The New York herald., 1922-05-05
Three Cabinet Members Are
to Determine Admins
tratiOn of Law.
BAN UPON IMPORTATIoNs
Only Opium and Coca Leaves
for Medical Uses Are Per-
mitted to Enter.
Special Dispatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau
Washington, d. c., May 4.

IL
Washington, d. c., May 4.
The Hadley bill amending the Har-
rison narcotic act to bring an abso-
lutte restriction in the importation and
expectation Of dangerous mar cotic
drugs. was passed by the House to-
day without a record vote.
The bill Is designed to prevent the
smuggling of millions Of dollars worth
of drugs, and provides heavy penal
ties, in addition to giving control over
all supplies by Federal authority. The
measure is in line with the action
urged by THE NEW York HERALD in a
series of articles showing the vast in
crease in drug addiction and exposing
the sources Of supply. Importation,
manufacture, sale, distribution and
expectation of opium. coca leaves, CO.
caine or any salt. derivative or prep
aration Of opium, coca leaves or CO.
caine are regulated by the bill.
Representative Watson (Pa.) declared
that since prohibition became effective
there las been an increase of addicts
treated in hospitals in New York city of
more than 900 per cent, according to
figures furnished him by Commissioner
Coler.
Last year, said Mr.. Watson, Congress
appropriated $7,000,000 to enforce the
Eighteenth Amendment, which enforce
ment was a failure, while only 5000, 900
was allowed to prevent fraud and SNUG
Cling in connection with drugs, an
amount which was wholly inadequate
49, - AAA AA
drug addicts In the United States and
approximately 100000 subject to ad-
diction. -
Control Board Created.
The measure creates group composed
of the secretaries Of the Treasury, State
and Commerce, to be known as the
Federal narcotic control board, which
will determine the administration of the
law
The bill provides that 1t is unlawful
to import any narcotic drug, except such
amounts of crude opium and coca
leaves as the control board finds neces-
sary for medical and other legitimate
uses. fine of $1,000 or Imprisonment
for ten years Is imposed upon violators.
and In case Of an alien breaking the
law deportation after prison sentence Is
made mandatory. Masters Of vessels
and persons in charge of railroads or
vehicles are exempt from the penalty
when 1t is demonstrated that violations
or the law occurring upon such property
were not known by them.
The measure also provides that no ex-
portation of narcotic drugs shall be
made from the United States to any
country not party to the final protocol
between this Government and other
Hnr l.
OF drugs. Opium for smoking Is abso-
lutely prohibited. Expectation of drugs
to non-treaty countries would be per-
mitted under authorization of the board
on the theory the narcotics are for Iegit-
innate purposes.
In its report on the bill the commit
tee on ways and means referred to the
defects in the existing law governing
the Importation and expectation of mar
cotic drugs and suggested remedies. II
stated the United Stats has. in COM
pliance with the provisions Of the inter-
national opium convention, prohibited
the expectation OF smoking opium, but
as to other narcotics II was required
merely that the expectation be in ac-
cordance with the laws of the country
importing the narcotic drug
Expectation Allowed. :.
For more than six years after the
United States adopted this view no regu-
lations were issued for carrying the
limitation into effect. The result has
been the expectation Of narcotic drugs
was permitted to countries that had not
ratified the opium convention. and to
countries which had ratified the opium
convention but failed to regulate mar
cotic drugs.
I'm consequence IL was found that
large amounts Of our exports Of narcotic
drugs, as, for instance, exports to
Japan. had been reexported by the con-
signee. or had been smuggled back into
the United States" said Mr.. Watson.