Evening star., 1949-05-22
SenateD.C. Unit
To Hold Hearing
On Vivisection
MoiI and TeIeeroms
Support Both Sides
In Fight Over Bill


versy here over vivisection is
scheduled to get a public hearing
before Senate District subcom-
mittee Tuesday and Wednesday.
Senator Margaret Chase Smith,
Republican, of Maine, chairman
of the specially appointed sub
committee, said last night ire
mendous flood of mail, kilograms
and telephone calls had been pour
ing in from all parts of the coun-
try on both sides Of the "touchy'
issue.
The fight centers on bill in
troduced by Senator McGrath.
Democrat, Of Rhode Island, at re-
quest of a group Of educational
and scientific leaders. 1t would di-
rect the District poundmaster to
turn over unclaimed animals to
educational, scientific and gov
ernmental institutions =. for
scientific purposes.
Senator Smith said the two-day
hearings will be directed at fact
finding with testimony from wit
nesses interested in all phases Of
the problem.
Policy Statement Sought.
District officials will be asked.
she said. about the city's policy
toward animals. especially dogs.
Testimony will be sought, she
announced, about charges that
there has been "bootlegging" in
dogs here for scientific institu-
tions.
Leaders in the scientific fields
sponsoring the bill will be asked
to explain why they need legis-
lation to supply more animals.
Opponents, from anti-vivisection
societies and similar groups will
be given opportunity to air their
opposition to the legislation.
Opponents thus far have out
numbered proponents about to /.
Virtually every Senator has in
quired during the past week about
the status of the bill, Mrs. Smith
said. because of inquiries re-
ceived from constituents in all
parts Of the country.
Time Would Be Extended.
The bill provides that the
poundmaster must deliver to GER
tain licensed institutions in the
District animals which have been
unclaimed for at least 48 hours.
The poundmaster would be
ordered to withhold from destruc-
ton all unclaimed animals until
requests by licensed institutions
are met But the poundmaster
would not be required to postpone
destruction more than SO hours
after animals have been i'm
pounded.
Institutions desiring such ami
mails would be licensed by the
District Health Officer after a.
finding that the institutions are
qualified by reason of ethical
standards, personnel. and facili-
ties" An annual fee of $50 would
be paid by each licensed institu-
ton.
Institutions eligible for licenses
would include those requiring
the use of live animals in scien-
tific or educational activities"
The special subcommitte headed
by Mr.. Smith, consists also of
Chairman McGrath of the Senate
District Committee, and Senator
Hunt. Democrat of Wyoming,
formerly dentist. The hearings
will be held at 10 am. Tuesday
and Wednesday in the Senate
District Committe room in the
Senate wing of the Capitol Build
ing.
Meanhile, it was learned last
night the District medical Society
has mailed to all its member ply
sicians and surgeons notice
about hearings. urging that ply
sicians and patients write to the
special committe in support of the
legislation.
Officials Listed.
"The medical scientists Of the
District of Columbia" the state
ment said, will be taking the Of
fensive for the very first time
against the i-vivisectionists.
Officials from the District gov
ernment expected to testify in
clude: DR.. George c. Rutland,
health officer; Vernon e. West,
corporation counsel; and Frank
B. Marks. poundmaster.
Invited to testify for the legis-
lation are many leaders of the
medical profession from private
practice. hospitals and various de-
partments of the government.
DIR. Frederick c. Fishback. who
has been prominent in public
hearings before the District COM
missioners. is expected to be one
of the spokesmen for the District
Medical Society.
Among others invited by the
District Committee to testify are:
DR.. Norman Topping. associate
director of the National Institutes
of Health: DR.. Leonard A.
Scheele, surgeon general of the
Public Health Service: Maj. Gen.
Raymond w. Bliss, surgeon gen.
eral of the Army; Rear Admiral
Clifford A. Swanson, surgeon gen.
eral of the Navy: Maj. Gen. NAL
colin c. Grow, air surgeon of the
Air Force and others.
Others Expected to Testify.
Among those expecting to tes-
tify against the legislation are
many representatives of organiza-
tions interested in dogs, District
Committee officials said.
For the District Anti-vivisection
Society the witnesses may be Mrs.
Alma Opal. president; Mrs.
Georgia Williams. vice president,
james F. Cunningham, investi-
gator.
Other witnesses probably will