132  A  Synopsis  of  H.  R.  No.  6282.      {Amid™h  in™' 
In  19 1 2,  Francis  Burton  Harrison,  Representative  from  New 
York,  introduced  in  the  Sixty-second  Congress  the  first  draft  of  his 
anti-narcotic  bill  and,  since  that  time,  his  name  has  been  associated 
with  the  proposed  legislation.  The  measure  has  since  been  largely  re- 
written and  remodelled  mainly  through  the  efforts  of  the  National 
Drug  Trade  Conference.  It  was  reintroduced  in  the  Sixty-third 
Congress,  and  the  agitation  for  a  National  Anti-Narcotic  law  cul- 
minated in  the  final  passage  of  the  act  by  Congress  on  December  10 
and  the  approval  by  President  Wilson  on  December  17.  The  act 
as  .passed  is  based  upon  the  constitutional  right  of  Congress  to 
impose  taxes. 
Section  i. — Requires  that  on  and  after  March  1,  19 15,  every 
person,2  who  produces,  imports,  manufactures,  compounds,  deals  in, 
dispenses,  sells,  distributes  or  gives  away  opium  or  coca  leaves  or  any 
compound,  manufacture,  salt,  derivative  or  preparation  thereof,  must 
register  3  with  the  collector  of  internal  revenue  and  pay  a  special 
tax  of  $1  per  annum. 
Exemptions — 
(a)  Employees  of  persons  registered  under  the  act,  when  acting 
within  the  scope  of  such  employment. 
(b)  Officers  of  U.  S.  Government  service  in  purchasing  said 
drugs  for  the  government  service. 
(c)  Officers  of  the  State, county, or  municipality  making  purchases 
of  said  drugs  for  State,  county,  or  municipal  hospitals  or  prisons.4 
Sec.  2. — Makes  it  unlawful  to  sell,  barter,  exchange,  or  give  away 
any  of  the  said  drugs,  except  on  the  written  order  of  a  person  regis- 
tered under  the  act  and  on  an  official  order  form.5  The  person  filling 
such  an  order  must  file  it  according  to  its  registry  number  and  district 
2  "  Person  "  means  a  partnership,  association,  company,  or  corporation  as 
well  as  an  individual. 
3  Registration  must  be  made  on  the  official  form  supplied  by  the  collector. 
If  the  "  applicant "  is  engaged  in  more  than  one  profession  or  business  where 
any  of  said  drugs  are  made,  stored,  or  dispensed,  a  separate  registry  must  be 
made,  and  a  special  tax  paid  for  each  such  profession  or  business. 
4  Sanitariums,  hospitals,  dispensaries,  etc.,  that  are  not  owned  by  the 
U.  S.  Government,  or  by  State,  county,  or  municipality,  must  register  and  pay 
the  special  tax  or  they  cannot  legally  have  in  possession,  purchase,  or  dispense 
said  drugs. 
5  Requisition  must  be  made  to  the  Internal  Revenue  Collector  for  these 
forms,  which  are  issued  only  to  persons  registered,  in  books  of  10;  10  cents 
is  the  charge  for  each  book. 
