New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-06-25
TRIED TO TEMPT DRUGGL
BOLD EFFORT OF AN UNsCRUPULOUs
PERSON TO INDUCE PHARMACISTS
TO BREAK THE LAW.

4 person. whose name Is known. recently
sought to make money by tempting the mem
hers Of the State Pharmaceutical Association.
who were present AT the recent meeting OF the
organization held AT Buffalo 10 break Of
the most vigorously enforced laws OF this coun-
try-that relating to the sale and Importation
OF proprietary chemicals. The tempter was
stupidity daring and bold. II was said. and ne
would probably have heen roughly treated by
the members If ne had been caught
Under the laws OF this country foreign and
local manufacturers Of certain medicines can
protect their goods by having them patented
and this patent gives them the exclusive right to
make and to sell their goods here. The question
as 10 whether these laws are equitable has been
discussed for many years. and numerous steps
have been taken to have them declared void.
Supporters Of the measures have contended that
the laws stimulate research in pharmacy. and
that the discoveries OF chemicals and medicines
should. like the inventors Of machines or other
things. have the right TO fix and control the
price OF what he has for sale in this country
In Canada and in England there are no laws
protecting proprietary medicines. In view of
this some medical remedies that sell In Buffalo
for 81 20 an may be had In Canada for
80 cents an ounce Any person bringing these
goods into this country from Canada has to
pay duty which is about One-fourth OF the
selling price Of the drugs the other side OF the
Canadian line. But after paying this duty the
person has not legal right to sell the remedies
in the county. Before he can obtain a legal
right he must pay to the manufacturer of the
goods or to his agents whatever is due to them
for having the sale right here for the goods
Breaking these laws is considered as bad as
smuggling. In fact an infractiOn of the meas
ures relating to proprietary medicines is thought
10 be worse offence than smuggling. Smugglers
are much more easily discovered. IL is said, than
the volators of the laws on proprietary goods.
Owing to these facts the members OF the State
Pharmaceutical Association. OF which Felix
Hirseman. OF this city. is president. were amazed
at the holiness of the tempter. SO far known
no person seeking to hire TO tempt people to
smuggle goods the Canadian line has ever
pursued such methods as the person who sought
TO get some of the leading druggists of this State
to buy his goods in Canada and TO sell them
here in violation of the law. This tempter issued
| a circular. and in some unknown manner copies
of it placed on the seats in the meeting
place in Buffalo where the deliberations of the
annual meeting of the State Pharmaceutical
Association were held. No member could help
| seeing the circulars
A copy given to n Tribune reporter yes
| terday. IL was neatly printed and it did not
appear 10 contain anything to excite suspicion
/ or to arouse the curiosity OF any person who
| was not directly interested in pharmacy But TO
| the druggist il was decidedly interesting II SET
4 loith tial the canadian line was not great
distance from Buffalo. and that certain chem
| ieals which are proprietary medicines here could
be bought al prices i'm Canada that were
greatly lower than those prevailing in this
| country. The reader was further told that by
| nuyins from the person who had these goods to
sell in Canada he could make a sum that would
defray part OF his travelling expenses from
| Buffalo To Canada.
When seen yesterday by Tribune reporter
Mr.. Hirseman said:
saw the circular at the meeting of the organi-
cation Just held at Buffalo. OF course / read n
| In my opinion. II was purely and simply an effort
10 tempt the members of the organization 10 do a
dishonest act Even IL they bought the chemicals
IN canada and paid the import duty on them the
buyers, on returning here with the goods would
be liable 10 a civil and criminal action The
State Pharmaceutical organization took no action
on the circular. 1t treated the matter with silent
contempt