The Washington times., 1924-03-15
FIND MANY
SH|PS|N
TRADE
IS Tons Brought In, Mostly by
Foreigners, YearIy-3oo,-
600 Victims Buyers.
By GLADSTONE WILLIAMS.
Cosmopolitan News Service.

By GLADSTONE WILLIAMS.
Cosmopolitan News Service.
:. Seizure of the British royal mail
liner Orduna is only the first
move in a new and intensive cam
palgn the Government will con-
Duct to put stop to smuggling
OF dope and rum into this coun-
try, high Government officials de-
clared here today.
National Prohibition Commits
sioner Roy A. Hanes said it was
ridiculous that foreign vessels
should be permitted to carry on
smuggling operations in dope and
rum within our very ports, while
Judge Mckenzie Moss, Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury in
charge of the collection Of rev.
enues, declared that his office is
prepared to effect further seiz-
ures. The Orduna case was ham
died by the office of Judge Moss,
who spent three weeks in laying
the groundwork for the vessels
seizure.
Purchases Aboard Charges.
Col. l.. G. Mutt, chief of the mar
cotic division and secretary Of the
Federal narcotics control board, con-
sisting Of Secretaries Hughes, Mel
lon, and Hoover. estimated today
that over forty-five tons of narcotics
are being shrugged in the United
states annually.
Both dope and rum are alleged to
nave been purchased on board the
Orduna by Federal agents while
the vessel was in an American port
Practically every foreign vessel
making an American port engages
in dope smuggling operations, Col
onel Mutt said, adding that many
American ships are also violators Of
the law
He characterized smuggling Of
dope as the chief problem before the
narcotic division. Officials have per-
fected system whereby the local
situation. pertaining to the manu-
racture and distribution Of narcotics
In the United States, has been placed
well In hand, he said.''
100000 Using ''DOpe."
IF we can only control the snug
Cling situation, we will have over
come the dope problem" asserted
Colonel Mutt. "Our records show
that we have made great progress
in reducing the amount of legiti-
mately consumed narcotics-that
which physicians are authorized to
i1o.A fAN Il
were 1t not for smuggling we would
be able to work with more success
in curing addicts.''
Colone Mutt estimated that there
are 100000 persons in the United
States who are supplied with mar.
cotics by smugglers.
'"These people," he said, "use on
an average of six grains a day
each. This amounts to approxim-
ately 100000 grains daily con-
sumption, which is equal to 1901
245 ounces annually-over 93,827
pounds, or more than forty-five
tons. And all of this is smuggled
in, some from Canada, some from
Mexico, but most Of it in vessels
along the Atlantic and Pacific sea-
board.
1.-THE figures are stupendous, and
are enough to awaken the public
to the Importance of the situation
think Of that much poison being
consumed by our people,"
Smugglers' Profits Great.
The narcotic chief said it was
from this smuggled source that
new addicts obtain their supply
boys and girls who are tempted to
use dope to sustain them through
dissipation, and who after their
first experience are unable to stop,
finally becoming all but incurable
addicts.
"Smugglers buy dope abroad for
about $3.50 an ounce; they sell it
here for $35 to $125 and even more
an ounce" Colonel Mutt said, ex-
planning the inducement for violat-
ing the law. "In some cases they
peddle it for one dollar a grain,
thus netting them as high as $500
an ounce.
"The Government will insist that
all seizures be upheld, and we are
going to wage an intensive cam
paign to put a stop to these un'
lawful and immoral operations"
OHIO CONGRESS MEMBERS
GUESTS OF SECRETARIES
congressman and Senators in the
Ohio delegation in Congress and
their wives were guests of honor
last night at a dinner given by the
Ohio secretaries at the Grace Dodge
hotel. Mrs. Harriet Taylor Upton
vice chairman of the Republican
national committee. and Senator
Frank B. Willis made addresses.
Among the guests were Mrs
Simeon d. Tess and her niece. Mis-:
Katharyn Bazore, Miss Naom
Wager, Miss Isabel Stacel, Mis-.
Agnes Reeves, Miss Vida Miller
Mr.. and Mrs. e. A. Drake, Mr.. am
Mrs. Ed Waterfield, Mr.. and Mrs
r. D. Colemary, Mr.. and Mrs. Et
Martin, Robert Klepinger, James A
Glenn Leon Cole and Alfred Rack