Evening star., 1945-02-09
|0'Conor Signs
Medical Care
bill, A Others
Federal Intervention
Seen Averted by
Aiding Indigents
BY the Associated Press.

Aiding Indigents
BY the Associated Press.
{ ANNAPOLIS, Md, Feb. 9.-Forty.
five bills, topped by that establish
ing Bureau OF Medical Services
for treatment of indigents or other
persons unable to pay for medical
care, were signed today by Gov.
O'Conor and General Assembly Of
flcials.
The total Of measures passed by
the 1945 General Assembly and now
law thus reached 81, a new high
for such an early date in a session.
"By this new law" (medical care),
the Governor said, Maryland be.
comes the first State to place spe-
cif1c responsibility for the provision
Of medical care to those unable to
pay for it, in the State Health De-
partment, a unique development in
the field of health service.
The long step forward In the
field of medicine represented by
this new medical care law is dis
tinctly in line with the most adj
vanced thought on social develop
ment =,
Seen Arresting Federal Intervention.
This accomplishment will render
unnecessary the predicted Federal
Intervention in medical practices
within the States, at least as far az
Maryland is concerned
The Bureau of Medical Services
Will function under the State Board
Of Health. 1t will be authorized to
conduct and operate hospitals for
the treatment of persons afflicted
with chronic diseases, while the
Board of Health will be advised to
establish a council of medical care
to advise in formulation of policies
of the bureau.
Other measures signed included
these limiting to six months the
validity of an unused marriage IL
cense and providing for assessment
and taxation of property owned or
leased by the Federal Government
to the extent legally permitted.
Six others create shortened and
simplified forms for various crim-
inal indictments. Most of the re-
mainder were local bills or minor
repealers.
Home Rule Report Pushed.
Meanwhile. subcommittee re-
port on one of the much discussed
home rule bills was readied for
submission to the Senate judicial
Proceedings Committee. The bill
would enlarge the law-making pre-
negatives of officials Of Incorporated
municipalities.
Senator Joseph r. Byrnes. Dem.
ocrat, of Baltimore, said he antici-
pated a favorable report on the
bill and hoped to have it brought to
the floor at once.
The Senate bill to repeal the
States Jim Grow" transportation
law, tagged by Gov. O'Cenor as an
administrative measure. moved
quietly yesterday toward final pas
sage.
| The bill would repeal a 1904 Law
requiring separate facilities for Ne
groes and whites on Maryland
trains, steamboats,, buses and othel
public conveyances.
Apparently due to pass the Sem
ate without much trouble, more
difficult course was predicted for the
bill in the House.
Hospital Control Passed.
The House yesterday passed the
hospital control bill and sent it or
its way to the Governor The meas
ure would authorize the Board oi
Health ito promulgate rules and
regulations prescribing certain mini.
mum standards for hospitals and
minimum qualifications for the pro-
fessional staffs of hospitals and ere.
ating an advisory committee.
The measure defines a hospital AZ
any institution set up for the care
OF two or more nonrelated persons
1t is frankly aimed at eliminating
or improving hospitals or NURSING
homes described by medical authori-
ties as sub par.
Loan Charges Aired.
Charges that Federally chartered
loan institutions were behind a
measure which would place Mary
land building and loan associations
under the supervision of the State
banking commissioner and a five
board were aired at hearing
on the bill yesterday.
At joint session of the Senate
Judicial Proceedings and the House
Judiciary Committees, directors and
representatives for many building
and loan groups loudly applauded
speakers opposing the bill.
/ sJohn w. Downing, State banking
commissioner. read statement ad-
vocating passing the bill, which he
termed necessary, important and
advisable"
! Paul H. Higenbothom, represent
ing two Baltimore building associa-
tions, said in particular the Federal
Home Loan Bank was behind the
bill. He declared the measure un-
necessary and said the building and
loan associations had record OF
solvency and safety greater than
that of banks.
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