The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-12-22
Pharmacy Inspector Sanders
Says Capital Has Fewer
Drug Victims.
TAKES ISSUE WITH MOORE
Says Harrison Law Has Helped
Suppress Traffic and Cites
Cases Cured.

The drug/evil in Washington is be-
ing eliminated. according to r. =.
Sanders, District Inspector OF Phsi-
macy.
Inspector Sanders takes sharp issue
with the statement In the House by
Congressman J. Hampton Moore ~
Pennsylvania. that there II more vice
due TO the drug habit than before the
passage OF the pharmacy law.
The inspector said today that there
were fewer drug addicts, that a much
smaller quantity OF drugs found ia
way Into the hands OF addicts, and
that habitforming drugs were SO
difficult to get, and 80 expensive, that
addicts were OF necessity cutting
down the quantity used.
cite. Many Cures.
Many OF them had been cured. I've
declared. and lie cited specific cases
OF persons undo his charge entirely
reformed.
Mr.. Sanders said, however. that
there was great need OF strengthen
ing the Hprriac- "ct. enertivclv 10
Z the drug evil here and elsewhere.
lie pointed out that the act had been
cision holding IL a revenue ana not
pole. law. and that persons couid
not be convicted under " for meir
possession Of the drug. Traffic In "
had TO be shown.
There 10 undoubtedly a vast Inn
proyement In the drug evil mere ne
said. The number OF users In dimin-
IshInE, aud there In not the free traf-
flc or psddling that at one time pre-
vailed. Habit forming drugs are Kept
away from addicts, tranickers' ana
those who might become victims. Con-
seauentiy. Improvement 10 certain to
result.
Ns,i...I Police Lew Needed.
since the operation Of the Harri-
son law" he continued, all OF our
prosecutions for iilegitimate use and
trafric In narcotic drugs have been
drawn under It's provisions. with ve'y
good results.
I'VE are In particularly close touch
with the drug situation here. and
have a fair knowledge OF drug users.
and sooner or later reach all peddlers
or illegal sellers OF narcotics. but
local or national police law. to reach
every phase OF the evil, II needed"
with respect TO this. Mr.. Sanders
said In his annual report:
1--WE were gradually cutting down
the nefarious traffic end use OF these
drugs. but were dealt a hard blow
In the decision OF the United states
Supreme Court. June 8. 1915. sustain
ing the action Of the United States
court for the western district of Penn
sylvania In gushing an indictment
under section OF this law against
lin FIuey Moy. on the ground that the
statute did not spply TO the case
Arbitrary Measures Needed.
This decision practically nullires
tho language OF section s OF the law.
which declares IL unlawful for any
PEI son not authorized TO have narcotic
drugs In his possession.
1T IL alarming TO note the terrible
evils OF the drug habit, and almost
impossible to estimate its enormous
/ proportions, IS IL II fostered In -
/ oTec,. and it, responsibility for a
lag. portion OF the crimes against
the community. TIL. illegal trstnc
and use OF narcotic drugs can not De
eradicated by the mere regulation OF
/ prevention OF open sales. The very
| esssnce OF II is secrecy and IL IL only
b. arbitrary measures that we may
! E,p. TO cope with the situation,
"The provisions OF our local phsr-
macy law are not adequate for the
suppression OF this dangerous traine
and the United states supreme Court
I held that the Harrison law was n
registration and taxing act and not
, ro' . measure,
"In view Of these facts, recommend
TINT We appeal TO Congress for local
law that win cover the shorteomins
/ OF the pharmacy and Harrison laws
making any violation OF the same an
indictable offense, with a maximum
/ penalty $1,000 hne or ave years or
both. In the discretion of the court