New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-24
Movement Led by Mrs. w.
X. Vanderbilt Will Urge
Congress to Act.
NATIONAL CONTROL
ALONE EFFECTIVE
States. Too, To Be Asked to Help
Judge Swami Has Bill to
Present at Albany.

Tho fight against tho indlscrimlnate sale
and use Of habit forming drugs to which
Mrs. William X. Vanderbilt has given her
support. VIII be carried TO Congress
where national legislation to prevent the
evil will be urged At the same time
more stringent laws will be sought IN
New York and other states
Ernest IS Coulter. Mrs. Vanderbilts
counsel i'm the anti-drLg crusade, said yes
terday that even a preliminary. though
careful. investigation OF tho situation had
convinced him and his assistants that
they could not get ~ tho root of the drug
evil except through national legislation.
Mr. Coulter declared that the local and
state authorities, as we'll as the authori-
ties i'm other states. with whom he had
conferred or communicated, were Of the
same opinion.
while we propose 10 devote our time
Just at present in an effort to obtain bet
ter legislation for the regulation OF the
sale Of horoin cocaine and other drugs IN
this city and state" said Mr.. Coulter. III
becomes more and more apparent, as our
INVESTIGATION proceeds, that We cannot
expect to get AT the root of the evil with
out some sort or national legislation. rs
soon as II seems feasible We shall on
deavor to bring the matter 20 the atten-
ton Of Congress Practically All NOR
phine. hcroin and cocaine are imported
and there is no reason why the govern
ment should not control, or limit the I'M
portaton Of these drugs or, at least Keep
track Of the amounts coming into the
country, as is done in the case OF bonding
whiskcy. either through the Internal reVe-
nue. service or by proper interstate laws
Mr. Coulter had long conference with
Judge Edward Swami. of General S"s-
sions. yesterday I'm regard to state legs
lation. Judge Swami declared that ne was
willing TO go to Albany. if necessary, 20
assist i'm getting through the legislation
needed lie has already drawn "A Dill
which will soon be introduced IN the
LEGISLATURE, which provides for the
amendment OF certain sections OF the code
Of Criminal Procedure, which IS expected
To make IL easier to obtain convictions
against Illicit sellers of drugs.
The rules Of procedure confne the prose
cutor strictly 10 evidence Of the particular
transaction on which the indictment is
based. and this makes IT difficult IN many
instances. Judge Swami said, 10 obtain
convictions against druggists and other
sellers of the drugs one OF the sections
OF the Swami bill ntended TO overcome
this difficulty reads as follows:
where there are several charges
against any person for the same act or
transaction. or for two or more acts or
transactions Of the same class Of crimes
or offences. the whole may be joined IN
one Indictment i'm separate counts; and II
two or more indictments are found IN
such cases the court may order them TO
be consolidated.
Another section provides that similar
acts Of which the defendant is charged
whether prior. contemporaneous or sub
seauent acts. may be proved at the trlal
of the particular transaction in issue.
Since Mrs. Vanderbilt began her crusade
Mr. Coulter has received numerous letters
from Judges and municipal and state au-
tEorities in other states offering their
hearty cooperation in the national cam
paign against the drug evil.
Nh Coulter Will confer to-day with Ed
ward J. McGoldrick, the Assistant Cor
poration Counsel. who has charge of legls-
laton al Albany.