Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-06
DOPE CURE HOSPITALS
PROPOSED AS REMEDY
ASLAW Is WEAKENED
Assistant District Attorney
Would Have Government and
State Help Victims Escape
Bondage of Drugs
RULING NOT HARD BLOW

Construction Of two or moro institutions
I'm the rural sections OF Pennsylvania where
drug users csn be restored to health under
| Government and state supervision was adj
vocated by Assistant United States District
Attorney Edward s. Kremp, while discuss
| ing the decision Of the United States Su-
| preme Court that mere possession of drugs
| Is not violation Of the law. Since the
| Harrison anti-narcotic act became law
| Mr.. Kremp has successfully prosecuted more
than $50 cases in this city. Mr.. Kremp
| said today that he didn't expect many drug
users now In jail awiting trial for having
| drugs In their possession to seek their free
| dom under habeas corpus proceedings
Records on file at the United States Dis
trict Attorneys Office show that out of 35O
drug cases disposed of within the last two
years, only one person was convicted of
actually having drugs in her possession The
prisoner was young woman. She was
sentenced to serve one year and one day in
prison.
At present In Moyamensing prison there
are about 40 prisoners awaiting trial for
violation of the Harrison act According
TO Assistant United States District Attor-
ney Kremp, only about four prisoners are
directly charged with having drugs in their
possession. The Federal Grand Jury, ac-
cordlng to Mr.. Kremp, will be asked not to
find any bills against these persons.
Admission was made by Federal officials
in this city that the decision will help CO.
caine dealers and other trafflckers in drugs
to dispose of their goods easier than ever
before.
The decision, AS handed down by the
United States Supreme Court, declares that
Section of the Harrison anti-narcotic act,
which makes mere possession fof dope" IL
legal, Is unconstitutional.
There is no question in my mind" said
Mr.. Kremp today, that this decision will be
hailed as sort of n victory by some drug
users and peddlers In the Tenderlon. on
being arrested they will be able to come
forth with a defense that they merely had
the drug in their possession. out of $50
cases prosecuted in this city only one person
has been convicted of having the drug in
possession. The prisoner in that case was a
woman"
II suggest that two or more institutions
be constructed in the rural sections of |
Pennsylvania where these unfortunates can |
be treated. Imprisonment doesn't help to |
wipe out the drug evil. These institutions |
ought to be under the Government and |
State supervision. When arrests of drug |
users are made, they should be sent direct |
to these institutions. where they can re-
main until the date of their trial.
'At present many remarkable cures have |
been brought about by Dr. Frederick S.
Baldi who is stationed at Moyamensing |
Prison. Many drug users confined at this |
prison have picked up from 20 to 80 pounds
under his special treatment"
There will be no truce in the vigorous
prosecution of physicians and druggists
who dispose of drugs to victims, United
States District Attorney Francis Fisher
Kane, of this city declared today. Although
prosecutions under the aiding and
abetting" clause would be difficult, he
said, other means were at hand to prevent
from taking undue advantage of
the decision. He promised relaxation
in the prosecution of dope" vendors now
under indictment.
But the persons in jail for mere posses
oh. I,z = H.
ut, manifestly would be an injustice to
keep them in prison after this decision. 1
do not doubt that steps will be taken imme
diately to obtain their release"
Mr. Kane expressed disappointment at the
action of the Supreme Court. He had hoped
the decision would conform to the view
taken by jurists of this and other Federal
districts