New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-17
DRUG BILL SIGNED
BY GOV. CLYNN
Measure Regulating Sale
of Cocaine and Opium
in Effect July /.
BIG STEP TAKEN IN
CONTROL Of TRAFFIC
Crusade Supported by Mrs. Van.
derbilt and The Tribune Ac.
cOmpIiShes Purpose.

The Eoylan bill regulating the sale OF
habit forming drugs was signed by Gov
ernor Glynn yesterday The measure will
become effective on July :, and ends a
crusade for more effective legislation. IN
which Mrs. William X. Vanderbilt took q
leading part. Those identified with the
movement TO control the traffic yesterday
expressed appreciation of the support
which The Tribune gave 10 their en-
deavors.
The bill. which was passed on March ~
after the Governor had sent an emergency
message 10 the Legislature. goes further
than any existing law in preventing the
illegal sale OF drugs. II provides an ell
fective method OF discovering and punish
ing those engaged in this traffic.
Under its provisions the sale Of such
drugs as cocaine, opium, or the deriva-
t,ves Of either. except OF the prescription
OF a licensed physician, IS forbidden. Pre-
scriptions calling for more than four
grains OF morphine, thirty grains OF
opium, two grains OF heroin, six grains
OF codeine or four drains % chlordl
must be verified before delivery TO persons
presenting orders.
It is also provided in the bill that each
package bear n label or certificate stating
the name and address of the physician
upon whose prescription the sale IS made.
the date Of the sale and the name OF the
person buying the drug. In order 10 IN
the responsibility and TO assist the au-
thorties in locating violators of the law
all drug dealers and physicians must use
official order blanks supplied by the state
Board of Health. The orders Will be
serially numbered and in duplicate. one
slip to be retained by the druggist and
the other by the purchaser. In this way
physicians who abuse privileges can be
detected
Ernest * Coulter. who has acted as
counsel for Mrs. Vanderbilt In the fight
against the drug evil. declared yesterday
that he had learned Of the signing OF the
bill with great satisfaction. The law ne
said, was only a step, however ana
brought matters 10 a point where an
active campaign for federal legislation
might be undertaken.
There are several persons and organi-
cations to whom thanks are due at this
time" Mr.. Coulter declared. I'VE are es-
pecially grateful to The Tribune WIN
out its support We would not have been
able to accomplish much. Credit is also
due 10 the Governor himself, who. while
Lieutenant Governor prevented the bill
from being buried; to Justice Edward
Swami. OF the Court OF General Sessions;
Justice Cornelius Collins. of the Court OF
Special Sessions: Al Smith, the minority
leader in the House; Floyd H. Wilnot'
Assistant District ATTORNEY Fathe1
James Curry, of st. Jamess Church'
in oliver St. Or. Katharine 3. DaVis'
Commissioner OF Correction. the Prison
Association. the Woman's Municipal
League and a number Of other individuals
and societies who attended Mrs. VAN
6erbllts conference a few months ago.
Through that conference Governor Giynn
was apprised OF the true situation In the
state.
Tho bill may be far from perfect" Mr..
Coulter said. but by next year IL VII
have had a practical test and II II n~eds
amendment steps Will be taken 10 pertecl
IL. To my mind one of the most praise
worthy features Is the provision for cur
ing or caring for persons VINO nave Do
come addicted TO tho drug habit. The law
makes it possible for drug user upon
application to a magistrate, TO be COM
mitted TO city hospital
The need Of national legislation MI
Coulter said was as imperative as was
the Boylan law.
Every year there is manufactured here
or brought into the country 0e,pD pounds
OF opium" he declared ut is known as
medicinal opium. but 50 per cent OF II IS
used nlegitimately. The present annual
consumption OF cocaine is 204H" ounces.
OF which 90 per cent u used illegitimately.
Ir,nortations should be carefully resu-
lated"