The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-04-02
THE SENATE BILL.

work that was To be done.
THE SENATE BILL
After nearly three months of weary
watching and waiting by the public, the
Senate committee (Mr. Harris, of Ten
nessee, Chairman) reported bill, which
after a short and earnest discussion, was
passed without serious opposition. 1t
received the support of every Southern
Senator, and most of the Northern Sen
ators, all taking part in its consdera-
ton, and perfeeting it by amendments.
1t was passed on the 25th of February,
and was not reported by the House
committee until the 1st of March, when
there were not three working days of the
session left, and in the hurly-burly and
confusion and clash Of contending fac
tions on the eve of adjournment. In
stead of reporting the bill which had
passed the Senate by the concurrence of
all the Senators from the States most
interested, the House Committee endan-
gered the whole plan of salvation from
the threatened pestilence by offering a
substitute upon which long and profit
less discussion ensued; and the amount
of it was the defeat of both plans, and
the production of the abortion published
in another column, and known as the
" McGowan bill, whatever that is.
The Senate bill abolished the office of
Supervising Surgeon General of the
Marine Hospital, and established a
Board of Health, to consist of seven
members, who shall have authority to
have the whole subject of contagious and
infectious diseases under their charge,
and to adopt rules and regulations
for the enforcement of the act to prevent
their introduction and spread. The
Board was charged with the duty of
obtaining information of the sanitary con-
dition of foreign ports and places from
which such diseases might be imported
into the United States; and required
consular officers abroad to make weekly
reports of the sanitary condition of the
ports and places at which they are sta
toned. 1t required the Director-Gen-
eral to obtain weekly reports from the
health authorities of the several States
to the end that due diligence might
be observed, and that no information
would be lacking for whatever prompt
and efficient action an emergency might
require. 1t requireda rigid surveillance
over vessels engaged in transportation
between foreign ports and the United
States, and imposed severe penalties for
the violation of the regulations adopted
by the Board to prevent the introduction
of disease. Vessels sailing from Havana
for the United States were bound under
heavy penalties to obtain from medical
officer to be appointed to keep watch,
certificate that the cargo and passen-
gers were free from infectious disease.
In the event the health officers at any
port appointed by local authority should
refuse to adopt and observe the rules
and regulations prescribed by the Board
of Health for the inspection and disin.
lection of vessels, it was made the duty
of the Secretary of the Treasury to ap,
point a Health officer to perform the
duties in accordance with said regulation.
In case Of necessity the Director-Gen-
eral was required 10 select suitable
localities for establishing stations on the
rivers and railroads, for quarantining
and disenfecting passengers and goods.
Provision was made for the appointment
&C a Commission to visit the port of
Havana aad Investigate the nature and
history Of yellow fever and the condition
Of its origin and spread at that place,
and the PRESIDENT was required to invite
the cooperation Of tbs Spanish govern
uept In the examinations and exPsri-