirO Measure
After Lot Of Pro and Con
Wind d-Jamming
HOOVER'S BILL CALLS
ANNUAL GRAND JURY
MTMBER FROM CARTER WANTS
1NQUISiTORiAL BODY ASSENIB--
LED ONE TIME EACH YEAR IN
EACH COUNTY.
Special Staff Correspondence

Nopttldi Siill correspondence
Oklahoma City, Jan. 26-The sore
eye" bill was killed in the senate Mon
day. 1t has not been regarded as one
of the important or crucial measures
OF the session, but the long and
somewhat acrimonious debate brough.
out several important issues--the ap-
plcation Of economy to proposals TO
create new bureaus or departments,
the force Of precedent in the senate,
recognition Of the demands OF scienti-
lic classes, the duty of the state to-
ward individuals.
The bill in question was introduced
| by Senator Hensley Of El Reno. ana
was recommended by the state health
department. 1t Is entitled: AN act
for the prevention of blindness from
ophthalmia neonatorum9 1t sought
to impose the obligation of having new
born babies eyes washed out with
silver nitrate or some similar antsep
tic, and to provide regulations for en-
forcement and report by the state
health department.. The question OF
advancing the bill to engrossment ana
third reading was before the senate
Monday
After the bill was read by sections
and amendments were offered and
discussed, the senate debated for an
hour and a half. Then Senator Hin of
McAlester, raised the point of order
that a motion to advance 10 engross-
ment and third reading was not deba,-
able The chair sustained the point OF
order, but the debate was finished by
that time. on roll call, there were
20 votes for the bill and 22 against 10
Senator Harrison of Ada, probablJ
must accept chief responsibility Tor
killing the bin. He said the senate
would pass II, and wound up a force
fu' speech by declaring. You haven't
the moral courage to stop this mea-
sure"
Senator Harrison's objection to the
"sore-eye" bin was founded on econ
omy, he saiu. He asserted this mea-
sure had been before The senate in the
previous session. and hat many other,
Ike il would come up this time.
This, and others like It, he dcclar-
cd, 'mean the creation OF new Jobs to
be paid for by the public. There
after this work. and stenographcr
or two to send out letters To legiso-
tors askines for more appropriations
Before the election" continued Sem
ator Harris, I'VE promised solcmnly
that We would be economical with the
states money. Now We will PISS this
bIll and dozens of others similar Co.
30 entaiIIng appropriations. And b.
fcre the next campaign We will get
together again and caucus and solemu.
ly vow to be- economical and rcducc
taxes"
lie started Co discuss the creation of
various departments. when senator Me.
Pherreu OF Durant, raised a point OF
order, asking what The creation OF
departments had to do with drop
ping a harmless fluid into babies
. eyes. Senator Harrison replied tina,
, In the dim days OF the past when hr
, FIRST came TO the legislative halls. a.
might have asked the same question.
senator Rutherford OF Muskogcc. ask
. cI what the normal schools would do
p for pupils II blindness wasn't stopped
Il Cllarrison had opposed Ru,herf0rds
a criticism OF normalsl. Senator ilat-
, rlson answered that he didn't know
l.. what the normal schools woull du
: about the blind. but there would al-
ways be a place Tor them (thc bllndl
In the legislature. The senator fislm
n Ada contended. Furthermore. that IN,
= bill was not necessary: that rcputabl,
= physicians would take tho proper PR.
a cautions 10 prevent bludness-"thc,
a don't need us farmers and ncwspapei
l. men here In the eighth legislature Z,
l. cell them how 10 practice" he sug
gested. lie said the older members oI
the senate knew how these Innocent
appearing bills came up at each
y session and caught the support ol
-e the new enthusiastic members. wh'
Il Didn't realize how such bill--it coul,
"a be- talked up as one that would save
a. the state. aud all that-hc admitted
n. and he expressed the opinion Il woul,
e. PASS because the members Of tn
CONTINUED on Page Two)