The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-10


upon Marine Hospital at San Francisco, Quar-
anfins Regulations, Sc.-Fstruay 9, 1850.
BY Ma. cHAMsERLIS.
Nh President: The standing committee on
commerce and navigation, instructed by resou-
ton of the Senate TO report bill establishing a
marine hospital for the port and harbor of San
Francisco together with proper quarantine regu-
aions for that and other ports and harbors of Cali
fornia, have directed me TO submit the following
report.
The importance and necessity of establishing
sanitary laws by Legislative enactments, for the
purpose OF preventing the introduction of malig-
nant and contagious diseases, and arresting their
wide spread horrors has, since the first settle
ment Of our commercial cities, elected the atten
ton Of humane and benevolent legislation. The
Legislature of New York, at a very early period
after the State organization, established a system
OF quarantine and hospital regulations for the city
and harbor Of that metropolis. From time TO time,
by various amendments and alterations, embody-
ing in substance the quarantine laws of Venice,
the city of New York have adopted, il is supposed
the most perfect regulations in vogue in any
country. From these rules your committee have
carefully compiled for the port and harbor of San
FRANCISCO system Of laws for the preservation Of
the public health, comprised in the several bills
accompanying this report, and respectfully recon-
mend their adoption.
In compliance with the instructions Of the SEN
ate, your committee will, in short time, report
quarantine regulations applicable to other ports Of
California.
In preparing, under the instructions of the Sen.
ate, bill establishing marine hospital for the
port Of San Francisco, your committee have labored
under much embarrassment, owing 10 their entire
inability, from any information they have been en-
abled to obtain, TO form correct estimate of the
amount necessary to construct a temporary hospi-
tai, adequate to the wants Of the community. The
sum, therefore, that will be necessary the State
should appropriate for hospital purposes, your com
mittee have not mentioned, but at the same time
trust that the Importance of the subject will elicit
from the Legislature a liberal one.
Your committee have been informed that there
has already been collected the port of San Fran
cisco, under the late military administration of the
State government, very considerable hospital fund
sufficient II is believed, could it be procured and
appropriated TO that purpose, 10 erect all the hos
pital buildings that may be required.
In answer TO a letter Of inquiry from the citizens
Of San Francisco, Mr. Collier, the collector Of that
port, says;
81 have the honor TO say, that have not the
means Of ascertaining the amount Of the fund thus
collected; IL is, however, very considerable. This
money is cxacted from the sailor for his own ben
eft and the United States may be regarded as hold
ing Il in trust II IL always kept separate and dis
tinct from other funds. and IL intended 70 provide
home for him, who, for the most Of his days, has
found home upon the deep. The directing this
money from its legitimate and proper object ope
rates with peculiar hardship upon sick and disabled
seamen in this port. No means have as yet been
provided for their relief Every dollar of this fund
collected by my prcdecessors has been paid over 10
another department, and for another and differ.
ent object. doubt not IL will be restored and that
ere long pleasant and comfortable asylum will be
provided for scsmcn."
BY what authority this fund has been turned over
10 department 10 which IL does not belong, your
committee have had no means Of learning but do
not doubt, IL proper explanations be made TO Con
gress through our Representatives, IL will be inn
mediately transferred 10 ts legitimate and proper
objects Your committee, therefore, have instruct
ed me TO offer the following concurrent resolutions:
Resolved, the Assembly concurring, That our
Senators and Representatives in Congress be re.
qucstcd 10 use their influence with the General
Government 70 procure the immediate appropria-
ton Of the whole Marine Hospital fund, or tax
that has been collected at the port Of San Francis
co. up TO the first January, 1850 TO the purposes Of
erecting marine hospital at that port.
Resolved, That the President Of the Senate be re-
quested 10 forward copy Of these resolutions 70
each Of our Senators and Representatives in Con-
gress.