Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-11


Chicago Record Herald.
MANILA, May TO- 1904.
The commission has had many heated
discussions and many anxious hours over
the opium traffic, and the end Of the trou-
BILE has not yet been reached. Because Of
wide differences in opinion. it is impossible
TO please everybody. a., The commissioners
are determined to-get as near right as pos
sible, but persons Interested in the subject
do not agree as to what is right and proper
and however conscientious, earnest and
wise the officials may be they are sure to
be censured.
Last year it was proposed to initiate the
Spanish government and farm out the traf-
fic as monopoly to the highest bidder for
term of years. The contractor was to
pay certain sum of money annually for
the privilege and percentage on all his
sales, and the revenue was to go to the
support of the schools. No one else was to
be allowed to bring opium into the coun-
try, and a limited number of dealers were
to be licensed for the retail trade They
were to be prohibited from selling opium
to F'1llpinos, Americans and other foreign
ers, and were permitted to sell the drug
only to full-blooded Chinese adults in GER
tain limited quantities.
When this plan was published a storm
broke over the heads of the commission
abandoned. Public hearings were given
before the commission, and almost every
class of society was represented among the
many who presented their views. Nobody
seemed to favor the plan. The religious
people, headed by Rev. Mr.. Stuntz, presld-
ing elder of the Methodist Church. made a
tremendous cutlery. and cabled to the Unit
ed States to have pressure brought upon
the President and Secretary Of War and to
secure congressional action If possible.
The Chinese chamber Of commerce was
also opposed, but for different reasons, and
presented an earnest protest, asserting that
the monopoly plan would place opium vic
tins at the mercy OF grasping Spectator
Their representative said they would pre-
fer prohibition z :snSt
Committee Appointed.
Hence as 1t pleased nobody the plan was
abandoned and the commission decided to
have a thorough investigation of the traffic
in the Ieighboring counties. A committee
was selected, consisting of Surgeon Major
F.. c. Carter of the army, who is president
of the hoard OF health,s Bishop Brent of the
Episcopal Church, and DR.. Albert, Fill
Pine physician of high, standing. These gen.
tIemen visited several provinces of China,
Japan. F'ormosa, Java. me French colonies
ir the east, the Malay Federation. the
Straits Settlements and Surma. and made n
thorough inquiry into tbe methods used by
the governments of those countries, general
and municipal in the regulation of the traf-
fic. Their report is now in preparation.
They are una niIIlOuS in their conclusions
and recommends TONS but cannot disclose
them until they are formally submitted to
the commission You may receive them by
cal BILE before this letter IS published.
1t is believed by those familiar with the
subject that the commission will report in
favor CT the adoption OF plan which has
been successfully carried out In FormoSa
by the japanese who were troubled with
similar perplexities in 1So when they first
took over that island from China after the
war. The use of opium is absolutely pro-
hibited in Japan under very severe penal
ties, AMI it is remarkable fact that none
can be purchased there outside or the for
eign concessions. Similar laws were pro-
posed for Formosa, which has a large Chi
Eese population. but were found impracti-
cable and regulations were adopted which
have been enforced without great difficulty
and with general satisfaction. They are not
very different from thO3a in vogue in the
United States. Opium is treated as poi
son; it is subject to a high import duty; 1t
is sold under restrictions in small quantities
by druggists and othe- licensed dealers.
who must keep recoi d of all sales, with
the names of the buyers, their residences,
ages and nationality. Sales to other per-
sons than Chinese are strictly prohibited. 1t
is believed that the commission will recon-
mend similar regulations for the Philip
pines.
Opium Traffic in Manila.
At present, and ever since American oc-
cupation, the traffic in opium has been free
except for tariff duty of s. per kilo on
crude and $3.50 per kilo upon that prepared
for smoking. kilo being equal to two and
one-ifth pounds avoirdupois There
now 1875 places in Manila where opium can
be purchased, including smoking dens, and
it is the opinion of the police that the vice,
which was originally limited to the Chinese
is extending among the Filipinos and the
foreign population.
The imnOrtS of opium into the PHiliDDina