New-York tribune., 1921-04-27
Miller Hears
Varying Views
On Drug Bills
Fearon Smith Act Chief
Target of Experts Who
Favor the Continuation
of Ambulatory Treatment
DR.. Hibbard Defends 1t
Governor Pays Close Atten-
ton to Arguments, but
Conceals His Intentions
From a staff Correspondent


ALBANY, April 26.-Eminent medical
authorities presented widely divergent
views on narcotic drug control in
course of the hearing before Governor
Miller to-day on the four measures
passed by the Legislature, and which,
in different ways, would attempt to
curb drug addiction.
The Fearon-Smith bill, abolishing the
State Drug Control Commission and
prohibiting the so-called ambulatory
treatment Of addicts. was opposed by
leading physicians, prosecuting officials
The Lord bill, transferred the enforce
ment of the Whitney anti-drug statute
to the State Health Department, and
likewise wiping out the narcotic drug
control commission. was characterized
as unsatisfactory by Health Commits
sioner Hermann NJ. Biggs, who said
the Health Department had neither the
facilities nor the money to provide ade-
quate enforcement.
A third view was represented by DR..
James F. Rooney, of Albany, chairman
of the legislative committee of the
State Medical Association, who said
he favored absolute repeal of the state
narcotic drug control act, believing that
the Harrison Federal drug act afford
ed sufficient enforcement.
Miller Impressed by Arguments
While no indication was given by
Governor Miller as to which bill he
will sign. or if he will sign any Of
them, he made it rather plain that he
was impressed by the arguments ad-
vanced against the Fearon-Smith bill,
which would prevent drug addicts from
administering narcotics themselves
and which would compel institutional
care.
The most vigorous attack upon this
measure was made by Judge Cornelius
j. Collins, Of New York City Court of
Special Sessions. Judge Collins is
chairman of the committee on narcotic
drug control of the State Magistrates
Association. He said the enactment
of the FearonSmith bill would create
a chaotic condition. He drew pic
ture showing that the provision pro
hibiting physicians from prescribing
drugs would throw addcts into institu-
tions and that present hospital facili-
ties would not be able to meet the re-
quirements if such a condition should
be brought to pass
In specializing on the origin of the
measure Judge Collins mentioned re-
ports which are current that large
number of private institutions were
decidedly interested in. having a bill
of this kind passed.
lot
which would occur when doctors would
be forbidden to treat their patients
forbidden to prescribe" said Judge
Collins.
Peddlers Immune From Act
Another section of the proposed law
which was criticized by Judge Collins
was that which would make possession
of drugs pr.ma facie evidence that the
possessor was an habitual drug addict
He said this clause would not aid ir
bringing drug peddlers to task, for thu
reason they were not addicts and coule
easily prove it. The Lord bill repeal
ing the state drug control act also wa
opposed by Judge Collins.
DR.. S. David Hibbard representa-,
the New York City Board of Health
appeared in favor of the Smith Fearol
bill. He asserted drug addiction coul,
be controlled and that the only wa,
of controlling it was by shutting off tn,
supply. He said perfect control coul,
not be obtained so long as physician
and druggists were permitted to pre-
scribe.
"There are two sources from which
the addict gets his drugs" said DR.
Hibbard. Zone is the illicit peddle,
and the other the regular physician
am opposed to the Whitney act fol
the reason it permits the vicious prac
tice of ambulatory treatment, and
am in favor of the Fcaron-S Smith bill
because it takes care of the addic
through the administration of the drus
in a proper way by a physician OF
through sanitarium or institution"