New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-19
ON TO ALBANY WITH
ANTECOCA|NE BILL


eO DI MT. DelenantN.
"Mr. Delehanty and / look at this
matter from the standpoint of those
who have seen all the misfortune and
misery Of the traffic" he said. Its
most hideous aspect, believe. is 10 be
seen in prison, where the unfort-
unates who have become slaves to the
drug 60 almost crazy when they are
deprived of it. In many cases 1t is a
physical impossibility to deprive them
OF IL entirely, and the only possible
treatment Is to gradually reduce their
allowances
DR.. Mcclure believes that equally
strict limitations should be put into the
laws with regard to the sale and pos
session of morphine and heroin.
Judges Interested in Bill.
Both Judge Edward Swami and
Judge Otto A. Rosalsky. Of General
Sessions. are much interested in Mr.
Delehantys cocaine bill and in TIE
campaign against the use of the drug
conducted by The Tribune. Judge
Swami suggested the drawing OF the
bill TO Mr.. Delehanty, and Judge Ro-
salsky looked it over for possible con-
stitutional defects. Some changes were
made in the original draft at Judge
Rosalsky's suggestion.
Judge Swami yesterday wrote to AS
semblyman James Walker impresSlns
upon him the necessity of such law
and calling his attention TO the race
that a physician is now on trial in
General Sessions for selling the drug
Illegally Judge Swami said he saw no
reason why physicians should object 10
the scrutiny of their records by repre-
scntatives of the local boards Of health
any more than he himself should OBJ
iect 10 having a representative OF the
gas company read his meter.
The Tribune did an excellent work
in exposing the growing use and sale Of
cocaine" said Judge Swann. and IT Is
consistent in advancing the bill drawn
by Mr.. Delehanty. | understand THAI
the only opposition 10 the bill comes
from physicians. 1t seems strange IN
these enlightened times that represen-
tatiyes of one Of the highest and most
humane professions. should oppose a
bin designed To obliterate growing
menace.
NO business az profession has q.
monopoly of the virtues. Cnscrupulous
men creep into every walk Of life. The
law is not free from them. nor the min
istry. nor is medicine. one Of the oldi
est problems Of philosophy is that OF
moulding the diverse elements OF hu-
man atoms so that they work together
for the benefit Of the people az whole.
The hair splitting standards or false
pride uf one person or group OF persons
must not he allowed to interfere with
any movement for the benefit OF the
race.
Judge swans letter TO Assembly
man Walker says. in part:
II am interested in seeing legal
brake put upon the distribution and
use of cocaine. which holds its victims
in a vice-like grasp and. by destroying
the will power, the restraining innu-
ence that enables a person 10 resist
an impulse 10 commit crime is with
drawn and the victim more often than
not becomes "A criminal.
You will ind that many OF the mo-
torious crimes of the last year We're
committed by persons who are VIC
tins Of the cocaine habit. You would
be surprised al the strides II has made
among the colored population in this
city and in the South.
There are some unscrupulois men
who unfortunately have entered tn
ranks of that honora BILE medical pro-
fession and who retail cocaine from
their Offices. and who sell prescriptions
for small sums TO victims Of the drug.
and some Of them have been indicted.
Dr. Abraham Levy is now on trial IN
another part of this conrt. and the evi-
dence in that case would interest YOU"
The sale and use OF cocaine are in
creasing." said Judge Rosalsky. In
nv Judgment the bill as drawn is All
excellent one and is designed TO stop
the Illegal sale OF cocaine. There
should be little difficulty in obtaining
favorable vote on IL 80 far as ITS form
and purpose are concerned. IL covers
matters which the present law does
not touch Under the proposed law
the court is allowed greater discre-
ton. and if it is passed II will be Dos
sible FOR Judges not only to punish
those guilty of selling the drug. but
also 10 help those who are found with
II in their possession and who are
users. not vendors"
Heroin Believed Greater Peril.
While the general sentiment seemed to
favor the Walker bill. several OF the au-
thorities seen yesterday expressed the
conviction that its provisions were by 10
means drastic enough. Charles Il. Towns.
author Of another bill To control the dis
tribution OF narcotics. now before the
LEGISLATURE. said that the same or stricter
regulations should be enacted TO cover
the traffic in heroin.
''The coming evil Is not cocaine" said
Mr.. Towns: 1T Is heroin. Even now there
is more heroin Used by dope fends' in
this city than there is cocaine. Heron is
a dervatlve of opium. II is much cheaper
than cocaine and Its effect IL much more