Evening star., 1952-05-29
Bill
|Stirs Tenlpers
In Hearing
D. c. Medical Group
Among Opponents
Heard Today


Heard Today
A spirited battle was renewed
today at a House subcommittee
hearing over a bill to raise the
standards of optometry and to de-
clare it to be a profession.
Sharp attacks on the Senate
passed bill were registered by two
Spokesmen for the District Med
ical Society. They were DR.. J.
Spencer Dryden, for the Society's
Committee on Ophthalmology
and DR.. Frank Costenbader, presi-
dent Of the society.
They protested especially against
definitions used in the bill and
voiced fears that under the bill
optometry could invade or verge
on the practice of medicine.
The hearing before the Health
Subcommittee of the House Dis
trict Committee was conducted by
Representative Davis, Democrat of
Georgia, and Representative Mil
Ter, Republican of Nebraska.
Browbeating Charged.
At one time. tempers fiared
when DR.. Dryden was being ques-
toned by DR.. Miller, who is, a
.practicing physician. DR.. Dryden
protested that DR.. Miller was
"browbeating" the witness. And
DR.. Dryden was threatened with
exclusion from the witness chair
The flare-up was quieted by
Chairman Davis. The issue arose
when DR.. Dryden was protesting a
definition which referred to "pre-
ventive optometric methods"
He said this did not belong in
the bill because there is no such
thing"
He was challenged by DR.. Miller,
but again insisted on his stand.
Lets be honest about this. "
said the Nebraska legislator.
When DR.. Dryden again re-
peated his declaration. DR.. Miller
said: "You better examine your
conscience tonight before you go
to bed"
DR.. Dryden then arose from
his chair to protest that the
Nebraska Congressman had brow
beaten the witness. And Chair
man Davis raped his gavel and
declared he would not allow any
witness to make any derogatory
remark about any member of the
committee.
Later DR.. Miller quieted the
situation by saying: IF I have
said anything offensive. / apollo
gize."
| He stressed, however, that he
had practiced medicine for many
years and was qualified to ask
uuestior1sH He added that some
witnesses had tried to "mislead''
the committee. He continued
1--WE don't want to bulldoze any
witness, but We do insist that they
be honest with the committee.
Definitions Too Broad
DR.. Costenbader said the society
certainly would not object to any
move to raise the standards OF
optometry.. He said he did
agree with DIR. Dryden that the
definitions are Ambiguous and
too broad"
DR.. Dryden submitted a page
taken from the District telephone
directory, which he said showed
the name of an optometrist listed
as Or" in the listing for physi-
clans and surgeons.
The Nebraskan later questioned
whether this was an isolated case
and suggested. anyway. that it was
a matter of law enforcement. He
declared some one was derelict in
his duty if a man who was not q
physician or surgeon was permit
ted to be listed as one.
Another witness today was
Henry H. Brylawski. representing
the Greater Washington Retail
Jewellers Association: He wanted
language added to the bill to make
clear that there was no ban on
employment of optometrists by a
firm or corporation.
Robert Rosenberg. representing
the optical department of a de-
partment store, testified against
the bill. He protested the ban on
advertising the price of optometric
services. He said if advertising
of price is honest, it is in the in
terest Of the general welfare. Ad-
vertising. he insisted, serves to
make the public "eye conscious"
The hearings were concluded
shortly after noon. Time will be
allowed for any unheard witnesses
to file statements.
The last witness at yesterdays
session was Leon Weintrob, speak
ing for the National Retail Optical
Association, who is an optometrist
He charged the bill is not in
the public interest. is decidedly
class legislation" delegates legis-
lative power to an administrative
board and restricts honest adver-
tising."
Supporting the measure late in
the session were Edward A. Wald-
mann, an attorney on the staff OF
the Legal Aid Bureau. and L. K
Shivery. chairman Of the Health
and Sanitation Committee Of the
Federation Of Civic Associations.
Both witnesses said they knew oi
instances in which persons COM
planned of unfair treatment.
Mr.. Shivery, who is a social
worker, and executive secretary o1
the Urban League told the COM
|mittee he personally knew OF
complaints of corrupt practices.
The measure would raise the
educational standards required fol