(5) Report of the Treasurer, Dr. Phineas H. Ingalls (Hartford):

REPORT OF THE TREASURER.

May 31

Kate C. Mead, Public Health Committee.. $19.00

Sept. 4 Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Co.

13 Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Co.

Marvin McR. Scarbrough

Nov. 5 Windham County Medical Society, one-half

expenses Annual Meeting

Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Co.

1,261.13

45.07

1.00

Hazel J. Thompson

John E. Lane

Dec. 10 Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Co.

38.78

16.64

46.40

10.24

3.78

The Fund consists of:

I $1,000.00 Ist Mortgage four per cent

Bond, Hartford City Gas Light Co.

Respectfully submitted,

P. H. INGALLS,

Treasurer.

HARTFORD, CONN., May 15, 1918.

This is to certify that we have this day examined the accounts of the Treasurer and find the same correct and the securities listed, to be in his possession.

T. F. ROCKWELL,
WALTER R. STEINER,

Auditors.

(6) Report of the Committee on Public Policy and Legislation, by Dr. Frank K. Hallock (Cromwell).

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC POLICY AND LEGISLATION.

Mr. President and Gentlemen of the House of Delegates:

It is with bowed head that I assume for the moment to stand in the place of our beloved brother, the late Dr. Everett J. McKnight, so long the able and efficient Chairman of the Committee on Public Policy and Legislation. While acknowledging, as we were all so gladly wont to do, his great superiority in leadership, it is, perhaps, not unfitting that it should fall to me at this time to render the report of this Committee. I may do this not on account of service rendered, but because of all present members, if I mistake not, I have had the oldest and longest association with Dr. McKnight in the work of this Committee.

The report we as a committee have to make is very brief. The legislature has not been in regular session the past year and consequently no active work has been necessary, no meetings have been held and no memoranda have been found among Dr. McKnight's papers requiring our attention.

Referring to last year's report it will be noted that several sub-committees were appointed and their work recorded. Two of these sub-committees are still in force; one on Health Insurance consisting of Drs. Paul Waterman, Charles J. Foote and George Blumer-the other consisting of Drs. F. K. Hallock, J. C. Rowley and A. E. Austin, to whom was entrusted the delicate and at the same time herculean task of drafting an improved medical practice act. Needless to say, nothing further has been done by either of these sub-committees. The increased activities thrust upon medical men in this time of war has precluded any consideration of these subjects.

At this particular time and on an occasion like this the Committee on Public Policy and Legislation would feel remiss to conclude their report without brief reference to Dr. McKnight's connection with it. The history of this faithful servant of the State Society is one of which we are justly proud and grateful. It cannot be repeated too often.

Dr. McKnight was first elected to this Committee in 1891. The year previous, as the result of a motion by Dr. Max Mailhouse and ably seconded by Dr. W. H. Donaldson, it had been voted to authorize the Committee on Legislation to draft a new medical practice act and endeavor to secure its passage. For this purpose the original committee of five was increased by adding eight new members, one from each County. Dr. McKnight was chosen to represent Hartford County. During 1891 the Committee on Legislation labored hard and succeeded in drafting the medical practice act under which we still continue to practice our profession. In 1892, the Centennial Anniversary of our Society celebrated in New Haven, the legislature was deadlocked and no attempt to secure its passage was made. In 1893 came the memorable struggle at the State Capitol and the bill was passed. The masterly argument of Charles E. Gross, Esq., under whose guidance the bill was drawn, the eloquent appeal of Dr. George L. Porter and the trenchant remarks of Mr. Charles Dudley Warner were powerful factors in effecting the passage of the act. But in addition to these more brilliant advocates there were many others, professional and lay, who did yeoman's service and

not the least among them was the sturdy figure of our faithful "Mac." As you are all aware he was a power in work of this kind and we shall never know the amount of time and energy he spent to do what he conceived to be his part and help carry through the bill.

And so it has always been through all these years whenever the legislature was in session and the fight was on either to obtain new or better enactments of medical law or with the open opponents to existing laws or with those seeking to pass objectionable measures. In season and out he has been at the helm of the committee and as we think of him now and realize the loss we have sustained, it seems as if we never should have another who could approach him in the success he attained in preserving the legal integrity of our profession.

In 1900 Dr. Melancthon Storrs died. He had been Chairman of the Committee since 1889, serving faithfully in this capacity through the trying years of the early history of the medical practice act. During the last years of his leadership he depended very largely upon Dr. McKnight to conduct the practical work of the Committee. It was natural therefore that the latter should at once be appointed to succeed him. In this position as head of the Committee Dr. McKnight has continued to serve with the exception of the year he was President of the Society, 1907-1908, when his place was temporarily filled by Dr. P. H. Ingalls.

Altogether Dr. McKnight has been a member of this Committee for 26 years, and its Chairman for 17 years. This is certainly an exceptional record and the best of it is no one ever thought of deposing him. His reëlection year after year was taken as a matter of course. He had no rival, for none could approach him in qualifications and ability. His legislative experience, his knowledge of legal procedure, his acquaintance with men, his frank and genial manner, his zeal and energy and many other attributes fitted him for this branch of our work to a very unusual degree. In the long list of faithful servants, few there are who can equal Everett McKnight in generous devotion and value of service rendered this Society and through it the citizens of this Commonwealth.