Evening star., 1914-05-03
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT Is DOING

and Of the House. In 1912 the democratic
caucus determined three different times
by overwhelming majorities that we did
not need any more battleships and tnat
none should be authorized that year.
Since then we have added to our meet
the two greatest battleships in the world,
and after this great increase in the navy,
1t will put the caucus Of the democratic
party in a position of the grossest IN
consistency for democrats to now de-
eide that we still need two more
The minority goes on to make the as,
sertfon that a much smaller navy would
be amply adequate for all purposes OF
defense and protection on account of the
conditions that surround the United
States.
In making a plea for smaller navy,
the members say, "Our immense trade
with foreign countries and their depend
ence upon our products for their mater
ial prosperity make it apparent that II
would be contrary to their interests TO
wage war against US, even II we assume,
what is not true, that any of them desire
to engage in fighting US. The great as
tance between US and other nations, ana
the consequent difficulty, If not impos-
sibility, of any foreign nation being aole
to supply itself with the coal, Oil ana
ammunition necessary to prosecute a
naval war against us is a suff1cient as
surance of peace. even II self-interest
or a barbarous desire for war could De
attributed to other nations. Our coast
defenses, mines, submarines and tor
pedoes present an insuperable difficulty
to a successful attack upon our shores,
even If any nation should be foousn
enough to believe It could destroy our
fleet
Tho necessity for an increase Of our
navy" continues this report. IL COM
pletely disproven by the facts admitted at
the hearings that we have moro than
half as many battleships as England, ten
more than France, twenty more than
Japan. twenty-four moro than RusMa'
twenty-five more than Italy and twenty
nine more than Austria-Hungary. and we
have shown that we have the same num-
ber and much more powerful ones tnan
Germany.
I'VE have abundant evidence that our
system of naval administration Is essen
tally extravagant and wasteful. This Is
apparent in the two following respects:
We have number of useless navy yards,
necessitating a foolish duplication OF
buildings, overhead charges. power
plants, machinery, dry docks. cranes ana
of everything needful at each navy yard.
II all our work were done at two navy
yards and the other yards sold and aoan-
doned, 1t would reduce the amount OF our
place at the head Of our navy yards ma
val officers who have had no experience
as managers Of industrial plants. and
hence we are unable to conduct them In
an economical manner"
In a desperate effort to stop the trafhc
in habit-forming drugs In the United
States. such as opium, CO.
Traffic in caine. morphine and heroin.
Congress will, within the
u5s' next two or three weeks.
place upon the statute books a law that
is more drastic than anything ever be-
fore attempted along this line. This law,
the consideration of which by the Senate
committee on finance has been delayed
for many months, will require that every
person who imports. manufactures, sells
or gives away opium. morphine. coca
leaves, cocaine or any of their deriva-
tives or preparations shall register his
name with the collector of internal reve-
nue. Of the district
Further. he shall not sell this opium
cocaine. heroin or morphine except in
pursuance of a written order on form
to be issued in blank for that purpose
by the commissioner Of internal revenue
Of the United States Treasury Depart
ment. This order shall be kept on file
for period of two years by the dealer so
that it may be accessible for inspection
by federal and state officials. The pur-
chaser of these drugs must keep duplt-
cate of the form for similar Inspection.
In other words. If a citizen Is addicted
to the use Of opium or cocaine, and pur-
chases either Of these drugs. he must be
on public record as drug fend and the
dealer on record as person VINO IS Will
ing to sell to the unfortunates. The law
will make certain exceptions in the use of
these drugs for purely medicinal purposes
when procured on written prescription
from physician. According to some
members Of both the House and Senate
some of the exceptions allowed In the Dill
as it has been changed have the appear
ance of being "jokers." and during dis
cussion on the floor these suspicious pro-
visions will have to be explained and de-
Tended. Violators Of this law VIII onLn pe
nunished with a fine not exceeolng SE'ooo
and not more than five years IN the pehi-
tentiary. o,,+
this evil has already passed the House
of Representatives and has Deen con
sidered and amended in some sngnt par
ticuiars by the Senate committee Mem
hars generally who have studied this
nroh,em agree as to the necessity 1or
snch a statute, and the bill would nave
toonoa a law several days ago nao not
t;me for adjournment come aiter liie y
aTnendments had been accepted. II ~, -
axnected that when the bill comes up
apain on its regular place on the eaten .l,
dar II will be speedily passed me sote
r,,it+aa on finance Of the Senate in cnaree
of the bill, made a report on tne suoJeo'
u o,h;eh contains startling allegations.
nWa ore an opium-consuming nation
,,aav" declares the committee Itals,
Snain Germany, Austria Hungary anu
aniiand. with a combined population OF
1aa n0o ooO people, import and consume
,oss than 5nOOO pounds Of opium annu-
re, while the United States. with a
anS,,,ot;on of only 1OO.O0O.OOO, imports
puS consumes over 100000 pounds or
oni,,u a year In the last five decades
Nth total increase Of 131 per cent IN
our population. our Importation ana con-
s,,mntion of opium has Increased sol per
cent This enormous increase IN the use
of opium in the Cmteo - ,,,s
Startling and is directly due to the facli,
;t~ with which opium may be imported
and placed within the reach OF the IN
dividuaI. There has been in this coun-
trv an almost shameful traffic in these
druss Criminal classes have been ere
ated. and the use of the drugs. with
much accompanying moral and economic
ieeradation, is widespread among the
INNER classes of society. Wide canvass
Of the medical profession has determined
that between $1,000 and 10000 pounds OF
opium are sufficient to satisfy the me-
dicinal needs of the American peopl' and
that 5000 ounces Of cocaine only are
necessary. We import manufacture and
four and five tons. of the latter.
.su,,.. 5,eParant states of the Union have,