The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-20
SEE GREATER NEED
OF DRUG CONTROL
Bone Dry Law Will Increase
Use of Narcotics, Say
Investigators.
SPECIAL Despatch 10 The suS.

Albany. Jan. 19.-With the pending
advent of nationwide prohibition I'M
usual interest has attached to Gov. AL
fred f. Smiths efforts to abolish the
narcotic drug control commission. es-
| tablished last year to suppress illegiti-
mate traffic in habit forming drugs.
Attention Is called to the fact that the
years investigation of conditions and
without a dissenting vote. Prophets OF
! an increased traffic in habit forming
drugs following the application of the
| bone dry provisions of the Federal
amendment or the emergency prohibition
| amendment effective July are to be
found among both advocates and oppo-
nents of the Federal amendment. Con-
| sequently these persons are inQuiring
whether the Governor has acted with
| too great precipitation in announcing the
abolition OF the best equipped agency in
| the state to check the drug evil.
Gov. Smith has announced himself as
in sympathy with the purposes of the
law by which the commission was Gre
ated, but advocates the transfer OF its
! functions TO the state Health Depart
| ment on the grounds Of economy.
| In this connection II Is pointed out
| that there is little or nothing In the way
| of economy TO be gained by the transfer.
| The appropriations for the maintenance
of the commission for six months is
$4,000. or at the rate of $4,000 a year.
| The receipts from license fees and the
sale of prescription blanks will amount
to approximately $40. 900 a year. leaving
| a net cost of about Sl4 900 year
Critics of the Governors plan also
point out that TO locate the control OF
the drug traffic in the Health Depart
| ment would be to return 1t where It was
before the establishment Of the COM
mission. .
There are approximately 10000 in the
State who. handle narcotic drugs. and In
the course of the investigation prior TO
the establishments of the commission
some physicians reported as high as 800
patients between the ages of Is and IS.
1t was the magnitude of the traffic that
led to the establishment of the commits
sion, with powers broad enough to give
1t control OF the naEcotic drug traffic.
Persons In touch with the situation In
all its phases say that the results OF the
census OF drug addCts upon which the
commission is at present engaged will
show that proper control cannot be eNer-
cised IL that duty is to be entrusted TO a
department already overloaded with
work
Officials OF the New York State branch
of the Anti-Saloon League, headed by
William H. Anderson. will appear to-
morrow before the joint session of the
Senate Judiciary Committee and the
| House Committee on Taxation and Re-
trenchment at Albany in an effort to
urge the immediate ratifcation of the
Federal prohibition amendment
NThe Rev. Andrew b. Wood, assistant
New York State superintendent of the
Anti Saloon League, yesterday gave out
a copy OF letter from the late Col
Theodore Roosevelt to the Rev. Or. +. G
lglehart of the Christian Herald, which
he declared coHtradicted the implied
statement by the liquor interest that Col
Roosevelts sympathies were with the
brewers and distillers in the prohibition
fight.
Col Roosevelt's letter. dated December
10, 1917. the day after Congress tool
final action In submitting the nationa
prohibition amendment. reads:
| MY DEAR MIR. INGLEHART-I wish tC
thank you for your book and appreciate
your sending II TO me. and | wish TO con
graduate you on what has happened II
Congress and the success that is crown
ing your long fight against alcoholism
The American saloon has been one o.
the most miscellaneous elements in Amer
can social. political and Industrial life
No man has warred more Valiant!
against II than you have. and l am giaC
that II has been my privilege to stanC
with you in the contest. Faithful.
yours. THEODORE ROOSEVELT"