The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-10-04


grounds on Staten Island. Though they call
their new buildings "shanties," it ia evident that
they are to be buildings of the most permanent
and durable character-built of brick, with
double walls and rooted with slate. The Com
missioners Of Emigration are bent on fulfilling
Mayor Tiemann's threat that. though he disap-
proved Of the Quarantine on Staten Island, yet
STILL to punish the Staten Islanders for their law
lessness, he intended to rebuild permanent build
ings 80 as Ito make the Islanders squeal."
There are two or three considerations which.
at this crisis, deserve some general thought. In
the first place, as to money. True, money is
very minor matter, when health, life. law, and COM
mon decency are at stake; but STILL in this fear
fully overtaxed community, and in view Of the
large sums which Governor King is squandering
| in his military occupation of Staten Island-all
of which will come out of the State Treasury
the question of money deserves passing glance
The Emigration Commissioners propose to de-
fray the cost Of their new hospitals out of the
fund appropriated by act of the Legislature for
the removal of the hospitals from Staten Island.
That which the Legislature voted for a specific
purpose, these officials propose to apply to the
very opposite. Can this be legal. Can Messrs.
Hall, Bovine and Benson, the Commissioners for
the removal of Quarantine, patiently tolerate so
manifest misapplication of the fund placed in
| their hands?
Next, as to the rebuilding of the hospitals at
all. Mayor Tiemann and the Emigration Com
missioners pretend that they are only going to
put up shanties," and that some buildings of
some kind are absolutely necessary to accommo-
date patients now, and during the fall and win
ter. Both of these assertions are untrue. The
so called g shanties" it is proposed to build in
the most permanent and durable manner, of
brick. with double walls, six inches apart well
filed in. and solidly rooted with slate. Who can
believe that such buildings are only intended for
| a few months service? But no shanties of any
kind are needed. There are at present but six
patients in the hospital; and these might legally
and properly be sent, this very day, to Wards
| Island and the Seamans' Retreat. Winter is
close at hand, and everybody knows that during
that season, no quarantine hospitals are needed.
All the patients who arrive here from sea between
this and June next might safely legally, and
fairly be sent to Wards Island. There would
indeed be no danger or inconvenience in hiring
house anywhere for their reception. We are
then driven to the conclusion first, that no tenn
porary hospitals are required; and next, that the
| Emigration Commissioners, knowing this, do not
intend to erect any, but, on the contrary, pur-
pose to misspend the State moneys in rebuilding
permanent hospitals on the site of the last.
| Even the shameful municipal records of New
| York fail to contain parallel to the wilful OBJ
stinacy and folly which inspire this act. Every
authority, high and low, has pronounced against
the retention of the Quarantine hospitals on Sta
ten Island. The Legislature has twice formally
passed acts for their removal. Governor King
has earnestly recommended it in his messages.
| Dr. Thomson, the Health Officer has declared on
oath that the hospitals ought to be removed. DIR.
| Bissell DIR. Walser, and every other Quarantine
official have sworn that the present site is not a
| Iii nor a safe one. Mayor Ticmann has repeatedly
| pronounced himself in favor Of the removal. The
evidence ofthe officials and citizens who have been
examined before Judge Metcalfe and the uniform
experience ofthe past ten years, show that the ex
| istence Of quarantine hospitals ON Staten Island
is full of danger for that suburb of the city, tor
| Brooklyn and for New York itself Yet, in the
| face Of this overwhelming mass OF obstacles lin
the teeth Of crushing accumulation Of warnings
from the Legislature, from the Governor, from
the Mayors, from the Quarantine officials them
selves. from every one who has given thought
to the subec,--,hc Commissioners of Emigration
now propose to rebuild permanent structures on
the old site
That 70 mad course OF proceeding will pro-
baby lead 70 results Of mos. lamcntable cha
ractcr there can hardly be any room for doubt
aud II the worst happen, It Is quite clear where
the responsibility will lie. Meanwhile. il viii be
well for the general government to remove IL
property and officials out of the sphere of con
tenfon. The United States have acquired from
New jersey the right Of erecting warehouses on
| Sandy Hook. They should avail themselves of
this right without delay. The goods and ware
houses should al once be removed from their
present site. The Commissioners Of Emigration
should not he suffered 10 involve the general
government In their fcud; nor should the pro
perty in the public warehouses bc exposed 10
the accidents which the spitcful policy If the
Mayor and the Commissioners seems designed
| to provoke.
| Tax cortEcrtNG Al DEAD Lo,K.--Thc col.
,cciion Of taxes for this year is at dead lock.
and the taxpayers, who are anxious 10 acquit
themselves of their legal obligations to the city
treasury lind themselves unable to do so when
they make application to the tax receivers This
unusual state Of affairs is due TO the Commission
ers Of Record. il appears, who have laid an in
junction on the Board Of Supervisors, restraining
them from delivering the tax books into the
hands Of the Receiver of Taxes The Commits
sion OF Record like all other departments of the
municipal government has a pretty lavish ex-