The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-22
QUARANTINE QUIBBLES
The Legislative COmmittee's
Investigation.
Mares Nests Found by tbs Little Member froA
Richmond-One Of the Commissioners Exam
insd-Ihs Charges Against tho Health on
Ger Unfoundsd-That Affair Of Mar
shall Co. Explained Vessels
Cannot Be Boarded Below
A Visit to West Bank

Deidrick's Hotel, at Tompkinsviile, 8. l., waa
thrown into spasms OF excitement yesterday morn*
ing when the dapper little member for the county,
Mr.. Judd, popped into It's best paror, followed DN
Mr.. Alberger. OF Bufalo, and announced hi9
intention of continuing hts investigation on
the Quarantine "abuses" there and then4
A considerable crowd, for Staten Islandt
congregated about the doors, and specuiateQ
in their own peculiar way as to what tho augusy
Committee on Commerce and Navigation OF tha
Assembly expected to discover. They availed
themselves Of the privilege Of seeing and hearing
for themselves. The room was pretty full when sn4
investigation commenced. An hour later Messrs4
Campbell, Snyder and Babcock. the committee arr
rived. Dr. Carnochan, the Health Onicer; Dr. Reid4
Deputy Health Ofiicer, and Mr.. John J.. Boyd, coun
sol for the former, were L.
IN THEIR PLACES EARLY. 49,
Michael Conklin, VINO was engaged IN 1868 carfy3
ing passengers from Quarantine. was the first witt
ness examined He succeeded In proving twd
factshis profound ignorance Of. AFFAIRS at Quaran1
tine and the uselessness OF his examination.
DR.. Thomas waser, q chronic candidate for tha
position OF Health Oficer OF the Port and who said
he had been fourteen years engaged at Quarantined
was the next witness. He thought that vesseld
should be boarded below; that the Quarantine Comb
missloners were useless body; That persons, not
ships should be quarantined; that the dead should
be buried at Seguns Point at the raie OF $40 pen
head; that he had himself examined 1000 people.
and picked out the sick In twentv-nve minutes and
that ne knew nothing of the present Administrations
OF Quarantine. n
Barton, one OF the Commlssi oners OF Quarantineg
His examination occupied the better part or the
day, owing to Mr.. Judds persistence IN putting and
repeating
IRRELEVANT AND UNNECESSARY QUESTIONS.
His testimony, In brief, was tnls:-The quarantine
business should De confined TO the lower BAY where
all the boarding might he DONE He would hkeI
as much as Mr. Judd. to have Quarantine
that the powers OF the Commissioners were
curtaied by The Legislature There should
siraoe pacc for the Health Onicer: the rent OF th
premises now occupied mignt be reduced; tna
charges Tor burning the dead a. Seguin's Point wera
commissioners were IN equity entitled to raceivd
fees paid to employees; the fees for lighterage are
peal to the Commissioners; they know that theN
nave the right OF appeal by law; here was only ond
year; would have known 1t II there were any m0roi
II there were any valid objections to y
THE MANAGEMENT OF QUARANTINE
the Commissioners would have heard them; thd
commissioners are always ready TO near appeals; 4
don't know what fees the Health Onicer receivesl
he pays for the services OF his deputies and en-
ployes out OF the fees; casual complaints have been
made OF the detention OF vesselswo three cases,
l tnink-but were not presented to The Board oil
Commissioners; the Health Oflcer had nothing Ia
do with the changes made In the law OF 1870; th0
case OF Marshall Il 20. 8 snip Wiam +. Storer, was
compromised Or settled satisfactorily by An under1
standing between Mr.. Schel President OF the Board
or Commissioners, and Mr. Marshall; the HealtI.
Onicer did not Strange IT. the charges for patentd
0nicer were liked by the COMMISSIONERS aud. be3
leve, approved by the merchants At the time; two
dollars Is not high charge Tor vaccination.
NO COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE I
to the Commissioners concerning the charges f01
vaccination; the fumi9ation Charges the Commis<
sOners considered as the perquisites OF the Health
OF nghtering to the merchants, and then again il
might work harm; II the Presidents OF the CnamJ
made members OF the Quarantine Commission ID
would do no harm; they might not complain sd
much; think the law should be put back To where
1t was In 1870 when the Mayors OF the city Of New
York and Brooklyn were members OF the C0mmisy
SION; the boats used by the Health Onicen
were indispensable, and could not be dispensed
with; have no knowledge or vessels being driven
to other ports in consequence OF exactions OF quar-
antne; there was good deal OF that In the papers
but tue Commissioners knew nothing OF It; to givd
the Health Officer salary In lieu OF lees was nod
Year wss ING TeUar the ae ali eer s
Deputy's houses and for furnlture; also for DOCKS
and other works; the outlay was necessary; all tnd
property Is In possession or the State; II the
boarding was done m the lower bay It would Dd
necessary 70 have landing place ut least on staten
Other witnesses were examined, with a somos
what like result, and the committee adjourned ua3
I'll this m0rnlng at ten O'CLOCK
TRIP ON TIE FLETCHER
Some OF the members having expressed o desire
Dr. Carnocnan took the party on board the fletcher
and gratlfied their curiosity. landing was made;
az tue R1p kaps, and the committee had aOunuane
opportunity OF seeing with their own eyes that rhG
statements OF the witnesses that the boarding
should be done below was an apsurdity. The mare
row width OF the channel and the
FAR EXTENDING SHOALS
were pointed out as evidence stronger than any
given the committee.
Arrived at West Bank Hospital the party was reR
ceived by the efficient and courteous Superintend{
ent, Captain UROrke VINO showed them over tn6
island and explained Its construction and arranged
ment The hospital found TO be in beautifu1
order within and Without and Captain O'RorK0
was highly cOmplimented for the neatness and
cleanliness or every department. An elegant cold
latlOn, prepared by the hOsptabe Captain was then
enjoyed, after which the party returned to the citE