Evening star., 1951-06-19
Bill Asks Death
For Drug Sales
ToYoung People
Senator Dirksen
Likens PeddIing to
Kidnapping Offense

A bill to make the death pen
atty possible for peddling drugs
to any one under the age of 81
was introduced today by Senator
dirkSen. Republican, Of Illinois.
The bill follows disclosures by
the Senate Crime Investigating
Committee and by New York City
investigators regarding drug ad-
diction among teenagers.
Senator Dirksen said that, as
the death penalty is appropriate
for kidnapping, it is even more ap-
propriate for those who profit
from making drugs available to
young people. His bill would per-
init the death penalty to be modi-
fled to life imprisonment on the
recommendation of the jury.
District Ranks Third.
On the local scene, United
States Public Health Service fig
ures show Washington ranks third
in the number of minors under
treatment for drug addiction in
the Federal Hospital at Lexing-
ton, KY.
Fourteen of the approximately
$50 under-age patients were COM
mitted from here.
A survey on June Z showed
drop of three in the number of
Washington minors being treated.
On May II, there were II, with
nine 20-year-olds. two 19-year-
olds and six 18-year-olds.
There was no breakdown avail
able on the age brackets in the
June z report.
New York Heads List.
New York still heads the list
with about half Of the minors
being committed from there. Chi
cago is second with a quarter Of
the young addicts coming from
that city.
A Health Service spokesman
denied that the Lexington hospital
is filled to capacity, or that there
is difficulty in getting new patients
admitted there. He said there
are about 200 beds available.
About 200 of the $500 beds at
the Lexington hospital are oc-
cupied by neuro-psychiatric pa
tients, and the remainder by
patients under treatment for drug
addiction.
Kefauver Seeks Curbs.
In a move to restrict illegal
drug traffic, Senator Kefauver,
Democrat, of Tennessee, yesterday
introduced in the Senate a bill to
provide sitter penalties for dope
peddlers.
The measure is companion bill
to the one approved by the House
Ways and Means Committee. It
provides new minimum and maxi
mum penalties for those who traf-
fic in illegal drugs.
The former chairman of the
Senate Crime Investigating Com
mittee urged early hearings by the
Senate Finance Committee. Both
the House and the Senate bills
call for prison terms Of two to
five years for first offenders, 5 to 10
for second offenders, and 10 to
20 years for subsequent offenses.
There would be no probation
permissible under either measure
for second and subsequent con-
victions.
Authorities Differ.
The plan for sitter sentences
has the backing of police officials
and Harry ]. Anslinger, Federal
Narcotics Commissioner, who feel
it would aid In curbing Illegal
drug sales and cut down the num-
Der of addicts.
Opposition has been expressed
by Col. Campbell c. Johnson.
chairman of the District Parole
Board, who said he feels impos-
ing definite terms takes too much
discretion from judges.
Speaking at an American
Legion-sponsored Narcotics Crisis
Conference" in New York City.
Commissioner Anslinger said yes
terday the United States will pro-
pose a world conference to bring
opiate production down to medical
needs.
The proposal, he said, will be
made next month at q meeting
Of the United Nations Economic
and Social Council in Geneva,
switzerland.
Red China Held Source.
Mr.. Anslinger said the United
States considers Communist China
as the "untouchable" chief source
Of illicit narcotics in world trade.
He said the governments of Peru,
Mexico, Italy and Turkey had
made notable efforts to check IL
legal dope production.
"But we have a situation where
Communist China is producing
and shipping large quantities of
heroin into this country" he con-
tinued. I'VE have presented this
fact to the United Nations,
The Russian delegation tried to
get this stricken from the record,
but it's there. That is the un-
touchable source"