New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-31
War on Dope" Gets Strong
Impetus at Conference
of "CrusaderS.'
MEDICAL SOCIETY
MEMBER DISSENTS
PHYSICIANS Opposition to Legisla
tive Plan Is Severely
Criticised.

being supported hy Mrs. William Is. Van
derbir. ST.. received a substantial inlpe-
tus Yesterday az a largely attended con
fe-crco I'm tho chambers or Judge Edward
Swami. Of General Sessions. The situation
was discussed from AN anelcs and RENE
dial legislation 10 stop the iudiscriminale
sale and use of heroin cocaine and other
habit-formiug drugs. suggested Tho
opinion OF tho conferrcos Was that drastic
legislation both state and national. was
needed and needed soon. To properly
cone with this increasing evil.
The only dissenting voice was heard
from representative OF tine County Med
jcal Society. Or : !. Kopetsky who said
that the legislative bills suggested so far
TO regulate the dfspensation and use Of
narcotics would have to bo considerable
changed before they met the approval Of
the medical society
Dr. Kopetslly explained. however that
he was not in a position 20 express the
conclusions Of tho society on the subject
The society preferred TO thrash out the
matter itself before its representatives
appeared and expressed final opinion
and offered suggestions, nc said. The an
ticipatcd opposition Of tho medical pro-
fession to anu-drug legislation was
matter OF sharp comment and criticism 10y
several Of the speakers at the conference.
Committee TO Draft Bill.
A committee Of five consisting Of Judge
Swami, Ernest X. Coulter. J. L. Atkinson,
a chemist i'm the Board Of Health. DR..
Robert \ Hatcher, of Cornell University,
and Floyd NJ. Wilmot. Assistant District
Attorney. was appointed to Investigate
and report back the draft Of a proposed
bill for the suppression Of the use and
traffic in habit-forming drugs.
The committee was instructed To wait
on Mayor Mitchell and urge the appoint
ment Of more chemists in the Board Of
Health the present force having been
found 70 he entirely inadequate 10 com
plete the analyses Of evidence in drug
cases in time 20 permit the magistrates to
hold the defendants for trial.
Judge Swami said that the committee
probably would decide that a federal act
as well as state legislation. was needed.
and that they would make an effort 10
get the neighboring states Of New Jersey
and Connecticut TO pass similar legisla-
ton. II was urged that all the conferrees
should use their influence In support OF
the antl-narcotcs bill. known as the Han
rson act. now pending before Congress
which provides for the registration of al
narcotics imported and also traces tho
sale OF the drugs in interstate commerce
Besides the committee Of i've those
present were ". +. Mcconnell. secretary
OF the Board OF Trade and Transports
ton. DR.. jackson Campbell. OF the Depart
ment Of Correction; Charles G.. Bond. Of
the law firm Of Coulter 81 Bond. Drs Jonn
9. Dyer and 5. }. Kopetsky, Of the Coun-
~ Medical Society; Frederick c. Helvins
OF the House Of Refuge; Dr. o. +. Lewis.
secretary Of the Prison Association. Wal
ter G. Hooke, OF tho Committee OF Four
teen; Dr. w. G. Anderson. Of the Retain
Druggists Association; Warden llanley
Of the Tombs. Howard {. Barber. super
intendent Of the Society for the Proven
ton OF Crime. Almuth &. NanderveeT,
counsel for the County Medical Society.
John H. Boyle and Edwin NJ. stanton.
Assistant United States Attorneys, Kath-
crime 3. Davis Commissioner OF COrrec-
ton: Father James x. Curry. pastor Of
St James Catholic Church; chief Justice
Russell and Justice Cornelius Collins of
Special Sessions.
Justice Collins urged the necessity OF
adequate laws 10 handle the cases in Spe-
cial Sessions. where all ~ them are tried.
At present there was no law against the
sale and use OF heroin and many cases
went b. the board on that account he
said The number Of cases Of Illicit
dope" selling during the last year showed
that the evil was on the Increase. be said
Comm issioner Davis Takes Part.
Commissioner Davis heartily lndorsed
the proposed Harrison bin. She said tina;
this appeared 10 her 10 be the most i'm
pOrtant move as it afforded a means OF
tracing the drugs from hand 10 hand aua
seeing that they were not improperly
used. She said that her department wac
making great effort % keep the drugs
out Of the Tombs and other city prisons
She told 81 recent cases where ncr0.n had