Evening star., 1933-03-30
PRESCRIPTION BILL
PASSED BY HOUSE
Measure Removing Limit on
Physicians Now Goes
to White House.

The Celler- Copeland medicinal liquor
bill removing restrictions on prescrip-
tions by physicians was passed today
by the House. It now goes to the White
House having passed the Senate yes
terday.
The standing House vote on pas
sage was 1853 to 50.
The Senate rushed 1t through in II
minutes yesterday before many members
knew what had happened.
The bill amends the Volstead law anc
provides simply that mo more liquol
shall be prescribed to any person thar
Is necessary to supply his medicina
needs"
At present physicians may issue only
100 prescriptions a month and not more
than pint to a patient every 10 days.
Passed without Debate.
The bill. sponsored by a physician
Senator Copeland, Democrat of New
York, was called up in the Senate yes.
terday by Senator King, Democrat oi
Utah, and passed without word Of de.
bate.
When the clerk finished reading Il
for action on committee amendments
Vice President Garner quickly dronec
out the formula, without objection the
bill is passed" and even the ever
watchful Senator Sheppard. Democrat
Of Texas, was caught mapping.
Without apparently realizing the bill
had passed. Sheppard voiced his oppo-
sition to it and said he would watch
its operation carefully because he had
many misgivings about it."
Senator Robinson, Democratic leader
suggested that at least the bills sponsors
should explain its provisions to the
Senate. but King replied that was not
necessary, as the measure had passed
already.
Would Save $4,000.
Vice President Garner Joined in the
laughter at the expense Of Robinson
and Sheppard
In reporting the bill the Senate Ju-
dietary Committee estimated 1t would
save $4,000 year by the use Of
stamps instead Of prescription blanks,
would permit patients all the liquor
they needed. and would insure them
secrecy regarding their ailments.
At the present time. physicians are
required to report to the Government
the ailments requiring prescription of
A4dcA, Sus SA1S DhA ACPSo1 eilko
regulation.
The House passed q similar bill at
the last session Of Congress but it failed
to obtain action in the Senate A SIM
liar bill already has been approved this
session by the House Judiciary Com
mittee.
Emphasizing the benefits to the
medical profession through passage of
the medicinal liquor bill, DR.. William C.
Woodward, legislative counsel for the
American Medical Association, mean
while explained that diversion Of liquor
is safeguarded, the physicians are bet
ter able to prescribe for their patients,
and the Government will save more
than 100000 year.
Will Meet Necessities.
"The passage Of this bill,'' he said, lis
the result Of many years effort on the
part Of the medical profession to obtain
legislation to enable patients in need Of
medicinal liquor to have their physicians
prescribe it for them in such quantities
as are medically necessary.
THE bill does away with none OF
the safeguards against the diversion OF
medicinal liquor to beverage purposes,
for the Attorney General and the Sec
retary Of the Treasury are fully au-
thorized to make regulations limiting
the quantity to be prescribed at any