The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-04-13
A PARTISAN STEP.
THE COMBUSTION OF PHARMACY.
Made the Prey of partisaaism, II Not Worse
1aaasness-The Originator of the Law
Displaced by Demoetat-some OF
ThO,e who Advocate the Change.

Saturday the State Board Of Public
Works appointed Charles D. ]. Bin ell, Of
this city, member for The First Congress.
ional district Of the State Pharmacy Com.
mission, vice Edmund Booking, whose
term expires May /. Mr.. Bingell is a
Democrat aud Mr.. Booking q Republican.
The act TO which the Commission owes
It's existence was passed in 1881, and
amended slightly in 1882. 1t was almost
solely through the efforts Of Mr.. Booking
that the bill became Law. It provides
for one Commissioner from each Congress
ional district, and the Commission is en-.
trusted with the enforcement OF the pro.
visions OF tho law. Every pharmacist Il
required to register, and unless in business
In tho State for five years before the pass
age OF the act, to undergo an examination
by the Commission as to his competency
Among the other provisions OF the act ii
one forbidding the sale Of liquor by drug
gists without q prescriptions. Any drug
gist convicted twice Of violating this CLAUSE
is stricken from the register, and canno
longer continue in the business.
THE PRESENT BOARD.
Upon the passage OF the act Gov. Jack
son and the late Board OF Public Work.
appointed Edmund Booking, OF this city
i. L. Boggs. Of Charleston, j. L. w
Baker, Of Mart;nsbusg, and A. n
Williams, OF Parkersburg, as the foul
Commissioners. After the act was amend
ed in 1882 the same gentlemen were re
appointed. The Commission organized
~ electing Mr.. Boggs President, MIR. Nil
liams Vice President and Mr.. Booking
Secretary. Messrs. Booking and Bogg
are Republicans, and the other two mem
bers Democrats.
The Commission has stricken from thu
register ten percent Of the names o.
pharmacists, for violation Of the liquol
clause OF the law. They have Incurred
some i'll will by the impartiality and strict
ness With which they have discharged
their duties, and Us the end Of Mr.. Book
ing's term drew near, he having been 6
very active member ofthe Board, adeter
mination 10 get rid Of him was apparent.
It may be said that West Virginia'I
pharmacy law is pronounced by the lead
ing pharmaceutical journals one Of the
best Of the thirty or more in existence ir
different States. All the advanced State
have somewhat similar laws, intended t
secure competent druggists.
GOVERNOR WILSON CONSISTENT.
1t is held by many that the dispiace
ment OF Mr.. Booking and the appointment
OF Mr.. Bingell will render the law a deaC
letter. There is reason to believe this il
true. II such was the design OF the change
Governor Wilson, at least, was consistent
In his course. He came to the Legislative
session OF 1882 set upon the repeal OF the
law. When demonstrated with he said
the druggists Of Charleston all desired It's
repeal. Alr. Boggs being informed of thit
sent,up remonstrance against the repea
Of the law, signed by every druggist in
Charleston, including Mr.. Wilson'S father
in.law and brother-in-iaw. He ther
abandoned his designs against the bill.
AS to5the effect OF the change in the
membership of the Board, it is at least Q
significant fact that druggists who were
unpleasantly Affected by its enforcement
were notably active in working for Mr.
Bingell's appointment. Prominent among
these was man who was discovered
seated beside IN applicant for registration,
assisting him with a copy Of tho y. s. Dis
pensatory to answer the questions pro.
poundeJby the Commission.
The rulings and acts OF the Board were
without exception approved and endorsed
by Attorney General Watts while he was
in office. Since Mr.. Caldwell assumed the
duties OF the office lie has deferred ex.
pressing any opinion upon proposed meas.
ures submitted by Commissioners for his
judgment.
The Board has been limited to the lin.
tied revenues from registration fees, and
the expenses have been larger than the
receipts, SO that there is mo money in it,
Mr.. Booking sought a re appointment
only as matter OF pride, feeling that his
reelection would be q high compliment,
and since the influences at work against
him became apparent, he does not at all
regret his defeat.