The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-10

. all that could be desired, the years opera
tions, considering the difficulties to be over.
come, have been to considerable extent
successful.
/ THE STATE PENTrENTIARY.
] The arbitration committee appointed under
the act No. 8 Of the Extra Session Of 1878 have
made their award fixing the sum due by this
lessees at s44,s33, and the pledge stipulated
by section has been made
STATE CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
The reports OF the various charitable insti.
tutions OF the State show an improvement in
their condition. recommend the extension
TO them Of all the just aid required and COM
patlble with the financial condition OF the
State.
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD BONDS.
In accordance with the statement conveyed
by me to the last session OF the General As
sembly in giving my approval to act No. GO
OF the regular session thereof, providing for
the issue of bonds to the New Orleans Pacific
Railroad Company, a mandamus proceeding
was provoked by me, upon which decree
recognizing the constitutionality Of the act
was finally rendered by the Supreme Court Of
the State Thereafter, however, / declined to
issue the bonds granted by the act to the cem-
pany, because / did not consider the mort
gage bonds Of the road, which were offered to
me, met, In several particulars, tho require
ments of the law. Thereafter second man.
damus proceeding was provoked, upon which
the Supreme Court decided adversely to the
railroad company, and the bonds have conse-
quently remained unissued. / advise the re-
peal Of the act because II not repealed it will
stand upon the statute books as q perpetual
offer to the company Of State bonds, and
might be awaited Of by it even after the com.
pletion Of the road by AID from other sources.
BOARD OF HEALTH AND QUARANTINE.
The ravages OF the last yellow fever epi-
demic, which prevailed 60 destructively In the
city Of New Orleans and in other portions Of
the State during the summer and fall months
OF the year just gone by, point to the fact that
no more important subject requires your at
tention than the consideration OF the measures
necessary to prevent its recurrence. 1t Ii a
question affecting not only the life and hap
piness Of the people Of the State, but also their
material advancement.
There exists some difference OF opinion as to
WucLIlcI tlc ycilOW ItNGI ID always UTOuQuI 10
New Orleans, or whether 1t sometimes origi-
mates here. There exists also difference Of
opinion as to the effectiveness Of quarantine as
a measure OF safety against the introduction
and spread OF the disease. It Is argued that
the summer trade Of New Orleans is to be
jeopardized upon mere conjectures, and 1t is
contended that the occupation Of many of her
good citizens Is to be broken up on the
strength Of mere theories. / am satisfied
that no injury will ever be inflicted upon any
portion OF the community under circum-
stances where wrong will be added to injury,
but the very basis Of all society is that indi-
vidual good must yield to that OF the public,
and 1t Is the part OF wisdom to throw the ben
eft Of the doubt In favor of the lesser evil.
We have to select between two theories. The
first one, II it be correct may secure the in
terest OF small class, but, II it Is wrong, may
cause the sacrifice Of large number of lives
az well as large property interests. The
second theory, IL it be a true one, saves a
whole people, and, II it be an erroneous one,
Injuries only comparatively small number OF
persons, that interest being simply moneyed
one.
The adoption OF one theory keeps
open the trade through the mouth
of the Mississippi river; but the keep
ing open of that trade will be at the
risk Of losing and shutting off the whole inland
trade. The experience OF this year In this re-
spect should not be overlooked In reaching the
believe the only way of thor
oughly testing the efficacy Of quarantine as
a means towards preventing the introduction
from foreign ports Of yellow fever into New
Orleans and other portions Of Louisiana, is
by removing opportunities for evasions re-
sorted to for the promotion of private inter-
ests and cupidity. When, therefore, the State
Board Of Health announces that, in its opin-
lon, there exist sufficient grounds for enforc-
ing quarantine against foreign infected
ports, no vessel, person or article should be
permitted to enter the port OF the city Of
New Orleans, or any other port OF the State
open to the Gulf Of Mexico, SO long as the
necessity for quarantine continues to exist. |
The Board of Health and all officers connected
with the quarantine service should be placed
beyond the power OF either deception or
A board composed Of thorough
ly representative men would not be likely to
exercise lightly the power of establishing
quarantine when Its results would be so seri- |
GUS to q portion Of the business community. |
There could be no motive for its doing so.
Between the pressure which, beyond
all doubt, would be brought to bear upon
It In favor OF tardily exercising this pow
Or, and the responsibility which would
attach to the board should it improperly
yield to this pressure, it would be safe to as
sumo that the board would take its conscience |
and judgment as its only guide.
There Is one branch OF the subject Of quar-
antine which must not be overlooked. l refer
TO the police power granted by section 2453
and the sixteenth paragraph of section 2743
)f the Revised Statutes. It would be incon-
sistent to legislate In favor Of right OF pro-
lection by quarantining against foreign ports
and deny a similar right against an inland
place where the disease actually exists The
light, therefore, must be conceded, but it's ex-
,rcise should be regulated. / invite, there
ore, your attention to the ascertainment of
,Oma method which shall plapn this ri oht I'M |