New-York tribune., 1910-01-03
DRUG BOARD TILT
CHANGES IMMINENT.
Gouernor Hughes SAID to
Fauor Drastic Reforms.

The State Board OF Pharmacy, private
body will meet i'm Albany to-day for the
last time before the coming session of the
LEGISLATURE either abolishes or changes IL
as the result Of opposition and bitterness
in druggists circles i'm New York. Officers
will be elected and routine business will be
transacted at the regular sessions, but at
private conferences Il is expected that plans
VII be made TO combat the opposition
which is sure 10 arise and which will prob
ably receive the support of Governor
Hughes.
The board is made up Of three sections of
five members each which have jurisdiction
over tho druggists in the Eastern. Middle
and Western portions of the state, where
they act as examiners. inspectors of drug
stores and have among other powers that
OF fining druggists $50 when drugs in the
stores are found below the standards
The dissatisfaction with the board has
eeen confined TO tho druggists OF the East
ern section, who set up many grievances.
II took the form last year of an attempt
20 lesislafe the Board OF Pharmacy out of
existence. In this years fight, as in the
one last year, the greater part OF the work
viii he done by the Westchester County
Pharmaceutical Association. the Retail
Druggists Protective Association Of great
Pharmaceutical Association.
Sympathy for their movement these
druggists say. has become statewide. so
that they expect the support of the New
York State Pharmaceutical Association, the
most influential body Of druggists in the
state. in the coming struggle. This body
has hitherto supported the Board of Phar-
macy. the New York druggists say.
a prominent member of local associa-
iioa asserted yesterday that members OF
the Eastern branch OF the board had said
30 officers of these associations that they
realized change must be made at the
coming session Of the Legislature. They
asked, he said, TO be represented at a con-
ference at which a bin to be agreed upon
by sli factions should be drafted and intro
ouced by representatives of the New York
State Pharmaceutical Association.
The conference was held last Thursday in
the rooms of the Drug Clun at No. 2Os
Broadway. at which the provisions of
bin were tentatively drawn This bin would
introduee many vital changes.
The pharmacy law, under which the pres
eat board acts. provides for the election of
.ts members by associations of druggists,
makes them answerable 10 the Governor
and the New York State Pharmaceutical
Association and gives it police powers TO
collect fines and fees for registration II
provides that the receipts of the board out
side Of expenses. shall be given to the New
York College OF Pharmacy and the Brook
lvn College of Pharmacy.
The hili 10 be introduced would create a
state board or pharmacy of nine members,
which would not be divided into districts
The members would be appointed by the
Board of Regents which would be compelled
20 appoint only licensed pharmacists This
requirement is not included in the present
law. The Regents would be asked 10 select
he appointees from list submitted by the
New York State Pharmaceutical Associa-
ton. The fines would be reduced and the
receipts of the board turned over TO the
State Treasurer
Before promising support to such a meas
or to the mon behind IT, however, the
local associations viii await the Governors
message. Assemblyman Robert S. Conklin.
who has lleaoed the forces OF the local
druggists I'm the Legislature. and Thomas
Lamb, Of BROOKLYN, secretary of the Retail
Druggists Protective Association, conferred
with the Governor on December S. As
sefnbiyrnan Conklin recited the associations
grievances. He said that the inspectors of
5lle eastern branch were guilty of fake in
spections, that the fines paid by The drug
eists we're spent by the board members
under the misleading head Of Expenses
and that the druggists objected TO the vest
ing # police powers in a private board.
AssernbIyman Conklin alleged favortism
on the part of the inspectors, and said they
examined some stores and never visited
the stores or other druggists who were
favorable &c the interests Of tho board.
Many ether grounds for the revolt were
explained to the Governor
Mr FOnxli11 told of the coufsraf3ca veSter-
DAY for he first time He said the Gov
ernor contemplated recommending the
transferring of the enforcement of the phar-
macy law 10 the Department of Health, and
the power Of examination and licensing
pharmacists IL the Board Of Regents.
He believes" said Mr.. COnkIin. that
the board might well be composed of drug
Gists, but that il should be part of the
state government, paid by the state. and
that the fines and fees should be turned
over 10 the State Treasurer"