The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-08-20
The Quarantine Quarrel.

BY an agreement entered into in 1884 be-
tween New York and New Jersey. those
States fixed their boundary line from spuyten
Duyvl Creek southwark to the ocean, with
certain reservations in regard to health reg
ulatlons, whereby the quarantine laws of
New York were to extend to vessels lying
at the Now Jersey decks or aground on the
New jersey shore.
BY virtue of this agreement, and Of the
laws Of New York existing in 1884, or since
enacted, the Quarantine Commissioners and
DR.. CARSoCnAN, the Health Officer, claim
jurisdiction over every vessel entering tho
lower bay, even though she may have cleared
at foreign port for port in New Jersey ;
and more especially over vessels cleared for
the port of New York, which, before entering
at the Custom House here, go to a New Jer-
sey port, Perth Amboy for example and
there discharge their cargoes, and thence
clear for or enter the port Of New York, tho
cargocs in the mean time crossing from Perth
Amloy TO New York or Brooklyn in lighters.
Under this claim DR.. CARNocnAN has re-.
Gently seized such vessels and lighters on
their coming into our waters from Perth Am
boy, and in this action has been sustained by
the Quarantine Comm ssioners.
We very seriously doubt whether tho
Health Officer has the right to punish the
offence by Selling the vessels and their car
goes in this manner. If our shipowners,
mariners and importers have violated the
quarantine laws of New York, let them be
regularly prosecuted in the courts. If they
have violated the revenue laws, and there
are to be seizures in the case, they must be
made by the Hon. THOMAS MURPHY, Collcc-
tor of the port. DR.. CARNocnAN has no
right 10 take such violent and lawless pro
cccdinCs.
But the root of the difficulty lies deeper
than all this Under our present quaran.
tine administration, shipowncrs and mer.
chants complain that they are the victims Of
an cxtortionate Ring, and that pretended
zeal for the preservation of the public health
Is only a cover for cxorbtant and unwar.
ranted exactions of vessels arriving in our
harbor from abroad. II is Inserted that in
many instances they are subjected to voxa-
tious delays in the lower bay that they are
often not allowed TO send their cargocs to tho
city while the vessels nre riding at quaran-
tine, except they employ a designated class
of lighters that great favoritism is shown
in the speedy fumigation of vessels arriving
from infected ports that these, and a long
train of like distractions TO the prompt dis
charge of merchandise and the release Of ships
from the captivity of the quarantine, can be
removed by the payment Of money and that
somebody connected with the Health De.
rartment gets great deal Of cash out of
these Illegal exactions and that to escape
from this stealing under color of law is
the reason why vessels really bound for New
York 90 to Perth Amboy to discharge theil
cargocs.
| We do not pronounce upon the truth o.
these charges We only know that they are
made that there is controversy about ju
risd ction between New York and New Jer
sey; that there is an unseemly quarrel be
tween our shipowners and importers on tic
one hand, and tho Quarantine Commission.
ers and Health Officer on the other, TO the
detriment of the commerce and the jeopardy
Of the health Of this city that even under
IN honest administration Of the post OF
Health Officer, it is the most lucrative poli,i
cal position in the Union and there is there.
fore no excuse for eIacting dollar more
than its legal fees.
Tho Health Officer and the Quarantine
Commissioners received their positions from
Gov. HOFFMAN. lie ought to inquire into
the grounds Of this quarrel and the truth O
these charges without delay and he should
then take proper measures for the promp
dismissal of his appointeos from Office if they
are guilty, or in any way unfit for the re
sponsible places they hold by his authority