Evening star., 1941-12-07
Church Federation
Asks Scientific Tests
For Drunken Drivers
Also Proposes Some
Official Supervision
Of Wrestling Matches

CSIciiGAIC TESTS LOT drunken OrlVers
and city control over wrestling
matches were recommended to the
District Commissioners last night BY
the Washington Federation OF
Churches.
The proposals were formally pre-.
sented to Commissioner Guy Masor
In letters from Wilbur La Roe. ir.
In his capacity as chairman of the
federation's Committee on Civic
Affairs.
Announcing that certain tests fol
drivers had been conceded by DR.
George c. Rutland, health officer
TO the District, to be practicable, ;
Mr.. La Roe suggested that confer
ences be held with scientific experts
IN the matter in the hope" of de-
veloplng basis for legislation in
the District.
"So-called drunken driving OF
automobiles is becoming a major
public menace" wrote Mr.. La Roe
up to the present time there has
been no recognized standard in the
District of Columbia for determin-
Ing whether or not such an Of
lender is under the influence of
liquor
Four Tests Outlined.
Reporting his committee had
taken the matter up with DR.. Ruh-
land, Mr.. La Roe said, we are
now officially informed by DR.. Ruh-
land that there are available three
different tests which have been
shown by experience to be prac-
ticable."
-Four tests we're outlined in re-
port submitted to DR.. Rutland by
N. E. Yongue, chemist in the Health
Department. One of them, the
blood test, however. was not con-
sldered available at the present
time because OF legal and medical
difficulties.
The description of the chemical
tests for alcohol concentration In
drivers" as outlined by the chemist.
was submitted TO Commissioner
Mason as follows:
The breath test-Developed by
DR.. R. N. Harger, of the Indiana
University school of medicine. is
now gaining wide recognition be-
cause of its simplicity and the speed
with which results are obtained. 1t
Is used in a great many localities,
including Indianapolis, Little Rock,
Ark; Arlington. Tex; Wichita,
Kans., and by the Indiana State
police. Available informa ton indi-
Gates that the results are sufficiently
accurate for purposes of enforce
ment.
Second Test Proposed
The urine teSt-ThiS test is more
widely used than any other chemical
test and has been found to be suf-
f1ciently accurate for all practical
purposes. 1t is used in Milwaukee,
Lakewood, Ohio; Cleveland, Madi-'
son. Wis. and in many localities
throughout Iowa. DR.. H. "A. Heise
of Milwaukee and Dr.. H. M. Gum
of Ashland, Ohio, are two leading
experts on medico-legal phrases of
the test
The blood test-Blood as a test
material is used in accident cases
in Sweden, Germany and some other
European countries prior to the
present war;. 1t has been used
also in this country in some hos
pitalized cases. 1t is the type used
by the D. c. coroner's office Legal
and medical difficulties in obtaining
specimens have limited its use some
what in this country as type for
testing drivers. 1t is accurate.
The saliva test-T1his is one of
the simplest and specimens are easy
to obtain. but as vet the test has
not been used in dealing with drink
ing drivers"
In his letter Mr.. LaRoe said it
would seem that the District OF
Columbia should be a leader in this
matter instead Of trail
ing behind other Jurisdictions
Would you be willing" he asked
the Commissioner, ito summon DR..
Heise and DR.. Gum for conference
with your corporation counsel il
the hope of developing a standard
which could be made the basis for
legislation in the District Of Co.
lumbia?"
DepIOrable Condition
"As member of the parole board"
said Mr.. LaRoe last night, COM
on the situation, Il know
how dangerous revolvers are. But
drunken men behind steering wheels
are a greater menace to the public
than thugs with revolvers, because
the former are not in control Of
their faculties"
Mr.. LaPoe, in his letter, referred
to the absence of control ove-
wrestling here as resulting in
"deplorable condition"
Explaining he had discussed the
matter both with Corporation Coun-
sci Richmond 3. Keech and with
Maj. Edward j. Kelly, superintenG-
ent of police, Mr.. LaRoe said the
present boxing commission does not
desire to supervise wrestling.
No other agency has control at
the present time" he added, with
the result that so-called wrestling
matches are being staged. especially
between women, in comparison with
which a bull fight is quite a decent
affair.
1T would be a simple matter TO
provide by law that no wrestling
match shall be lawful in the Dis
trict of Columbia unless those spon-
soring it show that it will be a
bona f1de exhibition of wrestling
skill and obtain a permit for tie
match. Major Kelly who appre-
ciates the evils growing out of lack
of regulation. has indicated to me
his Willingness to be responsible for
the issuance of such permits"
n