The New York herald., 1870-06-13
THE QUARANTINE WAR
Cochran and Brooklyn Versus Car
nOcban and the Law.
How Petty Official Would BENEFIT Friend
Th. Fashionablss on the Heights Shutting
Contagion-zAe Health Of the Port
or the Wealth Of storskesper.


himself In rather ridiculous light before She pubic
and gains the name OF everything but an oiicial
capable and willing the best interests Of the
cny in which, by some freak OF fortune, he has OBJ
famed aittie brer authority.r He has not only re-
Gently taken the responsibility to cause those igno-
rant OF existing laws and the penalties attached
thereto when ignored 10 break them, but he stands
heralded as one who has melted
A COMMON RABBLR
to interfere with the constituted authorities OF
Quarantine and TO destroy property Such was the
case on Saturday last when this Individual urged
gang OF men to resist the Quarantine authorities.
who, IN the discharge OF their duties attempted 10
remove schooner which arrived lew days since
from doubtful port, but to the owners OF which
liberty had been given to discharge her cargo at an
isolated dock In Brooklyn. How the courageous
Cochran, OF the City Of Churches, has succeeded in
this bold attempt what he has really done and what
is thought Of it by the Quarantine authorities, de-
serve suitable introduction and elaboration.
ADMINISTRATIONS OF QUARANTINE LAWS.
Since the destruction OF the Quarantine establish
ment at Staten Island several years ago provision
whatever has been made for the construction Of
warehouses and wharves in connection with the
Quarantine department, although the necessity for
their erection has been frequently pressed upon the
Legislature. That no quarantine system can be
from infected ports must either remain on The yes
sci by which they arrive be discharged upon
lighters ut great distance from the city Is TOO plain
to admit OF discussion. II kept upon the vessels
THE MERCHANT is DEPRIVED OF HIS PROPERTY
and the shipowner OF his vessel much longer pc.
riod tnan would otherwise be necessary. II dis
charged upon lighters, consignees and owners are
often subjected to heavy expenses and in either
case loud complaints follow, and the sanitary autho
rities are charged with sanctioning abuses which
they have no power to remedy except at the risk OF
endangering the public health.
BY the Laws OF this State, passed in 1863 fpare
673 it is distinctly declared that call vessels from
any place where diseases subject to quarantine
restrictions existed at the time OF their departure
arriving between the 1st day OF April and the lsJ
day OF November shall remain at Quarantine at
least thirty days after their arrival and at least
twenty days after the discnarging OF their cargoes
unless the Health Onicer OF the port shall sooner
grant permit Tor any such vessel or cargo or both
to proceed" Ia many Instances the Health OGicer
Is Obliged, in
THE INTERESTS OF COMMERCE.
70 oexercise his discretionary power and the
OF vessels arriving witlou clean bills OF heatn but
upon which no of sickness has occui red during
The voyage has been ia the habit OF restricting them
u the more isolated docks IN New York Brooklyn
Tne pf0pretY o this In the absence OF suitable
quarantine warehouses, Is too apparent to admit OF
question, as the Only alternatives al present open 10
OF these vessels ior the time prescribed by law or
their discharge In the stream by lighters at large
expense Is equally destructive the commercial il-
terests OF the port.
The practice OF restricting vessels from doubtful
ports to the more isolated docks in Brooklyn has
existed ever since the destruction OF the Old build
lngs OF Quarantine, and Is based upon the laws
which give the Health 0icer the power TO prescribe
such regulations as he may deem expedent In ref
erence TO vessels subject TO quarantine, q right
which has always been recognized oy the Boards of
Health Of New YORK and Brooklyn, and In the Ell
forcenent OF which they have up the present time
gwen every assistance 10 the Quarantine orties
TIE WISDOM OF THIS COURSE
te easily understood, there Is doubt that the
Health officer who boards vessel and Is Cognizant
OF all the facts concerning her voyage a. wei as OF
the port fIom which she sailed, better able to
Judge OF what restrictions she ought to be subjected
to than clerk in the Health Ofice OF New York or
Brooklyn, who, La nine cases out OF ten, knows no
about the vessel than what Is told nllu py the
brokers' boy who carries The Health Olicers permit
70 him. This permit the law requires 10 be exhibited
at the Offices OF the Boards OF Health OF New York
and BROOKLYN but neither the Quarantine Health
THE POWER TO ALTER
or change it. or IN any way TO interfere with the
regulations OF the Health Officer OF the port except
whenever In their judgment the public health shall
demand 1t they may order any vessel at the wharves
Of either city to return TO Quarantine or other place
During the present season, however, Dr. Cochran
THE NEWLY PLEDGED HEALTH OFFICER OF
desrous of enlarung his spere Of opera,ous to the
port as well as the city OF Brooklyn. has seen fit to
change the Health Officers permits TO suit his own
u
constituents and intimate friends IN the sorehouse
business, without making any inquiries as to
isolated docks at Red Hook, and has assumed thai
his signature to permit would be all powerful and
override all Quarantine regulations and rules.
Dr. C0chrans first attempt in that direc ion which
came TO the notice fthe Health Officer OF the Port was
that OF the bark Anna III. Gray from Havana aliuded
to IN the HERALD OF yesterday where the yellow
fever is existing In an epidemic form. He gave the
Sapan apE N 81 @ Una. AYE vessel permit to proceed from
Rntine authorities, 10 the stores OF
HIS FRIEND MIR. PRENTICE
on the East river totally Ignoring the fact Of the
although In assuming the responsibility Of her re-
moval he might endanger the health OF those whose
interests 1t should be his duty to protect The captain
OF the Gray, fortunately FOR himself before removing
his vessel, went to consult the Health s0frcer at
staten Island II this change in his permiI had been
authorized. Upon being told that the removal Of
vessel without the Quarantine authorities con-
sent would subject him 70 a fine OF $4,000 and
one years imprisonment In the State Prison he con-
Guided to allow DR.. Cochran to select some other
subject for test case. Unable to persuade the mas
ter OF the Anna NJ Gray to make MARTYR OF himself
by removing his craft TO his friends stores Dr. Coch
ran began wholesale alteration OF the Health
Ofiicers permits, In the hope that some unsophist
Gated skipper deceived 10y the hgh-soundng title
OF Health Officer OF BROOKLYN" would tai into his
SNARE
non saturday last 1t being ascertained by the Quar-
antne authorities that number or vessels had
been removed from docks where sent by them and
distributed among the storehouses owned by Coch-
rams friends, In the neighborhOod OF Fulton and
wall street ferries, the steamer Andrew Fletcher,
with force OF police on board was despatched TO
these piers, with view OF enforcing the law made
and provided for such cases.
The law Is as fOOwB:-
Whenever the Health Omcsr in the performance his
anes and In the execution OF the imposed and
ferred upon him by law, by regulation
made IN pursuance OF statute OF this State shall order
direct the maser owner consignee
70 qusranne TO do thing comply with any
relative 70 sad vessel person thing
on board thereof and said consgnee shall
or refuse to comply with such direction
saa health Ocer shall have employ persons
az may oe necessary and enforce
oaer and direction and the employed shall
lien On such vessel her tackle apparel funture
Tor their services and expenses.
upon arrival the first vessel to which attention
was directed was the schooner Rough Diamond, of |
Aatanzas, which arrived few days since from that
poLt and nos having clear bill OF health, was re.
dtrlcteo by the Health Ocer position outside of
the Atlantic docks This vessel II was ascertalned
had been removed under permit OF DR.. Cochran 10
store; al the time OF The removal her cap
f6ln was NOT on p0afd When spoken ITO tlfe officer