New-York tribune., 1867-07-23
TROUBLES At QUARANTINE.

COY. FENIONs
Two departments in the port of New York.
one under Federal and the other under state authority
closely allied TO each other in the interests OF commerce
and international travel have become esranaed, and
every day the difficulties are becoming more complicated
This d ference has grown out OF peso dcuIly Whlcn
originated last Summer between the collector OF customs
and the Health Officer of the port III Is he duy OF suDof
dinates Of both departments TO Doard incoming vessels
from foreign ports protect the interests OF the
and the other to the necessary precautions
toward protecting health of the city and country from
ftio diseases brought here in the cargoes In the
op,s NJ be passengers Of vessels coming from
roical countries where contagious diseases are known
70 exist Tie sanitary and revenue inspection Of foreign
vessel, prc yious this has been conducted har
noiousy: but few days ago the Quarantine steamboat
with passengers and baggage from a steamer coming
from tropical port was seized at the BARGE Office pier
by Deputy Surveyor Webster, because the captain OF the
vessel had permit The Law requires 10 permit Tor
passenger, but 1t does for his baggage. After few
hours delay the boat was released lhe steamer
Raleigh arrived here early last week In cOnse-
ouence of there being permit the passengers could
not he brought from the Lower Quarantine, ana
number of them who were en- route to Europe were
detained. having missed Wednesdays steamer. The
steamer was ordered by the Health officer TO be detained
in the lower bay until the baggage ana passt ses ouu
be removed, in order 10 properly cleanse aI lulEac
the vessel prior 70 discharge Of cargo NJ the dsclMS
grounds III the upper bay The Ralelsh was uet"e 30
hours i'm the lower bay. During that time the paseeSe
were compelled to remain on board, as the Health oI'er
was unable discharge them. the collector refusing 10
give a permit To land the baggage from Ncssel uiucf
quarantine and the passengers declined to leave iher
baggage behind The first Instructions from lbe Coiccor
O the Revenue Inspector allow no passengers from
foreign port land without permit on would he az
low the Health Oncer 10 land the passengers Upon the
following day the order modified thc Inspectors re
ceiying the following order; .
any baggage aerhsHdse Lind he sle from vessel .le
either sailing vessels Fs'ng" WITHOUT o-FS'Ee
hc law recognizes but Quarantine for tLis class OF
vessels but the Commissioners of Quarantine III accolC
ance with the powers vested ~ them, nave designated
point in the upper bay where cagocs may DC
ing that the Collector insists upOn the above regulation
The following order issued by the Health Ohcer 10
Messls Livingston f0N cosgnees 9i tne Ii,esn i n ez
"QrlR'S1INE gAtta OrrtrEs orycr gniy ~, " no. no,
gated tat the UHge aud ssents oga De re-
all The baggage passengers be rAusd a the steamer To some
Which order was immediately complied with.
The steamer South Ameice from lao VIA ~ ionss. as
which arrived here late Friday evening was detained lot
cleansing ana tunisaton ana, oWns ~ ny ~. w. r,ro,e
Omliouse orders, t"ost ltsSent's C'l ~ ~
did not arrive in time for the steamer upon le IoIoWE
day Had the system hitherto existing Decn observed
the passengers would have arrived dNilhs 'o Ioehoo"
Prior to the present season four Inspectors were de
tailed and stationed NJ Quarantine f0r duty Whenever
steamer was expected, the baggage permits were Oh
the proceeded "a the Lower Bay one 81
the inspectors went with tue permit on 10 me Doat ana
Officer pronounced such baggage ana passengers ~
proper sanitary condition. they We're 80 once removed
and brought the Barge Office. where then basgase Was
inspected. Now the Collector requires - hedtt i''I'
the Health Omcer that The paser Ia n.SsnFr M ts
in . i: condition 10 be released nom tnaidntWe Inh
ceremony Uccessatcs, ordinarily de"y oi "h - 10 %
rhe following appears TO he the origin Of this whole
difficulty: Dufiug The latter part oi asi Summer ne 90!
lcctor OF Customs forwarded commune aon 10 NE *
ccllcncy. Gov. FcutOu, ~ which Lc iudtt III !o-"Ns
charges against pr John sw'nb'lt' l'''iA OH't4 81 '
rsf. That the cmbarraSsrou continually thrown IN
tie way of the commercial Interests o ms l,tntt by
the eccentric conduct ana ,'egH ,,nec,. ~
o1S Ssod i he is lust Informed by hc master Of the
et.. ner Ia. finn
SSinInc IaI declqrrd his Intention 20 leain tie Eare
al Quarantine FOR an indefinite period, uuess nc ohe
master would consent 10 have her cargo s 20 tia 'y
in licht.r.o of bis dIr sHnhnrue > oNh oIllio!Ie
TNd He referred t0 commune, anon ne haa ie''Ntu
on ~ drtention 81 then vessels Quarantine,
the Collector adding that the letter prcrnl many ohel
plful and painful assumptions OF TIE h."itl OhecI'
Txecutlye which Should remove the obstacles uhnccts-
sariy placed IN the path Of our business community ana
restore d giity and harmony 10 The public service
Fit: Tie Collector concludes that there political
as Well moral evil growing ont OF nc h!Novus "n'
unwarranted proceedings of this STATE 'c,r aifi hs
quarantine jurisdiction over Nessels a"u tMS"'' I'A
The above letter aud the petition of the merchants WAS
referred To Dr. Swinburue 10y GOV fcn'ouioi ~ tApa
ton or sateuent ri regard 10 matters oi con plant Ut
MAS only a subcrfngc uudpr which the Collector
sought cloak the anmus OF liz own acts ana charges
That the charges embraced d. tie c"ilmucatluh were
unfounded. and in many particulars gl"ruEs unit uiHl
aud unjust, displaying az wen on me pt 81 lhe ihei
that Of the Official who gave sanction t0 the cauInn's
laws regulating the duties ot TIC nhdtftlth'a aS hehh
Onicer ana ui hs manner Of performing nose ouits
He believed that the communication n ne merchants
were ~ least founded on nNallIri' i -, aets, . . - .,
far "a, the Collector concerned Ec cLHltcrred ~
gIoss aud uathorlcd inteifelcrce o - PI' WIN ihe
exclusive duties ana IrcrOgatNe ~ tlc ohtcIs oi lAe
Quarantine estaIslmtut. Tic following - snlnlLar!
of the grievances set forth IN TIE petition OF te m'r
That several vessels lately arriving at his port from
Havana, C,nba with an entire aisclce ~ SICKNESS On
board dWlhg then -tay III 'u.a nave oh ulI Ilt'I'
bee placed IN observation 40 The Cuaenlue Grorhd Tor
several dAys and then allowed 10 couc 10 The pltF ha,
IN the vicinity Of Brooklyn where hey nave beth com.
PEELED 10 discharge cargo with lighters dehrna'ed ~
other parties, and NJ an eXtravaeam charge Ihat iAc
vessels were also compelled 10 employ stc'cofe- 20 dls
charge and c0opers. al al great additional expense 10
the vessel aud 10 the Owners or con-necs oi Ire goods
and thereby depivng them OF the piOpeI control Of Their
proPeisly 81, ~, ,ho e.s.o ,.. ,,o s,,,ioct ~,
lkhterage &c "l s provided that he Hath otictr, IA
conjunction with the Quarantine COMMISSIONER ie en-.
powered 10 license HgbtereTs, stNe0ufts, abOlth hud
other employ he found necessary Tor the care
and purhcation Of vessels merchandise. baggage dun
80 employed shall be fixed by hc ConHTlOners Oi
Quarantine In reference 10 the OBTAINING Of vessels ar
tiOn OF the Governor TO the letter %! Dr. Bmdctt his
deputy upon whom the management OF such vessels has
dcl OlVed Ils appointment - Health OhCer. III
which il is shown that the Health Onccr has followed the
adopted by his predecessors and authorized ~
following reason: The first section Of Tie Quarantine
laws provide: All vessels from any place where disease
subject quarantine, existed at ue time Of their de
parue, between the ist Of April and he lst Of Noyen
ber shall remain at quarantine for al lsi twenty day
shall perform sueh.and other quarantine as the Quar-
anime Commissioners may prescribe uILess the Health
Officer, with the approval Oi the Health olnmi' sones.
shall sooner grant permit for -aid vessel or cargo, or
both 10 proceed"
II will he that the question whether the vessels
had disease board while in port, passage, on
arrival does not affect the duty Of The Heath Ohcer IN
regard TO their detention at Quarantine under the law
The reasons why vessels coming from tropical ports are
gtered at The place and manner stated by the Health
Officer are asserted Ia he OF purely sanitary nature
They are not allowed to go othe wharvts lest being IN
fected they might spread disease. The design of the law
In giving the Health Officer and Quarantine Commissioner
authority 10 select and license hghteICrs steNedOrcs
&c. 10 place such men under the control
and direction OF the Quarantine Department. and thereby
prevent the spread OF disease by the employment OF men
not subject the control o the Quarantine authorities
IL il also claimed that the ghternen and the edorcs
authorized by The quarantine authority, helng