The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-29
Thc Abuses OF Quarantine-A ContcmpIa cd
REFORM.

Reform.
movement ia on foot among the merchants
and shippers of New York to induce Congress
at its next session to pass general quaran-
tine law for all the ports of the United States
and to place the administration of all quaran-
tine rules and regulations in the hands of
United States officers. At present the States
make their own laws; but as quarantine is one
of the most important features of commerce
there is no question of the right of the genera
government to take control of the matter, I'M
der the power "to regulate commerce with
foreign nations and among the several States"
vested in Congress by the federal constitution.
The proposed change in the system is desirable
for many reasons. The health of large port
of entry Is of general as well as local impor-
lance, for passengers arriving there seldom
remain in one city or State, but spread abroad
over every part of the country. While quar-
antine regulations are left to the several States
in the case Of New York and New Jersey,
which would be avoided under laws enacted by
the United States. The cost of quarantine
would be greatly diminished If its duties were
performed by United States employees in con-
nection with the customs department, instead
of by separate and Independent body of off,
GERS, and the expense would be distributed
fairly over the country instead of being an I'M
fair burden on one locality.
The greatest advantage from the contem-
pIatad channa hnwovor 10
York, for the reason that her quarantine laws
as at present administered take the
form Of oppression aud extortion.
The Health Officer is invested with ample
powers for the efficient discharge of his duties,
but he exceeds his legitimate authority in a
manner unjust to individuals and injurious to
the interests Of the city. He is authorized to
prevent any person except q pilot from board
ing or dealing with vessel subject to quaran-
tine before he shall have examined her; and
while this provision is clearly inserted for the
purpose of preventing boarding house keepers,
baggage smashers and agents Of all kinds from
mixing with the passengers or crew and car
rying disease into the city, the Health Officer
improperly uses 1t to obstruct the collection oil
shipping news by the press as 1t has been
collected for fifty years past. He is author
lied to run q steamboat ''for the transportation
OF persons to and from Quarantine and fol-
visitations and buryng the dead" This is, of
course, designed for the convenience of the
Quarantine authorities and the proper exccu-
ton Of their duties; but the Health Officer
uses his steamer as passenger ship or ferry
boat to convey passengers and their baggage
from steamers arriving in the lower bay up to
the city at a charge of two dollars head
which he puts into his own pocket. BY what
right does he ply this trade? Has he q COM
mon carriers or ferry license?
The law empowers the Quarantine Commits
sioncrs to license sven '1ightermen, steve
iores and lahcfers as may be found necessary
for the care and publication of vessels, mer.
chandise, baggage, &C., in quarantine" This
of course, contemplates the employment o
these men simply on such vessels as may b,
infected and quarantined; and the law ir
another section specially provides that the