New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-29
PASS COCAINE BILL, URGE
BENCH, BAR AND TRADE
Walker Measure to Root Out
Evil Should Not Die in LegiS.
Iative Jam, They Protest.
HONEST DEALERS FOR IT
William Jay Schieffelin Anx
ious That New York Be
Abreast of ALI Other States
in Regulating the Traffic.

The hill introduced by Assemblyman
James j. Walker TO remedy conditions in
the cocaine traffic. as revealed by The
Tribune. will not die in the jam of legis-
laton at the end Of the session if the
r-otests of judges. district attorneys and
wholesale druggists avail.
Mr.. William Jay Schienelin. who not
only personally urged the passage of the
bill but was active in crystallizinS the
support of the New York Board of Trade
md Transportation for ii. said yesterday
that he could see no legitimate reason
why the measure should be opposed by
either doctors concerned in the use of the
drug or druggists concerned in its legiti'
mate sale.
The opposition 10 the Walker bill by
certain medical men" said Mr.. Schieffelin.
himself wholesale druggist is based
on misrepresentation. The quantity Of
cocaine which the bill would permit is
larger than any practitioner or specialist
would need during the course of year.
and the proposed supervision would in no
way interfere with legitimate physicians,
but would only be employed when there
was reason TO suspect Illicit traffic"
Opposition Hid Itself.
The supervision referred to 10y Mr..
kch!effelin was the only point raised by
phyrcians in New York State against
NE bill when it was first introduced. but
he opposition did not materialize into
,pen objections at the public hearing be-
ore the Assembly Codes Committee in
February.
Doctors who did not care to have their
attitude made public said that if the pro-
posed reforms became law the police
would be empowered 10 examine the rec
ords of a physicians Office on a sort OF
searching expedition. but as the opposi-
ton 10 this point never became open the
SPONSORS of the measure were unable 10
answer those who voiced it privately
James a. Delehany. Assistant District
Attorney C New York, who drafted the
bill and who from long experience in
prosecuting cocaine vendors aimed its
provisions specifically at the unethcal
sale and prescription OF the drug. pointed
out again yesterday that the legislation
would not hamper the medicinal use Of
cocaine and would act only against those
who profit by the sale Of the drug TO
cocaine iends."
Mr. Schieffelin emphasized the point
that all the reputable manufacturers and
wholesale druggists. as well as retailers
who handle cocaine incidentally were anN-
ious TO have the Walker bill enacted.
He suggested that doctors having occa-
sion to handle much smaller quantities
of cocaine would find it correspondingly
easier to comply with the law.
THE manufacturers Of cocaine and the
druggists who deal in il are willing 10
subject themselves to trouble and en-
nonse in order TO prevent the abuse OF
This drug" said Mr. Schiefelin. The
doctors. toe. should show themselves un-
selfish and cooperate in this cause.
Demands Little Bookkeeping
The bill would enjoin druggists. whole
sale and retail. TO keep far more clap
CRATE records Of the cocaine that passes
through their hands than the present Ia"
demands. The records TO be required OF
musicians. while calling for detailed IN
formation as 10 both purchase and dispo-
sition of the drug, would in reality
amount 10 relatively little Bookkeeping
because of the slight quantity of cocaine
required by any general practitioner or
even throat specialist during the course
Of a year.
In q letter TO Assemblyman James j.
Walker. when the matter came up for
nublic hearing before the Assembly Codes
committee. Mr. Schieffelin showed that
the bill If enacted into law. would put
New York State in the lead in the pre-
vention of the improper use Of cocaine.
Mr.. Schienelins letter. dated February
IS. read:
Il much regret that owing TO my abb
seneo que 10 attending a trustees meet
ing at Tuskegee Institute. Tushegee'
Ala. I will not be able 10 attend the
b1aring on the bill introduced by you re-
t.ricting the sale of cocaine.
.Wul YOU be kind enough TO inform the
committee that ! think the bill is the
most effective measure yet proposed and
that earnestly hope il will be enacted
into law. in which case our state VIII be