Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-08-16
The Opium Traffic As II Is Now.


China, Republican now, but still
",heathen. is stamping out the opium
traffic with visor never before mani
Tested i'm such an undertaking. Eng
land, monarchical but Christian. is in
sisting that China must pay some s15,-
800. 600 for opium that has been produc-
ed by British subjects and shipped to
Chinese authorities would not permit
il to be unloaded. The United States,
both Republican and Christian. a few
years ago called an International coun-
Gil for the suppression of the opium
traIfle and discovered TO its surprise
that the great American Republic it
self was the home of tremendous
traffic in opium and other vicious, ha-
bit-f9rming drugs.a
Three bills are now being considered
in Congress which deal with the sub
iect. One is to remedy defects in the
act passed in 1903 forbidding the inn
portation of opium for other than me-
6icinal purposes. Another increases the
internal revenue tax on opium produced
in this country for smoking purposes.
The third provides for the registration
with the collectors of internal revenue.
and the payment of special tax by
all persons who produce. import, COM
pound. manufacture, deal in. dispense,
sell or give away opium or cocoa
leaves. their salts, derivatives or pre-
parations'
The object of the United States in
originating the international movement
for the suppression of the opium traffic
was to lessen the deplorable habit of
opium smoking in the Orient. Directly
after the appointment of the American
degelates to the first International Opt
um Commission. il was discovered that
this Nation was itself permitting a
ira fife In opium and deriving revenue
from II. Between 1860 and 1908 the Unit
ed States had collected an aggregate
revenue from opium amounting to s21.-
00o,000 AS it was not possible for the
American delegates to the international
commission to press the suppression OF
the Eastern opium traffic under these
conditions. an opium exclusion act was
passed in 1909. This was to permit the
delegates to the commission TO main
tain the position desired by this GnV-
ernment for the suppression of the evil
The opium exclusion bill of 1909 was
found defective when it came to Tho
test of practical enforcement The sud
den prohibition of the importation o.
opium tended greatly to increase SNUG
Cling. especially along the Mexican
border.
The Harrison bill providing for the
registration of all persons in any way
connected with the handling of drugs
opium and cocaine. will enable the
I6overnment not only to lessen the
amount Of smuggling. but will also be
a record of the quantities of such
drugs in the country and the final dis
position of the same. The bill pro-
vides that every person selling, the
drugs shall preserve the order for the
eale for two years in order that ii may
he readily accessible for the inspec.
ton of any authorized officer. An
other pending bill provides that fol
Ilevying of an internal revenue tax OF
$500 per pound upon all opium manu-
factufed in the United States fol
| smoking purposes. This applies es
l peelally to the opium made from pop
Ipies grown in this country, PARTICULAR
lily along thef Pacific Coast. which
Knight, without this restriction. be!
leone fiouIishing Industry
The bill prohibiting the importation
lof opium has also a section prohibit
ing its export. The penalty provided
for any person found to have smok
ling opium in his possession while OF
board any car. vessel or other Nehlcl
Ioutward bound from the United State
Is the same as that provided for al
lattefnpt to bring the drug into tn
country. This provision is in compi
lance with resolution passed at tn
Hague by The Opium Commission tina
ut is the duty of all governments t
Iadopt reasonable measures to proven
lat all points of departure, the ship
ment of opium and its derivatives I
any country which prohibits their en-
try" The establishment of this co
i III F<s