Evening star., 1948-02-22
WitnessesBattIe
For and Against
Bill
Legal Status as Croft,
Advertising Attacked,
Defended at Hearing
By Harold B. Rogers

SiSHoS0 w IaSOiiIS
By Harold B. Rogers
Legislation to strengthen control
over the practice of optometry in the
District was strongly urged and bit-
terly opposed yesterday In spirited.
hearing before the House Districts
Subcommittee on Health.
Spokesman for the national and
Washington optometric associations
repeatedly charged that evils" exc
ist here and should be eliminated
by the pending bill. The measure
would amend the city's 1924 lawsl
now in effect. y
One of the principal evils cited was
of prices, and Offering
of credit terms.
Opponents of the bill charged the
measure would establish a "monop-
oply," destroy competition and force
up prices of service and eyeglasses.
The present law, they contended,
was sufficient to curb any alleged
evils.
Record to Be Kept Open.
Representative Miller, Republican,,
of Nebraska, subcommittee chair
man, announced after the long ses-
sion that the record would be kept
open until next Saturday for state
ments by persons who could not
appear.
Among these, Dr. Miller said, was
an official spokesman for the Dis
trict Medical Society," known to be
opposed to some sections of the bill.
The measure was introduced by
Representative Dirksen, Republican
of Illinois, chairman of the House
District Committee. 1t would recog-
nize optometry as learned profess
sion. establish stronger requirements
for licensing optometrists. including
higher educational standards, and
virtually eliminate advertising.
A furry of excitement came when
DR.. Miller called police because he
had been threatened by a mysterious
telephone cali. A man had prom-
ised to come to the session. and
break up the meeting" DR.. Miller
said. Police were called, but there
was no disturbance. Afterwards
the legislator dismissed it as q
minor matter" He said he did
not intend to ask police to follow
it up.
Witnesses Listed.
Among the many witnesses testi-
flying for the bill crest were DR..
George E. Baker, president of the
District Board OF Optometry; DR..
IEvart Warren, president of the Dis
Etrict Optonetric Association; DR..
Rex B. Shelley, of the D. c. Associa-
lions legislative committee William
10. Ezell of spartanburg, s. c., form
er president of the American Opto-
metric Association; and DR.. Bernard
Kanstoroom, in charge of the optical
department of Goldenburg depart
|ment store.
They were introduced by Will
liam c. McCracken, counsel for
both the optometric associations.
Principal opponents of the bill
were H. B. H. Lyon, attorney for
the Kinsman Optical Co.; DR.. Leon
Weintrob, in charge of the optical
department of S. Kann & Sons.
and William B. Wolf, attorney, who
testified he represented several
clients, including Castlebergs jew
elry store.
Vernon D. West, corporation
counsel, said the District Commits
sioners had approved the bill but
suggested some amendments. One
of these, he explained, would add
to the pending measure provision
specifying that optometrists could
not sell second-grade glasses with
out telling the customer their quail
ity.
Advertising Attacked.
Those favoring the bill especially
attacked advertising of prices by
optometrists.
Generally speaking" Dr. Warren
charged, price advertising is SIM
ply lure and bait. 1t is used to
attract the unwary to the prac-
titioner, rather than to have the
patient come to the practitioner
because OF his confidence in the
practitioners professional attain
ments.
Nor is it an answer that price
advertising in isolated cases may
be truthful. The attendant evils are
obvious. If an optometrist adver-
tises at a certain price, colleague
can and will advertise at a lower
price until such a low estate Is
reached that, the practitioner In
order to live must either cut down
the time and care of an examina-
ton, or furnish second-grade ma
terial
Persuaded to Buy Costlier Glasses.
"The most prevalent situation
which occurs in price advertising Is
that the patient visits the establish
ment, and when. after the examina-
ton. he wants the price advertised
glasses. he is told that those par
ticular glasses are not suitable for
his eyes. and that he has special
case which requires different, and
always much more expensive,
glasses"
At another point in the hearing
DR.. Miller related he had gone to
a firm here which advertised glasses.
So complex we're his needs, he said
he was told that the price would be
$50. He went, instead, back to his
home State, he said, and bought
pair of bifocals from a firm ne
named, for the price OF SIS.
DR.. Warren was asked by Repre-
sentative Miller if there had been
any advertising, either in the press,
by runners" or over the radio that
was considered "unethical.'
DR.. Warren replied that there
we're some on the radio, and added:
ANY Sunday Star carries quite q
few"
Would Destroy Competition.