The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-12
OPIUM PROBLEM,
Relation Of the Traffic to the
Philippine Islands.
is the Subject Of a Report Made
to Congress.
PROHIBITION IN 1908.
Is Contemplated by the o.. s.
Government.
But Business Must Be Controlled
Until That Time.
PROHIBITION IN 1908.

Washing ton Marcu l1'--AliS PAe
today sent to coner ass the report Il the
opium commission appointed II lsof'
tc investigate the use OF opium IN the
Philippines and to suggest means TOT
it's regulation. The report itself IN CUT
line has already been published bat IL
view of the earnest efforts Of Christian
clergymen and reformatory societies 10
stop the traffic In opium IN the Phil
ippines, and after developments since
the publication of the report the fol-
lowing letter from Secretary Taft, when
accompanies the presidents message 70
congress may be Of interest:
washington, D. c.. March 9, 1905
Mr.. Dear Mr.. President have the
honor TO enclose herewith for transmits
sion to congress the report Of the com
r1fttee appointed by the Philippine com
mission to investigate the use or opluLA
and the traffic therein and the rules OF
dInances and laws regulating such US
and fraf7c in Japan, Formosa. Shanghai,
Hong Kong, Saigon, Singapore, BuiiIlatl'
Java and the Philippine ISLANDS.
.sThe law in force in the Phlhpplne
islands under the government Of SPAN
made it unlawful for any FlllplhO u
smoke or use opium in any way. II
nernftted. however. a license to issue
for the maintenance OF OPIUM stllo rs -
resorts to be patronized only Dy nv
NnInEEE ana DQlAtE PA NisTA 'AN-
ercised ever the resorts ana any { ~
Dino found there was arrested ana pun
fshed The owner Of the iestIt -,
also nInished for cOnniVlug at the Il III
pino's violation OF the law II j $50 q
IL thought that the law was 1alriy Wsll
enforced and that the spread OF -lil
use Of the drug among the lIlpliIOo
was much retarded by It's enIorcsLle n
Under the law the right 10 ser o-'It-l.
for smoking and other purposes We9
EARNED ont in the various provinces tc
a wholesale dealer. who purchased IN
privilege at a public auction. w leH M
American troops entered ndaillIe 60
took D0ssessfon of the Islands the span
~ ln{7,r77 law vas not continued IN
"A duty was imposed on opium and
towns we're enj0ined to pass Oiul
nances forbidding the establishment
Of opium dives. Such information as
the commission could OBTAIN mo-
Gated that the suspension Of the span
isb law had led to an increase or the
use Of the drug among Ftlplno ,s
Early In 1903 there was introduced III
the PhHfDpine commission for en-
acfuneut into a law a bill following in
some respects the Spanish law, espe-
ciaIlv i'm the main feature. that the sale
of opium to FilipinOs and its use py
them was a absolutely prohibited ana
made a PENAL o9feuse! 1t abolished lis
censed opium smoking resorts, and
provided that no opium could be sold
TO anyone to be smoked upon the
premises It contained the feature OF
farming out the right to sell opium
to Chinese persons q years Of age.
The bill was advertised for three
months and when ii came before the
commission in open session it was dis
cussed by members of the house with
great vigor 1t was very vigorously
opposed by the clergymen of the city
of Manila. Indeed so strong was
their opposition that II LED the COM
mission to table the bill and appoint
q committee. consisting Of Major Z.
@. Carter. surgeon. L. S. A, chief sani-
tary officer of the islands; DR.. jose
Albert. a prominent Filipino physician
Of Manila, and the Rt. Rev. Charles
H Brent Episcopal bishop of the
Philippines who were authorized to
visit the various Oriental countries to
investigate the measures taken by
the Different governments for the pur-
pose of suppressing the use Of opium.
This committee made fits report to the
Philippine commission in June, 1904.
The report was not transmitted by the
Philippine commission to this depart
ment until last August The time since
then has been taken In the printing Of
1t and in the correction of typo
graphical and other errors contained
IT in
AN informal copy Of the opium re-
port brought by Bishop Brent reached
-A-N -lGA4e1A tAtAElAL a year ago ana the
results or Its conclusions were stated
TO the committees of the house and
senate when they were considering
the question Of the duty to be i'm
posed upon opium in q bill providing
for tariff on goods imported into
the Philippine islands. The result was
the adoption Of the following by con-
gress:
Opium: CA) Crude. n. w. kilo.
FOUR collars OBJ The same manufac-
LuIed or prepared for smoking or other
purposes. n. W. lilo. five dollars.
Provided. however. that the Phil
lpplne commission or any subsequent
Fhlhpplne legislature shall have the
power to enact legislation to prohibit
absolutely importation or sale of
opium or to limit or restrict its inn
portauon and sale. or adopt such 9th er
measures as may be required for the
suppression Of the evils resulting from
tne sale and use Of the drug. And
prcyided further. that after March /.
lsoe' IL ehan be unlawful to import
INTO the Philippine Islands opium, in
Whatever FORM except by the govern
ment and for medical purposes only
eng az no time shall it be lawful to sell
gRIutn 70 any native Of the Philippine
poses.
Act entitled An act to revise and
aI.leHa the tariff laws o6 the Philippine
Islands and for other purposes'i an
proved March g. 1905.
There is now pending before the
Fnllipplne commission for public dis
Sussl9h a phi providing for the sup
preston Of opium snolrine which
penalties the sale Of opium to Fiji
pinos. or its use by them; second. It
PFohioits the sale of opium to any
-nlnanan unless he be registered as an
habitual user of the drug license
taXes are. imposed on wholesale and
felall dealers who are subject to close
regulation and scrutiny. The text Of
tne PHI has not been received. but only
canle summary. This bill. If IT be
come law, viii by reason Of the con
gresslenal restriction above set out.
cease to have effect in April, 1908. and
at that time ali importations Of opium
mo me Islands VIII cease except for
medicinal purposes. and The ir7nor-fa-
ZION for that purpose will be made bv
the government only. The interval Of