Evening star., 1940-07-11

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effect whatsoever on prices.
Almus r. Speare said he was
heartily in favor" of the bill. He
said no monopoly would result, in
his opinion. because there were
other members on the board than
the undertakers.
Called Needed Legislation.
"It is very needed legislation. -
declared John r. Wright. 1T will
offer protection to the public from
sanitary standpoint. 1t probably
will not have any immediate effect
in Washington, but it is step in
the right direction"
The bill originated in the Senate
sponsored by Senator Bilbo, Demo
crat, of Mississippi Congress passed
the Bilbo bill after amending it
in number of respect.
The Senate report on the bill said,
in part:
The purpose of the bill is to
regulate the business or profession
of funeral directors or embalmers
Under the present law all that one
has to do to enter the business or
profession of an undertaken or en-
balmer in the District of Columbia
is to register his name with the
Health Department without any
proof that he is qualified to conduct
such business or profession. . -
The Commissioners recommend
that the bill do pass if the amend
ments suggested above are made
No Hearings Held.
Complaint has been made that nc
public hearings were held on the
bill before it was reported out by
either the Senate or House District
Committee. So far as could be
learned that is true. And both
the Senate and House passed il
without debate.
But Arthur j. Carroll, jr., attor-
ney by the Funeral Directors and
Embalmers' Association of the Dis
trict-the organization which sought
the legislation-said public hearings
were not necessary, since the Or
ganized funeral directors and en-
balmers in the District approved it
He pointed out his organization
which includes 27 of the "a funeral
establishments here. had Endorsed
the bill, as had the Independent
Funeral Directors Association
which embraces SO per cent of the
| colored funeral directors an6
embalmers.
Mr.. Carroll pointed out, too, tina,
81 States have regulations govern
ing the activities of funeral direc.
tors and embalmers, whereas the
District now has none. His state.
ment was corroborated by Rep.
resentative Bolles, who declared
"every progressive State" regulates
its funeral directors and embalmers
and that the legislation now await
ing the signature of the President
follows closely the laws of New
York and Wisconsin.
Out Of Town Undertakers.
Some funeral directors in nearby
Maryland and Virginia had regis
tered opposition to the bill because
they believed it might preclude them
from doing business in Washing.
ton, Mr.. Carroll said, but the
amendments approved by both
House and Senate will not inter.
fere with their business here if they
are granted licenses to operate ir
the District.
The bill. he pointed out, allows
all out-of town undertakers doing
business in Washington who art
now registered at the Health De.
partment to procure license anc
continue to do business here.
As the legislation now stands, al
funeral directors and embalmer.
now actively" engaged in busines.
may procure permits from the pro.
posed Board of Funeral Directors
and Embalmers to continue in busi.
ness without examination. Those
who apply for licenses later woule
have to demonstrate their qualifi.