Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-05-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Some Mighty Interesting Read
ing" for the Chamber of
Commerce.
Our Senators and Representatives in
Congress Thoroughly vindlcated.

unaDle 10 nave pasSeu national quar-
antine law. 1t is true that last ses-
sion Mr.. Young's bill and also that by
Senator Harris were defeated in the
house. However, it is fact that the
Tennessee members Of congress and
senators have been Jealous in their
efforts to secure the passage of ma
tional quarantine law.
The Memphis chamber Of commerce
has never given these senators and
representatives encouragement in this
matter, nor has the Memphis press of
late been active in advocating such a
measure. When Democratic congress-
men like Mr.. Goode, of Virginia, Gen.
Hooker, of Mississippi, Mr.. Black
burn, of Kentucky, Senators Maxey,
Of Texas, Morgan, Of Alabama, Bay
ard, of Deleware, Eaton, of Connec-
ticutt, and Herman, of New York,
vote against the bill and defeat the
measure the press Of Memphis made
no protest. These are the Democrats
who defeated this measure and the
leaders Of the opposition to the bill
had as a plea States rights.
Now the chamber of commerce of
Memphis denounce the Virginia
resolutions of 1893 and 1899" as being
OF less importance than the lives of
the people and find with regret that
State governments either cannot or
will not render one" (quarantine)
Sufficiently effective" But Mr..
GoOde, the States right" champion,
Senator Bayard, the Democratic aspi-
rant for the Presidential nomination,
and the rest who opposed this meas
ure, receive no censure. Yet Sena-
tors Bailey and Harris and Repre-
sentative Young and the other Ten
nessec members who favored, advo-
Gated and did all in their power to
secure the passage of the bill, are
made the subject of censure. Is this
right?
Only last week Senator Morgan,
Democrat, from Alabama, strenuously
opposed the bill reported by Senator
Harris. Senators Bayard, Of Della
ware; Maxey, of Texas; Eaton, of
! Connecticut, and Herman, of New
York, Joined in this opposition aud
had the bill recommitted. OF course,
the chamber of commerce, under the
leadership of Hon. |. M. Hill, good
Republican and representative bust
ness man, could hardly know these
facts.
While in editorial charge of the
LEDGER last summer | was asked by
the assistant superintendent and sec
retary of the cotton exchange and
chamber Of commerce of Memphis not
to publish anything about the pro-
ceedings of one or both of these bodies
relative to its action on quarantine.
did not comply with this request to
suppress the fact that quarantine had
been discussed at the meeting, nor did
the LEDGER at any time conceal any
thing appertaining to the yellow fever.
Now the chamber of commerce is
eager to publish its quarantine cen
sure.
Why has not the chamber of com
merce urged this matter heretofore,
and given support to the efforts of our
congressman and senator's ? Why did
not the chamber of commerce censure
the New Orleans press and the Lou
isiana members for opposing the
national quarantine bill? Last July
ere the yellow fever visited Memphis,
when Dr. r. W. Mitchell, as president
of the board of health, favored 8
quarantine, did the chamber of com
merce sustain him? Did it censur,
the thirty-fye physicians who signed
petition asking the general counci
to reject the quarantine proposed BY
Dr. Mitchell? When the genera
council rejected this proposition, anC
failed to establish quarantine, die
the chamber of commerce adopt am
resolution of ccnsure2 When, b.
this insult to the intelligence anc
honesty of Dr. Mitchell, he was SC
mortified that he resigned his position
did the chamber of commerce do any
! thing in the matter?
: When finally quarantine was estab
lished, did Messrs |. NJ. Hill, Jerom,
Hill or W. A. GoCdwyn oppose or favo
, the measureY Did any merchants
T.. business men or business firms peti
tlOn, either by letter or in person. tn
(. board of health to allow them to briny
into the city goods then at the quar-
, antine station on Presidents Island
1t Us we'll to be consistent. The cham
70 Der Of commerce should rescind thes
a resolutions.
t If Mr.. Jerome Hill 10 still oppose,
, TO Hon. Casey Young, or if Mr.. /. M
Hill is yet personally prejudice,
b against Senator Harris, it is not in
+ cumbent upon the chamber of com
merce to adopt resolutions of censur
that lack both truth and Justice
| not only regret the injustic
= done those gentlemen by these resolu
y tiOns, but deplore the fact that sue
y Ignorance as the committee displays i
It's report should strengthen the belle
!. aud have tendency to confirm tn
. suspicion, as we'll as increase the ap
= prohension, that yellow fever will visi
r Memphis this summer.
y | feel assured that the press 9
i Memphis will do justice to the me
who have done all in their power [
G secure the passage of national quar-
IS antine bill.
is NJ. HoPsoN JOHNSTON.
: NJ w II W.ul.sl1.i