Anthony

(after stating the facts as above).

The practice has grown up, both in the state and federal courts, for judges, when determining criminal cases, without a jury, to state their reasons. Whether it is a good practice or not, I do not know. I have followed it at all times. And the facts in this case warrant a full statement of the grounds of the decision reached.

I realize that a case of this character is of great importance to the government and to the defendant. Ultimately, the Harrison Act is an important. statute. It passed was in 1914 ( 38 Stat. 78 '5). It has been before the courts on many occasions, and has been sustained. It has, in many instances, and in many respects. been declared a great success. It has been followed, as a matter of fact, by statutes in various states, supplementing it so as to cover the situations which could not be handled under the act.

Every one is satisfied that the Harrison Act has been noteworthy in destroying or minimizing the nefarious traffic in narcotics. It has been very successful in reaching the peddler, who, for many years, has been the great source of illegitimate supply, to such an extent that whether administering state laws or the…