Evening star., 1948-02-29
HouseUnitf foAct
This: Week on
|0ptornefry Bill

Measure to Strengthen
Control Over Practice
The controversial bill to strengthen
control over optometrists here will
be considered early this week in
executive session by the House Dis
trict subcommittee on health.
Representative Miller, Republican,
of Nebraska, subcommittee chair
man, announced at the end of a
spirited hearing yesterday that he
plans to get action by his group
soon. There will be no. more hear
ings on the measure, but the record
was left open for. additional state
ments by interested parties.
The bill, sponsored by Chairman
Dirksen of the House District Com
mittee would recognize optometry
as learned profession and give
broader powers to the, Optometry
Board Of the District.
Hit by District Group.
Strongly Endorsed by both ma
tional and local optometric as
sociations, the measure was at
tackled sharply by spokesmen for
the District Medical Society and
by a representative of the optical
department of S. Kann g. Sons de-
partment store.
Representative Miller, who also
is physician, questioned both
sides as to the possible effect of
the legislation on the optometrists,
the medical profession and the
jewelry and department stores here
that operate optical departments.
Opposition of the medical society
was put into the record by DR..
James N. Greear, former president
of the society. He read state
ment from DR.. Richard w. Wilkin-
son, chairman of the special COM
mittee on ophthalmology, and a
letter from DR.. George c. Ruhland,
District Health Officer.
Objects to Recognition.
DR.. Wilkinson objected to recog-
nizing optometry as learned pro-
fession comparable to law, medicine
and theology. The Court of Appeals
here, he said, has held that op-
tometry is a mechanical art and
not a learned profession"
Optometrists, furthermore, would
be permitted by the bill to EN-
croach" on the field of medicine,
he charged. The measure also
would prevent ophthalmologists of
the medical profession from having
technicians help them in fitting
contact lenses, he said.
DR.. Ruhland, as secretary treas
urer of the Commission on Licen-
sure, which enforces the Districts
Healing Arts Practice Act, also OBJ
jected to this section of the bill
Warren E. Magee, attorney, de-
Tended the medical society's posi-
tion that optometry is not a
learned profession
Insist Bill Is Justified.
The American Optometric Asso-
citation, through two spokesfnen, in
sisted the bill was justified in
claiming that optometry should be
recognized as a learned profession
because of progress made by the
profession since enactment of prev
ious law. They were Harold Kohn.
Of New York City, general counsel,
and H. Ward Ewalt, jr., of Pitts
burgh, chairman of special COM
mittee of the association.
They contended that the optom-
etrists Of the country have no in
tention of invading the field of the
ophthalmologist, who is a doctor
of medicine.
Disease" Mr.. Ewalt testified,
properly is the function and pre-
rogative of the physician.
| DR.. Miller questioned Mr.. Kohn
as to why so many jewelry stores
here and throughout the Nation
had sent kilograms to the COM
mittee opposing the bill. He asked
whether stores practicing optom.
etry as a corporation might be
considered guilty of "unprofessiona
conduct" under terms of. the pend.
ing bill.
TT might" replied Mr.. Kohn
"But is that bad?"
Attacked on Same Point.
A spokesman for the Kann de-
partment store attacked the bill
on the same point, declaring that
by the bill, the optometrists de.
liberately intended to throw opti'
cal departments out of stores. Ht
was Robert Rosenberg, of Harris.
burg, Pa, representing DR.. B. Gains
burg of Harrisburg, who operates thu
Kann stores optical department.
Admitting that the bill says moth
ing about corporate practice" o1
optometry, Mr.. Rosenberg charged
that the measure gives the Dis
trict Board of Optometry broae
authority to define "unprofessiona
conduct"
"As soon as the board is giver
carte blanche powers" said Mr.
Rosenberg, "it will say that operat'
ing an optical department in
store is unprofessional conduct ane
the optometrist's license in the stor'
would be revoked. That is II
the back of the minds of the pro
ponents of this bill"
DR.. Henry j. Hoff, an optometris
here, favored the bill. He claimed
optometric advance has made it pos
sible for the optometrist to fit con-
tact lenses without encroaching or
the field of the opthalmologist.