60 Years Ago – American Medical Association president told Scranton crowd fight 'Socialized Medicine'

Jan. 21--Jan. 21, 1960

AMA head urges fighting against

socialized medicine

Dr. Louis Orr, president of the American Medical Association, was the guest speaker at the annual dinner-dance of the Lackawanna County Medical Society on Jan. 20 at the Hotel Casey.

During his talk, Orr said there was a need to fight against socialized medicine. "Our most urgent task is to mobilize strong resistance to the Forand Bill now being considered by Congress," he said.

"No matter how limited or diluted a version of the Forand Bill might be enacted," he said, "it eventually would prove to be simply the first step toward evolution of a system of national compulsory health insurance of the entire population."

The Forand Bill would provide medical and dental benefits to people receiving Social Security.

The dinner also included entertainment by the Dixie Docs -- a Dixieland jazz band composed of doctors from the society.

Fire hits businesses

Scranton firefighters responded to a fire at 332-334 Lackawanna Ave. on Jan. 20. The building was home to Gerson & Weiss Women's Wear on the first floor, Pierre Hair Stylist and Tony Grant Dance School on the second floor, and International Association of Machinists Lodge 380 on the third floor.

The firefighters worked quickly to put down the flames. In addition to putting out the fire, crews covered the merchandise in Gerson & Weiss with tarps to protect it from water damage.

Officials said the fire started in a storage room on the second floor.

Shopping list

Chicken breasts were 49 cents per pound; pork loin, 35 cents per pound; 3 pounds of bacon, 79 cents; large jar of instant coffee, 89 cents; box of tea bags, 63 cents; bunch of broccoli, 19 cents; four grapefruits, 25 cents; and three dozen eggs, $1.29.

BRIAN FULTON, library manager, oversees The Times-

Tribune's expansive digital and paper archives and is an authority on local history.

Contact Brian at [email protected] or

570-348-9140.

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