Evening star., 1914-08-02
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT Is DOING

WHAT THE G0YE]
Through the ONCE Of foreign seed and
plant introduction Of the United States
Depart ment OF
Subtropical Plant culture. the
Experimentation. 5ust ACQUIRED ausdi twen- en-.
ty-ave acres Of land near Miami. Fla,
whf0h will be developed into the ffrst
permanent subtropical plant experiment
station in south Florida. This land II
held IN trust by the Florida state ex-
pertinent station for the use Of the fed
erAl department.
Nearly seventeen years ago the Depart
ment OF Agriculture leased six acres Of
land at Miami for the purpose Of carry
ing on experiments In tho growing OF
immigrant plants grasses and trees
brought to this country by plant ex-
plorers In the federal service. At the
old Miami garden many experiments
were made. not only with tho growing
Of the new plants. but . pathological
laboratory was established for the study
Of diseases Of plants imported into this
country.
The work was considered so valuable
by officials of the Department Of Agri-
culture that Secretary Houston decided
that It should be placed on q more
permanent basis. and that the sta
ton should be greatly enlarged. The
crowded. and the work has been ham
pered because OF the need Of more room
in which to carry on the experiments.
Through the kindness of public-spir-
tract Of twenty-five acres Of land has
been decided In trust to the government
Tor the use OF propagating useful varie-
ties OF plants suitable to growth in this
country. Tho subtropical plant introduc
ton field station in Florida will be con-
Quoted by experts under the direction of
David Fairchild, chief Of the ofiice of
foreign seed and plant introduction Of
the Department Of Agriculture. It is
expected that Onward sfmmonds, who
has already achieved considerable local
prominence in Miami through his study
and cultivation of immigrant plants
brought to this country by the govern
ment, will be in charge on the ground.
plishments in the development Of immi.
grant plants has been the grating OF
the papaya, the budding Of the mango
and the study Of the avocado. or alh-
gator pear. which has become so popu-
lar on American markets.
x
When the New York prison commission
received charges few days ago outlining
a system Of extensive
Drug Traffic traffic in deadly habit
forming drugs and other
Al AAAsoaA0' narcotics in Sing Sing
prison. drug experts in the United States
bureau Of chemistry expressed the fear
that the illicit trading in drugs may be
going on in many prisons and reformatory
institutions of the country. At the pres
ent time the United States is leading the
world in its consumption Of habit-form-
ing drugs. and It is claimed that the pres
ent laws make it almost impossible to
put stop to the illicit traffic in these
dangerous products.
Many weeks ago there was a promise
that the Senate would soon pass the So
called Harrison bill. which went through
the House Of Representatives last year,
and thus put on the statute books law
which experts claim will make tmpossi-
drugs now going on. This BILL which has
been hung up for very long while In
the Senate, and which has been approved
by experts in tho bureau Of chemistry.
will require that every person who I'M
ports, manufactures sells or gives away
opium, cocaine. morphine. coca leaves,
or any Of their derivatives. shall register
his name with the collector Of internal
revenue of the district in which the trans
action takes place.
The person obtaining any kind OF haDit-
forming drugs must not only register
when he makes a purchase. but he Will
not be able to sell the drug except In
pursuance Of a written order on form
to be issued in blank by the United
state: commissioner ct Internal ,ha revenue rerS
transaction in habit-forming. drugs can
be followed from the time the products
come into this country until they reacn
the hands of the ultimate consumer. 4
DR.. Lyman F. Kebler, CHIEF OF the drue|
division Of the United States bureau Of
chemistry. has frequently pointed out
that the use Of opium. morphine and Cos
caine in this country is excessive and Tar
beyond what is demanded in legitimate
medicinal use. The United States. Tor
instance, with a population OF only 10O.-
100000, imports and consumes 100000
pounds Of opium a year. or eight times
the amount imported and consumed by
the pe6ple Of italy, Spain. Germany, Aus
tria-Hunsary and Holland. with COM
bined population Of more than l6O,000.oOO.
In considering the present bill now
pending In the Senate. the committee dis
C0VGYed "a
optum in the United States during the
past fifty years has been 351 per cent.
whereas the population has Increased only
lsl per cent It is estimated that 1900
ounces Of cocaine are sufficient for all
legitimate medical uses in this country
each year Ten times that amount, how
ever, or 10000 ounces. is imported. and
drug experts point out that large part
of the products imported must pass into
Illicit traffic such as that which is alleged
to have been carried on at Sing Sing and
which at various times has been thought
to exist in other institutions Of the
country. The making Of drug fiends has
become a practice in many OF the larger
cities, and several years ago in New York
city peddlers were discovered selling CO.
caine to school children in small doses.
A new title has been created in tho
list of government positions, and Uncle
Sam will soon
Social Service have on the pay
Experts Wanted. to b. Known as
service expert" For the first time |
In history, social service work has been
as a profession by the uniteo
H-At