Evening star., 1952-05-08
Senate Unexpectedly
Passes Controversial
0ptometrist Measure
By Don S. Warren

A bill to raise the standards and
standing of District optometrists
and todeclare their practice a pro-
fession has been given a new lease
on life.
The subject Of a five-year con-
troversy on Capitol Hill, the bill
won unexpected and easy approval
late yesterday in the Senate.
It now awaits action by the
House District Committee where,
in two previous Congresses, SINH
lar bills were indorsed.
Some said the House committee
would approve the latest bill, in
view of earlier Endorsement by
the House group. But others said
one reason the bill slid through
the Senate so easily was that it
was sure to be blocked in the
House.
The bill was called up yesterday
by Senator Johnston, Democrat,
o. South Carolina, its author.
Only q handful of Senators were
on the floor. Others were on
notice, however, for quorum cali
was ordered and later withdrawn.
Hunt Called From Meeting.
Senator Hunt, Democrat, Of
Wyoming, a dentist by practice.
who had blocked passage several
times before, was called out Of a
District Crime Committee meet
ing. He found the bill about to
be passed. Senator Butler, Repub-
lican, Of Maryland said he voted
against the bill and was confident
it would be blocked in the House.
The zig-zag career Of the legis-
lation started years ago, with pro-
tests against services rendered by
some optometric Offices advertis-
ing low prices.
Back in 1948, in the 80th Con-
gress, Chairman Dirksen of the
House District Committee. now a
Senator, pushed a bill to raise
standards and correct abuses. It
failed of enactment.
In the 81st Congress, under a
Democeatic congressional regime,
q similar bill was passed by the
House but died in the Senate.
fingered ON Calendar.
In this 82d Congress- there has
been no action on the House side,
but the Senate took up the issue
and last September favorably re-
ported the latest Johnston bill. It
has been lingering on the Senate
calendar since then.
The present bill was backed by
Senator Pastore, Democrat, Of
Rhode Island, head Of the Health
and Welfare Subcommittee. His
report to the Senate said the pro-
posed amendment to the 1924 law:
Increases the education re-
quirements . from three to five
years, defines the practice Of op-
tometry, prohibits optometrists
from engaging in the practice Of
ophthalmology (the science of
treating eye Diseases. provides
that the health officer shall be a
member ex-officio Of the Board of
Optometry and contains other pro-
visions designed to raise the status
of the calling"
Curbs Price Ads.
His report also noted that an
exemption clause of the Senate
bill would permit the sale by per-
sons not licensed as optometrists,
Of SunglasseS and spectacles. This
would be permitted so long as they
did not attempt to adapt them to
the eye or to profess to practice
optometry.
The Senate bill also would ban
price advertising of professional
services by optometrists or of
claims to professional superiority.
Also, 1t would forbid an optome-
trist to use the title of DR." with
out tying it to the word "op-
tometrist."
This last clause was in answer
to protests from the medical pro-
fession against q declaration in
the bill that optometry is a pro
fession."