Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-16

whom I was quite interested applied
for registration and failed in his
examination. He waited a few
months and again tried and failed.
He came to me ard thought that
some member of the board had kept
him back for some personal reason.
and asked me to talk with the board.
which I did, They submitted his
papers to me for my opinion as to
his qualifications and, although in
terested in him personally. l was
obliged to admit that they were
right. and now l say to you that this
board does more to safeguard the
lives and health of our citizens than
any other board. l won't even eX-
ccpt the medical board, for upon more
occasions than one have l person
ally been asked to interpret my own
prescriptions by our local druggist.
whom 1 consider one Of the best in
our State today.
Now. about the budget. This ap-
preparation contained in this resolve
was recommended by the Budget
Committee. On pages &c of that re-
port under the head of The Com
mission of Pharmacy" you will
notice a deficit Of s1.S5S99 and the
Budget Committee recommended this
year. for 1923, the sum of $1,000 to
carry on the work of this board.
and for the year 1925 like sum.
Mistakes in admitting incompetent
people to practice any of these pro-
LESSONS or callings. which / have
mentioned above. are to be regretted
but If, perchance. some student of
Blackstone manages to slip by the
legal examining board he may cause
L In
If some dentist fails to have as much
skill as his brother he may cause
you little extra pain but you will
the same again. If some accountant
makes a mistake in his figures your
loss is in dollars and cents, but if
serious mistake is made by the
doctor or pharmacist. only the UNI
dertaker and the clergyman can be
Of any use to you.
/ cannot impress too strongly
upon your minds the Importance of
this resolve. as it interests YOU and
every one of your constituents at
once. and I trust you will see fit
to pass this resolve over the Gov
ernor's veto.
The SPEAKER: The question is
Mr.. CUMMINGS of Portland: Mr..
Speaker. ! would like to ask one
question. l would like to ask the
gentleman from East Machas CHR.
McDonald). through the Chair. what
amount of increase there will have
to be in the fees. in order to cover
the existing deficit in the board.
The SPEAKER: The. gentleman
from Portland. Mr. Cummings, asks a
question through theC Chair which
the gentleman from East Machias
CHR. McDonald) may answer if he
wishes.
Mr.. MCDONALD: Mr.. Speaker, I
think that the fact that we do not
is due. as I have partly explained. to
the fact that we do not get anything.
from the second and third eXamina-
tons. l think the number of pri-
mary examinations, last year, was
only about half of the full number.
That is, of the sixty applicants ex-
amined. 1 think fully half of them
have been examined for the second
and third time. I cannot tell you
the exact number. but l estimate
that the fees would have to be more
than doubled in order to make the
board self sustaining. and 1 think the
probabilities are that the fee would
have to be about $500. Most of
these young men are poor boys who
have not very large means, and
think the examination fee Of $1,000
Is probably as large as the average
boy Is able to pay as he. works for
small salary up to the time he Is
licensed. None of them get very
large salaries until they have be-
come qualified assistants.
Mr.. CUMMINGS: I do not know
whether the Doctor understands it
or not. but If he has not in his pos
session any knowledge what the to-
tai amount received is. he can very
easily get it. What want to know.
what I would very much like to
Know. Is whether an increase OF $500
would accomplish this or whether
an increase OF $1,000 would be nee
essary.
The SPEAKER: The Chair is of
the opinion that the Chair can an
swer the gentleman from Portland
INF. Cummings) directly. 1t il the
opinion of the Chair that the fees
VIII have to be increased nearly two