Evening star., 1960-05-06
Sees Monopoly
In Pill SuIes
For Druggists
BY GRACE BASSETT
Star Stan Writer

stores a monopoly in sale Of
TENS like aspirin and vitamin
tablets.
Drug stores would gain price
advantages and mail order
houses serving elderly and
needy citizens would be de-
prived of their sales rights,
Lawrence E. Walsh, Deputy At
torney General. wrote in a let
ter read at House District Sub
hearings.
The bill, backed by the Dis
trict Pharmaceutical Associa-
ton, would make illegal sales
BY anybody other than a phar-
macist drugs for which a warm
ing or cautionary statement is
required by Federal law. Such
warnings must be attached now
to rubbing alcohol, laxatives,
aspirin and food supplements.
Others Protest
In other hearing highlights:
Giant Food, Inc, spokesman
Robert Rolnick, registered AR
dent opposition" maintaining
drugstores would pre-empt
sales of products not requiring
the supervision of either a
druggist or a physician.
Ethel Percy Andrus, presi-
dent of the National Retired
T eachers Association and
American Association of Re-
tired Persons, testified that a
nail order pharmacy run by
.heSe groups might be barred
rom selling older folks medi-
zines they need to live.
A discount druggist, Albert
oearlman. president Of Save
Nor Drugs, protested that
he Pharmaceutical Association
vas performing a disservice to
,he profession by linking nee
essary reforms with economic
advantages members have been
unable to attain in the open
marketplace. He said the bill
would open discount druggists
to charges of nonprofessional
action simply for advertising
their prices.
Takes a Vitamin
Walter Camp, owner of the
Vita Food Co., popped a vita
min tablet into his mouth, and
declared, See? I'm eating this
right here. It's harmless. But
this bill would let this tablet
be sold only by pharmacists or
somebody directly under their
Subcommittee Chairman
Matthews. Democrat of Flori-
da, told Mr.. Camp, whose back
was to the packed hearing
room, that he'd be amused to
see how interested the audi
ence was.
Don't you keel over, now"
he warned.
Mr.. Camp said he'd be glad
10 visit any Congressman next
week "as alive as ever" Then
he almost choked over his next
statement and reached for the
water pitcher.
Il didn't take any water with
it," Mr.. Camp explained, and
continued amidst laughter and
Amendment Debated
Henry H. BrylawSki, attorney
or the association, which gave
is case at earlier hearings, in
,errupted proceedings to say
subsequent amendments would
permit grocery and other stores
% continue selling any items
low available at their counters.
But witnesses insisted that
anguage failed to clarity what
,ould and could not be offered
he public in all stores.
The Federal standard requir-
ng prescription drugs to be
sold by pharmacists only and
leaving medicines with Fed
,rally required warning labels
% be marketed by other deal
srS should continue to be the
guideline, according to con-
,ensuS.
District Commissioners noted
he need for undermining the
pharmacy law now on
he books. They recommended
10 amendments following in
general the Justice Department
position.
Sees Less Competition
Mr.. Walsh warned legisla-
lion would prevent super
markets from selling most pre-
oackaged, non prescription
1rugs. This alone would sub
;tantially lessen competition
4 nd widely inconvenience
he added.
He said the bill would over
turn a 1858 Municipal Court
case, District of Columbia versus
Stores which per-
sales of aspirin by super
markets.
Also in opposition to the
legislation. as drafted, were
Charles o. Pratt, counsel for
,he National Vitamin Distrib-
itors' Association: Milton A.
Bass, attorney for the National
Dietary Foods Association;
Myles Kaye, District pharm-
acist and president of Organiza-
ion Drug Service, Inc, a mail
order plan for members of the
B kerry and Confectionery
international Union
If America.