PROCEEDINGS

OPIUM COMMITTEE

Proceedings of the Committee consisting of Major Edward C. Carter, Major and Surgeon U. S. A., Commissioner of Public Health for the Philippine Islands; the Right Reverend C. H. Brent, Bishop of the Missionary District of the Philippine Islands, and Dr. Jose Albert, of Manila, P. I., appointed by the Governor of the Philippine Islands to visit Japan, Formosa, Upper Burmah, and Java, and such other countries as the Civil Governor may designate, for the purpose of investigating the use of opium and the traffic therein, and the rules, ordinances and laws regulating such use and traffic ; pursuant to the provisions of Act No. Boo, as amended by Act No. 812, Philippine Commission (see Appendix A, page 51.)
Mr. Carl J. Arnell was designated by the Civil Governor as disbursing officer, stenographer and interpreter for the Committee.
The Committee met at 10:20 a. m., August 13, 1903.
Present: The Right Reverend Bishop Brent and Major Edward C. Carter.
The credentials of the Committee and its letter of instructions, dated August 8, 1903, were read, and are hereto appended (see Appendix B, page 53.)
The Committee decided to leave Manila on the steamer "City of Peking," due to sail on the 17th of August for Japan. Mr. Arnell had already been directed to secure berths for the Committee.
The Chairman had directed Mr. Arnell to secure the necessary letter of credit through the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation on its correspondents in the Orient. Mr. Arnell was also requested to provide such bond as the Treasurer of the Philippine Islands should require and to provide the necessary stationery supplies and to hire a typewriting machine.
The Committee then adjourned.
The Committee sailed on August 17, by the steamship "City of Peking" for Hongkong, arriving there about noon, August 19. Seven days were occupied by the Committee in Hongkong in securing the proper equipment for its journeys and in putting itself in communication with various influential corporations and individuals, mainly Chinese, with a view to securing their assistance in obtaining information pertaining to the opium traffic and the use of that drug in Hongkong and its vicinity.
The Committee learned that the Viceroy of Canton was considered to be energetic in his endeavors to suppress the use of opium in his province. Permission was therefore asked and obtained from the Governor of the Philippine Islands for the Committee to proceed to Canton in its investigations.

It was determined, however, by the Committee that it wouid begin its work at Tokyo, Japan, returning to Hongkong at a later date. The Committee therefore sailed from Hongkong on the steamship "Empress of India" about noon, August 26, arriving at Yokohama, Japan, at noon, September 3, 1903. On September 4th the Committee proceeded by rail to Tokyo.
On the morning of September 5, the Chairman of the Committee and its secretary visited the American Legation at Tokyo, but found that the Minister was absent at Chuzenji, where he and many members of the Japanese Government have their summer residences. The Right Reverend Bishop Brent and Major Carter therefore decided to go to Chuzenji to consult with the Minister at that place; but they were detained at Nikko by bad weather until the return of the Minister to Tokyo, where they waited on him on September 16.
Arrangements were made to secure the services of a Japanese barrister to translate certain laws and documents from Japanese into English.
On September 18, the services of Mr. S. Usawa, a barrister-atlaw, and of a competent translator, were engaged to make the necessary translations and to prepare such documents as might be required. The terms agreed upon were 300 yen for the services of the two gentlemen for a period of two weeks. If their services should be needed longer, payment will be made accordingly.
The members of the Committee employed their time in familiarizing themselves with the available literature pertaining to the use of opium and the traffic in that drug in the Empire of Japan.
Official calls were made on the Governor-General of Formosa, who at that time was also Minister of Home Affairs, and on other persons connected with the Japanese Government. Not only was every facility given the Committee for the prosecution of its work, but, though the moment was one when war with Russia was imminent, time was found by the Minister of Home Affairs to show the members distinguished attention—a delicate compliment to the United States which is worthy of being placed on record.

FORMOSA.
The Committee, having collected all the information available in regard to the opium question in Japan, and having made arrangements with the Reverend B. T. Sakai to prepare translations of certain documents, laws, etc., pertaining to this question, sailed from Kobe on October 8, arriving at Keelung, Formosa, on October 11, 1903. At Keelung the Committee was met by Major S. Miyoshi, Official Interpreter of the Government of Formosa, and Mr. Takasugi. These officials conducted the Committee to Taipeh (Taihoku), where the palace of the Governor-General was placed at their disposal. The Committee remained in the palace as guests of the Governor of Formosa during its stay in the island.
The Committee then proceeded to make the necessary official calls and to explain the purpose for which it had come to Formosa. The Vice-Governor of Formosa, Dr. Shimpei Goto, arranged for an interview between the proper officials and the Opium Committee. Dr. Goto furnished the Committee with the statistical reports and literature published by the government pertaining to the opium question. As this literature was printed in Japanese, the Committee at once forwarded it to the Reverend B. T. Sakai, at Tokyo, with whom an arrangement had been made for the translation of literature on the opium question.
Owing to the illness of a member of his family, Dr. Jose Albert, a member of the Committee, requested authority to proceed on October 18, via Tamsui, Amoy and Hongkong, from Taipeh (Taihoku), to Manila. Authority was granted, and a letter was sent to the Governor of the Philippine Islands explaining this matter, a copy of the reply thereto being hereto attached (see Appendix B, page 54).
On October 19, a member of the Committee proceeded to Tamsui, Formosa, to secure such information regarding the opium law and its working as he might be able to do through the courtesy of the British Consul resident there.
As the Committee believed that it had obtained all the information available in Formosa, it decided to proceed from there to Nagasaki, in order to take steamer from that port to Shanghai. Accordingly, on October 19, the Committee, consisting of the Right Reverend C. H. Brent, Bishop of the Philippine Islands ; Major Edward C. Carter, Surgeon and Major U. S. Army, and Mr. Carl J. Arnell, secretary, proceeded from Taipeh (Taihoku) to Keelung, to take steamer at that point. Owing to foul weather and other causes, the steamer did not leave Keelung until the afternoon of October 21, arriving at Nagasaki on October 24, too late to secure passage by the steamer which left that port for Shanghai on .October 26. The Committee was therefore compelled to remain at Nagasaki until the afternoon of October 30, when it embarked for Shanghai, China, reaching that city on November 1st.
SHANGHAI.
On November 2, the Committee, in company with Mr. Goodnow, Consul-General of the United States at Shanghai, made an official call on the Taotai of Shanghai. In the afternoon of the same day, the Committee, accompanied by Mr. Goodnow, waited upon the Commissioner of Customs of Shanghai, who gave the Committee authority to examine into the methods of handling opium at that port.
On the morning of November 3, the Taotai returned the call of the Committee, and expressed his willingness to aid it by every means in his power in securing the information it desired.
On the morning of November 4, the Committee proceeded to the government godown for opium and, under the guidance of Mr. Stebbins, examined into the methods practiced at Shanghai. The information obtained by the Committee is hereto attached.
On the afternoon of the same day the Committee called upon the Right Reverend Bishop Graves, who has been a resident of China for twenty years, a large part of which he has spent in the interior, where he came into contact with the poorer classes who use opium.
On November- 5, the Committee called upon Mr. G. E. Tucker, secretary of the Asiatic department of the New York Life Insurance Company, and Dr. N. Macleod, examining physician of the Shanghai agency, who gave all the information which they possessed regarding the opium habit and its effects.
On the same day the -Committee secured an 'interview with Dr. Rome, who has resided in Shanghai for forty years, during which time he has continuously engaged in the practice of his profession. fis practice has been confined largely to the Chinese, there being among his clients many men of rank and position. His association with these people has given him an unusual opportunity to observe the effects of opium upon them.
Through the kind assistance of Dr. Barchette, of.the United States Consulate, an interview was arranged with Messrs. Yu, Yeng, Chao, Li and Su, leading merchants of Shanghai holding Taotai rank, with whom the Committee met on the forenoon of November 7. These gentlemen also presented to the Committee a written statement in Chinese in which they expressed their unanimous opinion regarding various phases of the opium question, a translation of which is attached to the report of the Committee.
On the afternoon of the same day the Committee, by previous appointmnet, was called upon by the Reverend.Timothy Richards, who has resided in China for thirty-three years and is well informed on all questions pertaining to China and its people.
On the ninth, an interview was had with Mr. Martin, United States Consul at Nanking, and on the following day with Dr. Sluggett, formerly connected with the Board of Health of the Hawaiian Islands.
On November io, a member of the Committee proceeded to Soochow, where he interviewed on the opium question Mrs. Fearon, M. D., who has been a medical missionary at Soochow during the past ten years and was formerly secretary of the Anti-Opium League, and also the Reverend J. N. Hayes, who has resided in Soochow for twenty-one years.
The Right Reverend C. H. Brent, Bishop of the Philippine Islands, on November t 1, was called to Manila by urgent business matters. The Chairman and the Secretary of the Committee left Shanghai on November 19, arriving at Hongkong on the twenty-second.
HONGKONG.
At Hongkong, the Chairman and the Secretary of the Committee were joined by Dr. Jose Albert upon their arrival, and on November 28, by the Right Reverend Bishop Brent.
On November 23, the Chairman of the Committee called upon the I.'nited States Consul and requested him to make the necessary arrangement for official calls on the Governor and other officials of Hongkong.
The Chairman secured a copy of the Hongkong Blue Book, wherein lie found the statistics pertaining to opium and the traffic therein for the City of Victoria and Province of Hongkong.
On November 25, a letter was addressed to H. E. the Governor, requesting copies of the ordinances and regulations relating to opium, and asking that certain officials of the government be authorized to answer certain interrogatories to be submitted by the Committee. The reply of the acting colonial secretary was received on November 28, granting the requests.
Interviews were arranged and held on November 27 with Mr. Ho Su Cho, a Chinese merchant connected with the China-American Commercial Company of Hongkong, and on the twenty-eighth with Mr. Ho Fook, a Chinese merchant connected with the firm of Jardine, Mathieson and Company ; with Mr. F. Kiene, manager of the Hongkong division of the New York Equitable Life Insurance Company, and Mr. Francisco Gomes, manager of the firm of Brandae and Company, of Hongkong.
On November 3o, two members of the Committee proceeded to the office of the Collector of Customs, in accordance with the suggestion contained in the communication of the Acting Governor of Hongkong. Copies of the requests, permits and other forms pertaining to the landing and handling of opium were obtained from the Collector of Customs. These papers are self-explanatory and are appended to the laws. From the Customs Office the Committee went to the place at which the opium farmer puts up the opium in small boxes, generally made of horn, and containing only a very small quantity of the drug ready for use. There are three grades of opium, the price varying according to the quality.
SAIGON.
The Committee left Hongkong on December I, 1903, and arrived
at Saigon on December 4. Immediately after rooms had been secured, the Chairman and one member of the Committee waited upon the United States consular agent, who informed them that nothing could be done before December 7, as it would be impossible to make the official calls before that date.
On December 6, it was decided that two members of the Committee should go to Singapore and begin work there, while the Chairman and the Secretary remained at Saigon. Accordingly, the Right Reverend Bishop Brent and Dr. Jose Albert left for Singapore on December 6, at 2 o'clock p. m.
At 9 a. m., December 7, the Chairman accompanied the Consular Agent to the Customs Office, where he was courteously received, and where he secured the promise of obtaining copies of the laws, regulations and rules pertaining to the opium monopoly in Saigon. The Consular Agent stated that it had been found advisable some years (twenty) ago to substitute a government monopoly for the opium farm and that the monopoly was working in a satisfactory manner.
The Chairman called attention to an article in a recent number of a well-known magazine, Revue des Deux Mondes, in which the statement is made that a considerable number of Europeans in Indo-China use opium. The consular agent replied that the statement is grossly exaggerated ; that very few Europeans use opium in China, and that the few who do reside at remote places in the interior and have practically so little to do that anything which enables them to pass the time away is likely to be resorted to.
The population of Saigon is about 45,00o, of which some 5,000 are Europeans and the remainder natives (Annamites, Chinese, Indians, etc.). The consular agent stated that the Annamite seems to stand the effect of opium as well as the Chinese. No definite information was elicited in regard to the number of Chinese and others who use opium. The chief method, if not the only one, of using opium is by smoking. The drug is prepared and sold by the government. There is considerable smuggling.
On the afternoon of December 7, the Chairman and the Consular Agent made an official call upon the Acting Governor.
From a conversation with the Chief Secretary it was ascertained that in 1892, 63,183.7 kilos of Yunnan opium and 86,44o kilos of Benares opium were imported into Indo-China. The sales of opium under the present government monopoly vary from about nine and one-half millions to sixteen millions of piastres per annum.
SINGAPORE.
On December 9, 1903, the Chairman and the Secretary of the Committee left Saigon for Singapore, where they had been preceded by the other two members of the Committee. The Committee reconvened at that city on December 12, and at 9 a. m. of the same day proceeded to business.
On the morning of December 12, the Committee had an interview with Dr. F. B. West, M. D., who has resided in the Straits Settlements for the past seventeen years.
Interviews had already been held with Mr. Frederic Kersey Jen, nings, retired chief inspector of police, and now prosecuting agent for
J the opium and spirit farms of Singapore, Malacca and Johore ; with Mr. M. Arthur White, inspector of the Eastern Asia branch of the Manufacturers' Life Assurance Company of Canada ; with Dr. Galloway, the leading European practioner of Singapore ; with Dr. S. B. Searle, medical examiner of the China Mutual Life Insurance Company, and with one of the former managing partners of the opium farm in Singapore.
The official call upon the Governor of the Straits Settlements had been made on December 1o, and arrangements had already been made for obtaining copies of the laws, regulations and rules pertaining to the use of opium and the traffic therein in the Straits Settlements.
The Committee, having collected all the information available at Singapore, sailed on December 14, via Penang, for Rangoon. At Penang a member of the Committee interviewed Dr. P. V. Lock, who has resided in the Straits Settlements during the past fifty-five years and has an extensive practice among the native people.
BURMAH.
The Committee arrived at Rangoon, Lower Burmah, on December 19, 1903. On the evening of the same day the consular agent for the United States called upon the Committee and agreed to make the necessary arrangements for official calls, and for securing copies of such laws, ordinances and regulations as pertained to the opium question, as well as for obtaining permission to interrogate certain officials of the government.
Owing to the holidays, it was found necessary to postpone the official calls until later, the Committee employing the intervening time in interviewing private persons.
On December 21, an interview was held with Dr. T. F. Pedley, who has resided in Rangoon for twenty-five years and has an extensive practice among the native and Chinese population.
On December 22, the Committee was enabled to meet and interview Dr. N. N. Parakh, a Parsee physician residing in Rangoon, where he has practiced medicine during the past twenty years. On the same day an interview was secured with Mr. Shwe Waing, A. T. M., trustee of the Shwe Dagon Pagoda, and formerly in charge of the opium farm in Burmah, a position which he held for twenty years.
On December 27, at i i a. m., the Committee, accompanied by Mr. Rowett, Consular Agent for the United States at Rangoon. made the usual official call upon the Lieutenant-Governor of Burmah. Permission was obtained to interview certain officials of the government in regard to the opium question. It was found that the laws and regulations concerning opium then in force in Burmah had not been working to the complete satisfaction of the authorities, who had therefore decided to make certain changes in them. As the new laws had not yet been published, the Committee was unable to secure copies of them ; but was promised that as soon as the publication was completed copies would be sent to the Committee at Manila through the consular agent.
On the afternoon of the same day interviews were had with Mr. W. T. Hall, Commissioner of Finance of Burmah, and with Mr. A. E. Riggs, Senior Municipal Magistrate of Rangoon. The Committee also met Dr. J. N. Cushing, of the American Baptist Mission, who had been in Burmah for a large number of years and is thoroughly familiar with native life.
On December 27 and 28, the Committee visited Mandalay, Upper Burmah, but obtained no information of special importance. as all the statistics, etc., pertaining to Upper Burmah were available in Rangoon. On December 31, the Committee returned to Rangoon, and left that city on January 2, for Singapore, where it arrived on January 7.
Important business, which could not be neglected, required the presence of the Right Reverend Bishop Brent at Manila. He therefore sailed for Manila, via Hongkong, on January Jo.
On January 7, an interview was secured with Mr. Hare, protector of the Chinese .at Singapore.
JAVA.
On January 7, two members of the Committee and its secretary proceeded for Java, arriving at the port of Tandjoong Prioek on January i i, from where they went by rail to Batavia.
On the same day the Consul for the United States, Mr. Rairden, called upon the Committee and informed it that the Government of Java had authorized the Committee to visit the opium factory and to interrogate the officials connected therewith. Accordingly, the Committee, accompanied by the Consul, at once proceeded to the office of the Chief Inspector of the Opium Regie (Excise), where they were very pleasantly received, and whence they were accompanied by the Chief Inspector and certain other officials to the plant where the opium is boiled, purified, prepared and placed in the legalized receptacles or containers.
The machinery, the system of work, the mode of inspection and the method of testing the opium and putting it into the receptacles impressed the Committee as being very complete and satisfactory.
On January 13, the Committee, in the company of the Consul, made an official call upon H. E. the Governor-General of Java, who received them most cordially.
The Committee having finished its work in Java, the Chairman and the Secretary left for Manila, via Singapore and Hongkong, on January
i 5th. The other member of the Committee took passage via Singapore directly to Manila.
MANILA.
The Committee reconvened in Manila on February 5, at 3 :20 p. m., for the purpose of reviewing, revising and considering the evidence which had been collected by it at various places. The minutes of the preceding regular meetings were read and approved. The Committee, after discussion, decided upon a method of procedure and adjourned to meet at To a. m., February 8, 1904.
Regular meetings were thereafter held daily, excepting Sundays and holidays, from to a. m. to I p. m., until March 15, 1904, inclusive, on which date the Committee adjourned sine die. The time within which the Committee was to submit its report had been extended by the following order of the Honorable, the Civil Governor, dated February II, 1904:

"Pursuant to the provisions of section two of Act No. Eight hundred, the time within which the Opium Investigation Committee, appointed by the Civil Governor in accordance with said Act, shall render its report to the Philippine Commission is hereby extended so as to provide for the submission of the said report not later than the fifteenth day of March, nineteen hundred and four."
Although the Committee dissolved on March 15, 5904, its report had still to be typewritten and put in form for submission to the Honorable, the Civil Commission. It being impossible to obtain the full and
undivided services of a stenographer and typewriter to do this work, the stenographer and typewriter whom the Committee employed during its tour having had to return to his regular duties, authority was asked from the Honorable, the Civil Commission, to engage the services of such stenographers and typewriters as should be necessary to perform this work outside of regular official hours, in case such persons should be secured from the civil service. This authority was granted by the following resolution of the Honorable, the Civil Commission, dated March 22, 1904:
"Whereas, It, has been made to appear that the stenographer designated by the Civil Governor, under section three of Act No. Eight hundred, to assist the Opium Investigation Committee, has returned to regular duty, his services being urgently needed in the bureau from which he was detailed ; and
"Whereas, the Chairman of the said Opium Investigation Committee states that he is unable to secure the full and undivided services of a competent stenographer and typewriter to take the place of the stenographer referred to above:
"Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved, That Major E. C. Carter, U. S. Army, Chairman of the Opium Investigation Committee, be and is hereby
authorized to engage the services of one or more clerks to assist in the work of preparing the report of the said Committee, and to remunerate the said clerk or clerks for work so performed, anything in the Civil Service Acts or Act No. One hundred and forty-eight to the contrary notwithstanding : Provided, however, that if the clerk or clerks so engaged are already in the Government service, their work with the Opium Investigation Committee shall not be allowed to interfere with their work in the Government office in which they are already employed."
In order to make the appropriation of the Opium Investigation Committee available for the payment of the services which should be rendered by the clerks whose appointment was authorized by the preceding resolution, the time within which the Committee was to submit its report was further extended by the following order of the Honorable, the Civil Governor, dated March 28, 1904:
"Pursuant to the provisions of section two of Act No. Eight hundred, the time within which the Opium Investigation Committee, appointed by the Civil Governor in accordance with said Act, shall render its report to the Philippine Commission, which was extended on February it, 1904, to not later than the fifteenth day of March, 19o4, is hereby further extended so as to provide for the submission of said report not later than the thirtieth day of June, nineteen hundred and four."