The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-06-02
Spirit Of a Strong Letter on the
Opium Bill.
ATTORNEY GENERAL SMITH
Reviews Some Of the Troubles Of
the Past-Present Difficulties.
Smuggling-Tria Advised.

MR. EDITOR:-There seems to be
some misrepresentation in regard to
the objects and provisions of the Bill
now before the Legislature relating
to opium.
The bill was introduced by Special
Committee after much consideration
with a view to restricting the use of
opium, and preventing it spreading.
1t is not at all a measure to license
the general sale of opium.
The facts are briefly these:
For forty years opium has been
used in this country by Chinese, and
great efforts have been made to pre-
vent it. At three different times since
1860 law was passed authorizing the
granting of a license for the sale OF
opium These laws permitted the
holder of the license to sell opium
generally Each trial of the plan, eX-
tended the use of opium among Ha-
waiians as we'll as Chinese and added
to the evil.
For the past ten years the sale OF
opium, except by physicians and sole
~ for medical purposes, has been pro-
hibited by law. Severe penalties are
prescribed for those who import or
sell opium; and persistent and deter
mined efforts have been made to en-
force the law. The result has been al
though the amount consumed has Deen
less than when the licenses were III
force the use of the drug is steadily
fro -
Cling and dealing in opium have been
60 large that it has been a great temp
tation to persons to engage in its IN
PRODUCTION and a constant source OF
corruption. Many Customs and Police
Officers have been ruined, and many
merchants and citizens have engaged
in the business.
The profits to the smuggiers, and TO
the dealers. have been so great that
MANY Dersons who had not been ad-
dicted to the use of opium have been
induced to try it so as to increase the
demand. Places where opium can be
hought and smoked exist all over the
country. ~.
Fortunately its use under prohlpl-
tion has been confined mainly to the
Chinese. But among them the con-
sumption is increasing.
Every one who has knowledge OF the
facts knows that the Chinese who have
acnuired the opium habit will obtain
oDiIm nv some means or other. When
ever the supply has been limited prices
have advanced, and smuSSmnS i"'
been stimulated.
The nronosed bill provides for the
oc+abIishment of a Board of three gov
1u in
sisting of the Government Physician
nis+rict Magistrate and Sheriff Cor
Denrty Sheriff. who are authorized to
-oGio+er the names of all confirmed
users of opium in the district, ana 10
furnish such persons with opium IN
stated quantities at stated intervals
ond at a Drice very little above cost.
Not every applicant can be register
ed. but only those whom the neHloe,
of the Board are satisfied are already
confirmed in the habit. Each peiSon
whose name is registered is to be given
a written permit signed by al Ill &c
members of the Board before he Will
be entitled to obtain the opium. GRANT
inp such permits is discretionary Win
the Board. The whole matter Is ~
be subject to the control OF the Boar"
of Health. 49,, .,,o+
The promoters of the bill nope tha'
the plan can be successfully ana non
oe+1v carried out with the result that
such a proportion of those VINO naOLU-
ualIy use opium will register anu o.
tain their supplies from the opium
Board. that the market for smuggIeu
onium will practically be lost
If this should result, the gain 10 the
public would be great 1t would prac-
| ticallv confine the use OF the Wug 10
those who have already acquired the
habit and reduce very much the temp
tation to others to acquire 1t.
The opium to be given to each re-
gistered PERSON is to be given daily OF
| several times a week, and in quantity
only sufficient for his own use.
If by reason of the quality and 10"
price of the opium it can be mace
| greatly for the users interest 10 CD
| tain his opium from the Board, he Will
not patronize the high priced SNUG
| gled article.
Under the former license laws the
cost Of the license, duty, incidental eA-
nanses and dealers profit, in addition
| to the original cost of the opium, maze
| the selling price so high that SNUG
Cling was still profitable. Moreover
! in order TO make profits, the holder
of the license used every effort,
| through agents and otherwise, to in
duce persons to use opium.
If the law should go into effect and
the managers of plantations, and other
! EMPLOYERS of labOreTs, should cooper
ate with the Boards to induce the con
| frmed opium users to register and
| avail themselves of the benefits of the
| law. fair trial could be made. If the
results were unsatisfactory, and the
objects sought we're not attained, II
! could be abandoned.
The object of the bill is not to en-
| courage the use of opium, or to derive
| revenue from it. Probably those who
! denounce the bill would not be able TO
offer as many real objections, and
! present as many difficulties in the way