The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-08-21
FIGHTING QUARANTINE.
Conference Of Leading Merchants
with Acting Governor Witt.
They Ask For q Reorganization OF the
Board Of Health, ana that
Quarantine be Modified.

O. Pascal, IL. II. Glover, Leon 4ueyrOuae,
Henry I'remoulet Mr.. Mortimer and others,
representing the parties who signed petition
TO Acting Governor Witt, asking for a reor-
ranization Of the Roard of Health and for a
material modification Of the quarantine proc
Iarnation, called ut the executive office, and
were cordially and at once received by the
Acting Governor.
Mr. Howard, AS chairman Of the committee
presented the petition. and stated Its purport.
i Gov. Witt replied that he had observed the
petition when 1t was first published, and re-
cognizlng the Importance of the subject, and
being Impressed with the high character and
standing In the community Of the numerous
signers OF the petition, he had given the mat
tor bis most earnest consideration for several
days, and would now give to the committee
fully and frankly his views. He then took
the petition section by section, giving his re-
Elections On EACH Us follows:
70 BIS ExcelIency Louis A. Wilt Lieutenant
Governor and Acting Governor of Louis
lana:
Tho petition Of the undersigned residents or
the city of New Orleans, owners OF reni estate
therein, ship and steamboat owners, and agents
and others engaged In various mercantile aud
4 commercial pursuits and dependent thereon for
d business, respectfully represent
The number, the occupations and the char
acter Of the signers Of thepetitton you present
impress me forcibly. | am aware that they
reflect the opinions and general views 81
many others besides themselves equally con-
cerned In the welfare Of the city. | hold their
recommendations MS worthy or most serious
consideration.
|. That We are III favor Of d rational system Of
quarantine ior the protection OF this city and
State from yellow fever and other diseases.
concur with the petitioners In their opn-
ion that rational system Of quarantine is
necessity. That system, as existing here,
originated from the Legislative Department.
Whatever defects 1t has can only be reached
by further legislation
-. That several Of the regulations enforced by
The Board 81 Health are Of unes ionabe legality.
rational, and inflicts injuries upon our com
meree out of all proportion to the protection 1t
prefends to afford.a
Petitioners suggest the doubtful legality of
some OF the regulations enforced by the Board
OF Health. This, conceive Is 4 subject tor
Judicial Inquiry, to be made at the suit OF per-
sons injured by such alleged Illegal action Ii
the system ~ radically defective. arbitrary
and Irrational, as urged, IL Is the fault 81 the
law, and can only be elfectually remedied by
the lawmaklng power Of tho State.
.. That by such arbitrary and irrational pro-
e rae OF hs 70 port
more lawful and favorable systems prevail.
unable to fsazea ntopel.y holders
ments, but are suffering daily from losses
caused by the stagnation Of business.
1 am well aware of the loss resulting to
suspension 81 commerce. In u late procla-
nation have earnestly advised the removal
OF internal quarantine. | hope that quaraIl-
tine against commerce BY sea may be safely
raised ut an early day. When 1t can be safely
raised, or to what extent, Or In what particu-
lars it might now be safely modified are ques-
tions not left 10y law to my Judgment and
determination.
4 That such stagnation of business causes
great suffering among clerks, laborers. and
others who are deprived of their legitimate /
empioyments.
I am well aware OF the losses and incon-
venience resulting from quarantine and the
consequent suspension Of business. Nothing
but the remembrance of the evils against |
which the quarantine Is established can recon-
Gle " to its stfingest provisions.
Is. That large number of ships have been
chartered a this port for grain and other goods;
that, BY " at we are advised is IN illegal regu-
iatfon Of tho Board Of Health, they will be land
some already have been, called upon to dis,
so will be incdpacitated from completing their
voyage.
As to discharge OF ballast of incoming ves-
details left to the Board OF Health. Tho duty
ct the board is to prevent the Introduction
OF Infection and contagion. Wide discre-
tton Is by law left to the board. I will
not undertake to say where sound Judgment
and wise precaution ends, or to pronounce
any deliberate act OF prevention which the
board may adopt, as unnecessary or unWiSe
am officially bound to assume that any act
with the scope Of their authority is per- ]
formed with right intent and for the best in
terests OF our city and State.
/. Q. That In other ways the Board Of Health is
our tratie and causing its div rsion
% other ports: and notably TO New York. Balti- |
more and Philadelphia, whose systems of quar- i
enable them to
Ind West Indian trade aud ntiict a great and q
injury upon US
Cities more in Northern localities, less In l
LANCER from imported yellow fever than New ! c
orleans and other Southern cities, can afford 1
o relax their quarantine restrictions. It Is T
to suppose that regulations strict d
Y necessary here may not be necessary In O
few York, Boston, Philadelphia or Balti- h
more. / cannot, however, undertake to Judge {
whether quarantine regulations as established
ERE are or are not more strict than necessary. G
confide in the members of the b. OF H., who
re expected and presumed to obey the law in
ne discharge of their responsible duties. @
4. That the said Board of Health, neither in Its
leoTles nor Its practice enjoys the confidence Ct
1 this community. j
To what extent public confidence Is with
lelu rom the B. OF II. l have no means OF q
positively knowing. have not deemed it nv Z
luCy 20 make inquiry on that subject. They
sere appointed by his Excelency Gov. Mich p
lis ana the Common Council, doubtless be-
,osition. - 80 r.
They have indicated no purpose to change 3;
he membership OF the board. T.
s. That y does not enjoy the confidence ~ T.
Their communities. IS T. proved BY the shot 10
I'm quarantine imposed in various parts Of n
le country. - IL
The action of other communities in NV 4;
pinion, proves their want or knowledge of f
ne actual sanitary condition Of New Orleans y
ather than their Want OF confidence in the n
soard of Health.
Your petitioners therefore pray that the said &c
'oard OF Health be reorganizei: that the pronI.. -
,ation auarantiHing a number. Of healthy Z
lacfs Do WIthdraWn, and that the law OF March al
|. 1876 which We consider sufficient for ali
TACTICAL purposes. be enforced By new board
health.
While temporarily discharging the duties Of
ne Executive do not consider it incumbent r
pom me TO Interfere in the arrangements y
lade by the Governor or to remove any Of th
is appointees except in cases Of malfeasance CO
T gross neglect of duty. Where vacancies 70
ccur it is my duty to I'LL them rather than =