Evening star., 1939-05-28
By G. adams Hoscard.

Of recognized tests for the purpose
Of determining the degree Of tntoxi-
cation. This committee has given
some consideration to them in con-
nection with another matter and
there was a royal decree promul-
gated In Sweden in 1884, inaugurat-
Ing blood tests in connection with
types OF crime In which the question
and/or degree Of intoxication might
arise. We have as yet no definite
information as to how the provisions
Of that decree are working out,
though some statistics seem to in
dicate that there are q greater num-
Der Of Intoxicated persons injured
than there are Intoxicated operators
causing injuries, and 1t would seem
that the result of any examination,
made by qualified physician within
a sufhciently short time, would be
admissible evidence, If offered by the
person taking the examination.
In our view 1t is impossible to
cover this subject in 13 lines, and
We have taken the liberty of sug-
geSting several questions concerning
which the members Of this commit
tee hold varying views, though all
OF which are, in our opinion, i'm
portant in connection with this type
Of legislation.
l. Are the tests to be given only
to persons volunteering to take them,
or are they to be forcibly adminis-
tered?
2. II forcibly administered, does
any question of privilege arise?
3. Are tests to be limited to par
ticipants in motor vehicle accidents,
or should they be available or re-
quired In all civil and criminal mat
tiers in which the question of intoxi-
cation may arise?
4. Is 1t not the participants rather
than the owners who should take
the tests?
S. Are the tests to be limited to
alcoholic intoxication, or should they
be available or required in cases of
mental disability arising from the
use of drugs, ETC.?
6. If to be given forcibly, is the
person subjected to the test to have
the right to have his own physician
present?
7. If forcibly given, who should
determine in what instances they
should be given?
8. How would 1t be possible TO de-
termine that the question of intoxi-
cation or other disability might not
later arise?
9. Assuming infection or other in
jury might arise from forcibly ad-
ministered tests. is the person tested
to have redress?
TO- Should the tests be given to
persons injured in accidents, pedes-
trians, for example. as we'll as those
charged with causing the accidents?
II. Should there be post mortems,
and If SO, should they be with or
without consent?
Undoubtedly these will suggest
other questions, though the commit
tee has only sought to indicate some
Of the difficulties. 1t Is our thought
that legislation of this type should
not be enacted without exhaustive
study by both medical and legal ex-
perts.
Flowers and safety may become a
new slogan. Strange as the couplet
now seems, the following is the ex-
PLANTATION:
As q result of a series of confer
ences held during the past few
months, plans are under way for a
system Of cooperation between hor-
ticultural groups and safety organ
izations. 1t is believed that closer
working of automobile associations,
garden clubs, landscaping and park
way ofncials In many communities
could be made to curtail accidents at
bad spot" intersections-especially
Did streets with foliage that obstructs
drivers vision. Also in the land
scaping Of new highways there are
modern problems involved which
call for expert planning. Numerous
important bodies are interested in
the movement and a melting will be
called In New York in the near future
for further discussion of the matter.
1t is not the intention to interfere
with or to overlap the work of any
other group. but merely to bring
certain interests together for better
cooperation.
Last January. following a sugges-
ton from several interested people,
Norman Damon, director Of the Au-