The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-18
DRUG FIGHT. OPENS;
DOPELINEGR
Many Addicts Want Cards, AL
though Only. Small Per-
centage Register.
WOMEN SEEK NARCOTICS
City Prepares to Run Down
Illicit Dealers by Aid Of
-, New Law.

New York city's hardest battle agains,
the drug trafno Startsd yesterday. Be-
ginning yesterday the law rorbiddins
any doctor to prescribe and any dealer
to dispose Of any narcotic drug to any
person not possessed Of the new dosage
card issued by the State Drug Central
Bureau went into effect.
As the new law began working cniy a
small percentage of the estimated num-
Der Of the city's drug addicts had regis
tered and received the dosage cards.
However,. tho pitiful dope line outside
the Health Department dispensary In
Worth street was about flve times as
populous as e ever has been before
Addicts who until yesterday had ex-
perienced no great trouble in getting
their favorite dope from doctors and
druggists found these erstwhile accom-
modating DISPENSERS filled with a whole
some regard for the new, law and there
fore more or less sdamant to pleas. ExI
cept those who knew Illicit pedlers OF
cocaine. heroin or morphine, the unfor-
tunates found themselves intolerably de-
pressed or otherwise overwhelmed by
their unnatural appetite and there was
nowhere to 60 but to the Worth street
dope line.
There were all sorts and conditions Of
men and women seeking relief from the
Worth street dispensary. Some were
well dressed and apparently afduent.
Others were the down and out drug fiend
types that can be seen any time In the
night court But to-day and for days to
come. the officials declare, the line will
grow In numbers and variety. -
The Health Department officials de-
clare that there are several reasons why
all the city's drug addicts have not reg
istered. Chief among these are the dis
taste many Of the SOY riders have for
publicity; the general disbelief OF the
majority OF addicts that tho drug law
would actively go into effect or that II
could be enforced. and the insistence OF
many of tho victims that they arc not
addicts.
Re9fsfratfon Small as Yet.
Ole Salte, director Of the Bureau Of
Foods and Drugs. declared yesterday
that approximately 1000 addicts had
registered. The figures of the Health De-
partment indicate that there are about
10o. 900 In Greater New York. The re-
gistration bureau at 1873 Prince street
will continue open until later notice
Addicts are assured that the possession
Of a dosage card absolutely will be ne
cessary to tho future procurement OF
drugs, and even though they are late in
registering they. still may avail them
selves Of the only opportunity they will
have OF obtaining their dope About
them women
The State and city health depart
ments have combined to enforce the law.
II It Is noticed that addicts are still
getting narcotics without cards a system
Of espionage will 60 into effect whereby
the drug depots will be hunted down
furthermore. pedlers will be sought
for. Already the local officials have re-
ceived q great deal of information re-
sarding the numerous methods employed
BY pedlers to cainounage their traffic
Pushcart pedlers arc being watched
Small candy shops and bakeries are
under surveillance Even pencil vendors
and crippled beggars are under sus-
picion- Although It Is not admitted by
the Department OF Health, II Is declared
that the retail dope trade is coming to
life again under entirely new schemes
of dispensing.
Health Commissioner Copeland de-
clares most OF the doctors In the city
were honest in their respect for the new
law and their desire to assist In the
abolition OF the Illicit drug trafi1c. He
let Il be- known that he will not discuss
the matter with those who oppose the
Law, but vigorously prosecute any vio-
lating of Il.
"All druggists and doctors know the
law" tho Commissioner said. There ie
no law against the legitimate prescrip-
ton There Is nothing to discuss tina,
has not been talked over at grea,
length"
Commissioners Copeland declared tina,
there had been imported into this coun.
try last year $4,000 pounds of crude
opium. from which morphine and heroin
Is derived. This, he added, allowed q
dosage of SIX grains por capita-ar
amount ten times greater than that ir
any other country. He said that such
morphine and heroin was worth not more
than 3 or cents a grain. Then II was
recalled that the addicts gladly pay az
much as 81 grain II compelled to by
the traffickers.
Doctor Placed ON Trial.
Or. NJ. A. di Prieta Of 444 East 11Stf
street was placed on trial yesterday ir
the Federal District Court before Judgs
William Robert Smith and a jurJ
charged with violating the Harrison
anti-narcotic law. He Is alleged to have
aided drug addicts in obtaining supple.
of cocaine and morphine.
James Lupo. Brooklyn barber. was q
witness for the Government. He IL q
drug addict. Asked what work he wal
engaged In In February. 1918, he said
IT was . Government informer."
Lupo testified that DR.. di Prieta in.
vited him to bring other addicts to OBJ
tain prescriptions, He said he tool
Gottlieb Haneke. an agent Of the In
ternal Revenue Bureau. to the physi'
clans office. where both obtained pre-
scFlptions calling for drugs. Hanek,
corroborsted Lupo's testimony.
The prosecution OF DR.. di Prieta. fol
lowing the conviction of DR.. Leopolt
Harris last week. 10 part OF the Govern
ments campaign against the Illicit trafit
in habit forming drugs At the Bureau
Of Internal Revenue In the Custom
House yesterday II was said that q mum
ber Of indictments returned during thu
past two or three years and permitted
TO slumber because OF lack Of success h
obtaining convictions would be presset
to early trials.
John D. Rockefeller has given th,
War Demonstration Hospital. at Avenue
A and Slxty-fourth street. TO Now Yori
city. The buildings, valued at $500. 900
viii be moved TO the Warwick Farm ir
n..A-. .A.tuf a Mill ~ ,xasA .