New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-22
Manufacturers Trying to
Defeat Bill Pending
at Albany.
INCREASES ACTIVITY
OF MRS. VANDERBILT
Mothers Appeal to Her in Behal1
of Children Who Have
Formed Habit.

Albany March 21-Backed hy large
drug manufacturers of New York CITY,
a powerful lobby was discovered here
to-day working to defeat the bin row
before the Senate designed to nut a
stop to the traffic in morphine, heron
and derivatives Of opium.
If the BILL which was introduced by
Senator Frawley and goes to third
reading in the Senate on Tuesday, IS
passed these manufacturers will lose
large profits because Of the restricted
sale of these and other habit forming
drugs. Those lobbying for the drug
manufacturers advance as a reason for
defeating the bill that it's provision
making il a felony 10 sell the drugs eX-
cept on a physicians prescription and
a misdemeanor to have the drugs With
out authority is calculated to interfere
with the practise of medicine.
The bill introduced by Senator Fraw-
ley and backed by Mrs. w. K. Wander
bilt, through her attorneys. Coulter &
Bond, Of New York, provides a penalty
Of from two TO fifteen years for traffic
in these drugs. The severeness of the
penalty is designed to wipe out the
traders who supply young drug users
and even teach children the habit.
Frawley Tells Of Evil.
When Senator Frawley learned Of the
opposition he said he did not believe it
would be strong enough to defeat the
bill, but admitted there was great dan
ger when il came before the Assembly.
The bill will go through" he said.
mo decent. self-respecting man will
dare to oppose it. / can't see how any
one can have the face to say the drug
evil should not be wiped out. The rea
son | am so interested in the matter is
because il comes home to me down in
my own district. If those opposed to
the bill could realize the wrecks that
morphine and heroin have made Of
young men and women that / knew as
boys and girls and neighbOrs they
would sec the drug evil as l see it and
work against il.
AS for this opposition and lobbying
by drug manufacturers, / would like to
tell them that they are shameless
hypocrites. and | will if it continues.
All the money they ever gave away to
charities wouldn't pay for the stuff
they sell. II is always the big man
who knows better who is TO blame in n
case like this. Corner druggists who
traffic in morphine and traders who
sell to young criminals in embryo and
in Jail do not dare to show their hands.
No Hindrance to Doctors.
Nothing in this bill will prohibit the
practice Of legitimate medicine. In fact,
we are trusting the doctors and allow
ing the drug TO be sold on their order
But we are going TO see TO it that get
ting the drug will bc made difficult
enough to prevent criminal traffic in it
The penalties are not as severe as
would like them. In the first draft o.
, the bill I proposed that term of fiv,
wears in prison be given to all caugh
selling the drugs illegally and that th
sentence should be compulsory on TIM
Judges. allowing no loophole for tn
convicted. This has been changed L
Imprisonment from two to fifteen years
which may work ~out better than tn
ether. because there arc lots Of trader
for whom fifteen years is little enough
II is the general opinion here tina
d." Senate will pass the bin without ;
struggle