Milford chronicle., 1955-06-17

/
| In sum, the Presidential Advisory Com
mittee proposes that the law recognize plain
| fact-that competition is intense among the
various carriers, and that greater freedom
| to compete in the field of price is definitely
in the public interest
A SENSIBLE MOVE
The proposal for $100,000,000 govern
ment-SpOnsOred health reinsurance plan, de-
signed to enlarge the benefits offered by
health insurance coverage without increas
ing the cost to the purchaser, is now before
the House Interstate and Foreign Commerce
Committee. Chairman Priest has said that,
before this plan is given consideration, 1--WE
should explore other methods of expanding
voluntary health insurance coverage for the
public" He has invited members of the Joint
Committee on Health Insurance and other
representatives of insurance companies to
meet with him and discuss the matter
This seems to be a sensible preliminary
move. 1t would be unfortunate if the rein
surance plan were rushed through without
the most exhaustive consideration and exam
ination. Men with the highest of motives
have endorsed it-but that does not do away
with the fact that many authorities believe
1t to be both unnecessary and unsound. No
one knows how much the ultimate cost to the
taxpayers might be. And, if past precedent
is any Indicator, it would lead to a dangerous
degree of government control over the in
surance business and, ultimately, the prac-
tice of medicine. 1t is truism that when
government pays the bills, in whole or part
government also bosses.
The health insurance picture; as it now
exists, is a bright one. Growth, has been
spectacular-well over 10OO00,000 people
now have one form or another of the insur-
ance. The benefits, as result of free COM
petition, have been steadily and substantially
increased. Moderately-priced policies COW
ering catastrophe illnesses of long duration.
written on deductible basis much like auto
mobile collision insurance, are now avail
able. This is not q field where hasty govern
ment action can be justified.
1&o-&&
COMBATING MOTORISTS
The Swiss, hardy Independent race,
have organized a pedestrian league to COM
bat motorists. The idea behind the organza-
tiOn at least has the merit of novelty, even if
the pedestrian against the motorst is as
helpless as lancer against machine-gun-
ner
Agenor Kraft, the lawyer who founded
the League for the Protection of Pedestrians
explained it is stalking it's hopes for success
on seniority as well as humane appeal. Pc
destrians, he said, "have the right of senior
lty and majority, having arrived on the scene
first"
chance for success if there were a real differ
ence between the pedestrian and the motor
lists. In reality, they are one and the same
person. However, the pedestrian is trans
formed once he becomes motorist The
sense of power he has at his foot exhlarates
him, and impels him in satanic direction
Behind the wheel of car, he appears to for
get his pedestrian impulses. The meekest
most thoughtful person often becomes reck-
less and needless as a driver
The Legue for the Protection of Pedes-
trlans would do better to try changing hu-
man nature, including that of it's own mem
bers, than to limit its fire to motorists.
SELF-MADE LAWYERS
The New York Court of Appeals has de-
cided to retain the custom which permits
persons to qualify as lawyers by reading"
| in law offices and passing the bar examina-
| tions.
AT one time great many excellent law
yers won the right to practice the profess
sion by studying in the Offices of established
attorneys and serving an apprenticeship
Because it is easier to get formal education
these days only a few are admitted to the
bar by taking advantages of this opportun-
| ity.
Some bar associations and law schools
favored abolishment of the reading rule.
Their arguments were answered by those
who held that to do away with the reading
rule would be break with the tradition that
permitted figures like Abraham Lincoln to
practice law.
Apparently the New York Court of Ap-
peas agrees that person who is willing to
make the sacrifices of time and energy call
ed for in qualifying as a lawyer under the
reading" r.lle, and who can pass the bar
examinations, deserves the right to hang
out his shingle