New-York tribune., 1919-07-29
Ample Facilities of Navy
Station Turned Over bv
Daniels to Provide Haven
for Army of Addicts
Drop Rockefeller Offer
Patients From Hospitals To
Be Removed at Once:
1000 Now Registered


Secretary Daniels has given the city
permission to use the training camp
as a place for treatment of addicts.
This will mean bringing them all to-
gether under one roof and transferring
the addicts now in city hospitals to
Pelham Bay. There are hundred on
North Brothers Island, and small
groups in various hospitals through
out the city.
Health Commissioner Copeland Wis.,
tied the training camp yesterday af-
tternoon and went over the grounds
thoroughly. All the buildings have
been vacated and can be taken over inl-
mediately by the city. 1t is likely that
within the next few months hundreds
Of New York's drug addicts will be
sent out there for treatment. There
IS extensive accommo dation and the
camp is considered more suitable for
the addicts than the Warwick Farm
nection. AS many as 10000 sailors
have been in training at the camp at
one time, so large percentage of the
clty's addicts could be handled at Pei
ham Bay.
Rockefeller Gift Dropped
1t is understood that the question of
accepting the Rockefeller foundation
has been dropped. Peace has been re-
stored between the Mayor and the
Health Commissioner Upon receiving
Corporation Counsel Burr's ruling that
he had the right to go ahead on the
drug question DR.. Copeland wrote to
the Mayor suggesting that since he did
not wish to accept the Rockefeller gift
It might be possible to get the camp at
Pelham Bay. The Mayor imme medately
took the matter UP by telephone with
Mr.. Daniels and was informed that
with the exception of the parts now oc-
! cupled by navy men the city was at
liberty to use the buildings for the
care of drug addicts
Satisfaction that there is an imme-
diate prospect of having hospital ac-
commodation for the addicts was ex-
pressed yesterday by DR.. Copeland, who
has insisted all along that it did not
matter whether the city accepted the
Rockefeller foundation or not so long
as the beds were provided. He pointed
out that at present only 400 beds are
available in the city for addicts, while
well more than 4O00 men and women,
with the prospect of hundreds more,
have registered and are having their
supply of narcotics tapered off. When
they reach the irreducible minimum
it is absolutely essential to give the m
hospital treatment, and the shortage of
beds is the biggest problem facing
those who are handling the drug situa-
tion, according to Dr. Copeland and
Walter r. Herrick head Of the State
Narcotic Commission.
Bootleggers Are Baked
The Importance of getting the addict
away from the clutches of the boot
logger was emphasized by DR.. Cope
land, who pointed out that at Pelham
the victim of drug addiction would be
segregated and removed from the i'm
portunities of the peddler. If the camp
is taken over addicts will be sent out
there Immediately, and the 100 now
on North Brother Island will be re-
moved also The training camp is un-
der the jurisdiction of Rear Admiral
James H. Glennon, commandant of the
Third Naval District, and the Health
Commission will confer with him i'm
mediately as to the extent of accom-
modation available.
The Mayor and the various civic
departments have promised complete
cooperation, and Police Commiss oner
Enright yesterday called personally on
Dr. Copeland to assure him of ade-
quate police facilities both at Pelham
.
Pelham Bay Park covers 1856 acres,
while the buildings, 537 in number,
cover 1876 acres. They are substantially
constructed. There are sixteen huge
mess halls, with kitchens equipped with
every type of sanitary cooking device.
There are a huge hospital and mfr
maries. Last May the suggestion was
put forward that the sufferers from
rent protiteering might find haven at
Pelham Bay, and Mayor Hylan went SO
far Is to say he believed the Board of
Estimate and the Board of Aldermen
had the power to take the necessary
steps to convert the station into a CO.
operative housekeeping area.
Law Fails Upstate
The registration dwindles locally as
the exemption list lengthens. Reports
received from various upstate counties
indicate the Whitney anti-narcotic law
is almost wholly imperative outside of
New York City because of the failure
of the Legislature to appropriate suf-
fcient funds for administration
Throughout the state physicians are
requested TO register their drug ad-
dict patients with the health authori-
ties, but, so far reports indicate that
no effort is being made to insure ade-
quate regi outside of New York
City.
Views Of city physicians still .iiffer
on registration. Most Of them are
reticent and are simply sitting back
and awaiting developments. A few are
protesting strongly against the whole
system and are objecting to the Board
of Health handling the matter at all
DR.. Charles H. Peck, speaking for
} the New York County Medical Society
of which he is president, said last
night. "Our society is on record as
wishing to support the State Narcotic
Commission in any measures 1t con-
siders necessary to cope with the drug
evil. believe the general feeling in
the society is that the best possible
has been done under the circum stances
and that registration is a step in the
right dire rection"