Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-16
ANTELOPE BILL
HAS CLEAR TRACK
Ware Whitaker Measure Re-
ported to House With Fa-
vorable Recommendation
TO BE RUSHED THROUGH
Proposed Drastic Statute Has
General Support in Leg
islature
Bv a star Correspondent
HARRISBURG. May rs.

tRfSRlSBO May 10.
The Public Health and Sanitation Com
mittee of the House today reported, with
favorable recommendation. the Ware
Whitaker antelope bill and the measure
will now be rushed through the Legislature,
with the support of "A large majority of
members
Only three members OF the Public Health
and Sanitation Committee voted against re-
porting the measure out. They were Rep
resentative Campbell. of Philadelphia. a
druggist: Crich. of Lebanon, "A physician,
and Smith. of Northampton, Il druggist.
The meeting was called especially to re-
port out the bill The subcommittee. which
was appointed yesterday to whip the meas
ure into its final shape, reported the bill TO
the general committee with "A favorable rec
ummendation, and the general committee,
after listening only to the protests of the
three who voted against it, sent the bill
TO the House for action. II will be on first
reading calendar tomorrow and should pass
finally next week. II already has passed
the Senate and only has TO he sent baCl,
to that body for concurrence in the amend
ments.
The Vare-Whitaker bill strngenty reg
ulates the narcotic drug traffic. 1t includes
opium or coca leaves or any compound or
derivatve OF any substance or preparation
containing opium or coca except medicines
that market them.
The amount OF dope" in these medicines.
which the bill prohibits to be sold without
the prescription of physician, dentist or
veterinarian is limited to two grains of
opium or one-fourth of grain of morphine
or one-eighth of a grain of heroin or one
grain OF codeine. or any salt or dervative
of them, in any one fluid ounce or one
avoirdupos ounce.
The bill exempts the persons dealing m
narcotics from the provisiCns of the pro-
posed act so far as possession or selling
is concerned.
II prohibits any one using. taking or adj
ministering dope" except under the advice
and supervision of a physician or dentist
1t further requires that any one purchasing
dope" can do SO only upon the prescription
or written order from physician, dentist OF
veterinarian. The purchaser must sign the
order. and the druggist or pharmacist sell.
ing the drug must preserve the order foi
two years If the order Is from a Veteri.
marian, the purchaser must give his address
and write over his signature what anima
it is for.
The measure provides that physicians anC
dentists cannot prescribe for any person
known to be a habitual user. except when ;
physician undertakes to cure an addict
Then he must send his diagnosis of tn,
case to the state Department of Health
and make regular reports to the depart
ment of the progress Of his patient.
Any one obtaining prescription fol
dope must undergo a physical examina
ton. The physicians making these eXami
nations are prohibited from divulging any
information except to the health authorities
under penalty of fine of $1,000 or i'm
prisonment for one year or both.
The measure exempts the treatment o
habtua users in public hospitals, santa
RUINS, poorhouses, prisons or public insti
tutions. The burden of proof for exemption
"a placed upon the user
A bureau to enforce the act is created il
the Department of Health.