The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-05-29
sells ut New Orleans only two and four

to cone directly 20 the Guy, uuC vs.
say that the law (Scc. 3O45) grants
that privilege Only to vessels ten days
from an infected port, and not to yes
sells only two and four days out from
such ports.
The Board of Health, may assume to
Justify its action in relation to the
Clinton by Gov. Wiltz's proclamation,
which says that vessels may be de-
tanned ut quarantine SO long as the
Board thinks proper, but tho law
(Sec 3O49) requires the Governor in
his proclamation to state the number
Of days a quarantine is to be per-
formed" and that the proclamation of
the Governor, by vesting il the Board
the power to determine the number
of days, is an evasion Of the letter Of
the law aud practical notification
of our quarantine system. ~.....
1t is illegal to permit ship from
an infected port to come to New Or.
leans III less than ten days after her
clearance, yet the Yrurac Bat came in
two days and tile Clinton III four and
it is illegal for the Governor to vest
in the Board of Health the power to
nullify the law, as lie has attempted
to do BY transferring to it tire right to
deternn. the number Of days quar-
amtine must be performel.
The Governor 8 duty as prescribed
by law is too Gear for cavil. In his
proclamation l.s should have forbid
den any vessel, even with a clean bill
of health, to como to the wlaryes Of
New Orleans within ten days of her
clearance from an infected port, and
! he should have established IL mini
mum number of days for the perform
ance Of quarantine, while giving to
the Board of Health the discretion to
increase the number Of days but lie
has no power under the law to dis
pense with quarantine except by
revocation of his proclamation estab
fishing it.
1t looks to us rs if the Wilt Board
of Health does not intend to enforce a
quarantine, and its published regula
tons seem to read that way, for they
contemplate the .fact that ressels haring
yellom fercr on board shall come to the
wharres of Nev Orleans and remain
there.
This is their language and we were
appalled, when We read it; but We
hope that We may be mistaken and
that some explanation may show that
We arc in error. 1t is not words but
acts that make il quarantine, and all
contrivances to make the people be-
lieve that there is quarantine when
there is none must fail.
In the meanwhile we hope tho
Board Of Health will reconsider its
action aud give US i quarantine. We
conclude with an extract flnm the
PicdyuRe of the 9TH inst, WHICH shows
that tile Board claims to Justify its
action in permitting vessels only two
and four days from Havana, to come
to New Orleans by the proclamation
of the Governor:
A petition from certain merchants and
sllipOWncrs, agents, etc, Of this city
WAS read, praying that quarantine
against infected ports be modified i'll
eases where vessels arrive here with /,
clean bill Of health and no cases Of sick
ness on the voyage, SO that they may lie
allowed to come up to the city without
unnecessary delay.
Mr. Marks, observing that this petition
was drawn up before the PRONUNCIATION
Of the quarantine proclamation Of the
Governor, these parties wonlA no doubt
be satisfied Herewith.
Mr. Marks is Il member Of the Board
Of Health, aud his opinion, stated al
the Board without contradiction, was
substantially that Gov. Willis proc
lamation authorized vessels with clean
, bills 1T heal tin to come to the whlryes
+ nf New Orleans without any detention
aud that this ought to satisfy the ship
owners.
J A clean bill of health relates only
to persons, but what becomes 1T the
pestilential air ia the holds Of ships
5 pern,eating aud poisoning their car.
goes with the seeds of disease ready
: to be distributed among our stricken
Z peoples The construction placed OF
/ Coy. Willis proclamation by Mr.
t Marks is not necessarily correct, nn
. less Mr.. Marks implied that its pccu
$ liar language was intended by Gov
: Wilt to allow vessels clearing from
i an infected port and having a c'ea,
!, hill of health, to come to New Or!eall,
Ii i'll less chan ten days, but this is
e clear violation of the law as set fo,tl
: III section 3O45 Of the Revised Stat
|. utes.
II Rev. Francois Xavier Quay, prizes
If Of st. Joseph's Church, Marksville