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F ight Over Dope SLIGHT relaxing was noticeable Tuesday in oy the deadlock over the narcotic evil. Governor 1 4+ Brown has been warring with the Los Angeles County Supervisors, Chief of Police Parker, Sheriff Pitchess, and other law enforcement officials over new legislation. | Tuesday Mr. Brown retreated a little. Promi- sent in the controversy is whether probation should _ | ‘32 permitted for first offense sale of hard narcotics | 2y an adult to a minor. Heretofore, the Governor has insisted no law i i “yould be enacted that would take away from the Lag pres EV eee aa courts the power to grant such probation when they Rett tee tee <2e fit. Now he says he would sign a bill prohibiting be CALLE, such probation even though it is not his bill. This nn 30 3 good. Los: Do Those persons who are eager to have really teak ‘ough laws against narcotic peddlers want to make m4 cure that sales to minors will carry certain punish- ment that cannot be set aside by lenient judges. Governor Brown’s own Special Study Commis- sion on Narcotics recommended this. The State ‘Senate voted 26 to 12 for it over the Governor’s vig- crous opposition. Los Angeles County Supervisors stood firm and vastated their recommendations which can be sum- marized as: “We favor passage of a strong narcotics legisla- ‘ive program which upgrades penalties, makes man- datory minimum penalties, allows no probation in “irst offenses where adults are selling hard narcotics ‘9 minors, and calls for some modification of the law »rohibiting search and seizure away from a man’s residence.” ‘ The public is now witnessing the deplorable -pectacle of our highest officials fighting bitterly among themselves instead of being united in an all- cus war on the loathsome narcotic evil. i It must be presumed the Governor took his pcsi- ‘ion. because of his own sincere convictions and aso with deliberation, since the active campaigning yor re-election is less than a year away. ace enene erent ss sett sawn et ee beating ce eta Sar te eee ee ee re