The Washington times., 1922-05-05

States convicted of bringing in OF
disposing OF the drugs in violation
OF the proposed law would be de-
ported after completion of his court
sentence. Possession Of imported
drugs Is made prima facis evidence
OF guilt.
A penalty equal to the value Of
the drug is imposed upon the master
Of a ship on which q narcotic drug
not shown on the vessels manifest
is brought into an American port.
and such penalty Is made a lien on
the vessel.
Urging enactment Of the proposed
legislation to remedy q rapidly grow
ing evil in the United States. Con-
gresham Watson (Rep) Of Pennsyl-
vania asserted that the use Of drugs
in this country has been especially
noticeable since prohibition went into
effect.
In New York, Congressman Wat
son declared. Commissioner Coler has
shown that in 1918 there were llS
addicts tfeated in hospitals. while In
1921 there were $50, 'an increase Of
nearly 900 per cent since prohibi-
ton" Mr.. Watson continued:
Last year S7.000.000 was appro-
priated to enforce the Eighteenth
Amendment. There was only 5000.
900 appropriated to prevent frauds
and smuggling in connection with
the opium habit. which. OF course. In
not sufficient to control smuggling
OF opium and its derivatives into this
country
The Pennsylvania Congressman.
who was a member OF the ways
and means subcommittes which
framed the bill. said IL is credit
: ably reported that one Glendeyne.
as late as 1858. was the first white
man to smoke opium in the United
States" He added:
Since then IL has spr cad to every
part Of the country. Statistics. as
far as the. can be obtained. show
there are 1000 900 sddicts In the
country and perhaps 1000 600 in all
who are subject TO addiction
Congressman Miller CRepl Of
Washington, author OF the bill. de
clared that in late years the us-
OF morphine and cocaine has spread
until IL IL equally alarming TO the
civilized world as opium vas In its
day
An interchsnge OF Questions ana
Congressman Dyer RepD " Nisa
ouri. revealed that the ,rhr Il
source Of the opium surol,
China IL In the United ees-e. -
drug first 10 imported into the
United States and then shipped 10
Japan. whence II 10 continuously
poured into China IN NaErant vio-
lation OF Chinese customs laws
Mr.. Dyer declared there are two
or three concerns IN this country that
do or have been doing this very
thing. Cne of them 10 located IN
Philadelphia" Mr.. Miller replied that
he thought that coalition 1'll be
effectively blocked BY tho enactment
OF this legislation
CONGRESSMAN Hndley RepJ Of
Washington. chairman Of the Wsys
and Means subcommittee which
framed the leeislation and in charge
OF IT on tho floor. said an charming
! state OF facts with regard to diver.
sion TO China OF drugs exported from
the United States had been developed,
Explains Purpose Of Bill.
The outstanding purpose Of the
| bill. however, he declared. is tho pre-
| vention Of illeg1timate uses of mar
cotics in the United States and the
consequent demoralizins effect on tho
citizenship. The difficulty heretofore
encountered by the customs authori.
| ties in preventing smuggling Of
opium. he said, will be largely over
come by restricting importatiors to
crude opium.
Congressman Lazaro Dem) Of
Louisiana, a physician by profession.
suggested during the brief discussion
that a supplementary bill should be
passed providing for Federal CO.
operation with tho States in effect
ing CiIrea of addicta