Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-01-11
Quarantine and Commerce.


We recently noted the fact that Judge
Monroe, of New Orleans, on the I'd lnst''
had. on the application of Morgan's Louis
lana and Texas Railroad and Steamship
Company. granted perpetual injunction
restraining the Louisiana State Board oil
Health from collecting quarantine fees,
on the ground that such fees are unconsti-
tutional.
This decision leaves the Louisiana
Board of Health without means of re-
venue. since the Legislature has made no
provision for its maintenance. The fees
have been paid under compulsion, and
now that they are declared Illegal, there
will be no disposition TO pay them. The
decision will probably stand in the courts
of appeal. and it would appear TO teach
lesson to be learned speedily by the people
of other States.
The New Orleans Times Democrat, which
has ever had the commercial and sanitary
interests of the Crescent City at heart,
halls the decision of Judge Monroe as
matter for rejoicing. 1t puts homely
truth in very plain English when It re-
marks:
1--WE have consistently and strenuously
urged the wisdom, if not the necessity, OF
reducing to the merest minimum the
charges upon our shipping. If New Or
leans expects to fulfill her destiny as
great seaport, she must adopt liberal
and enlightened policy in her dealings
with the worlds merchant marine. 1t is
no argument to assert that some
other ports on the globe make even
heavier exactions than we do. What
the New York or the Liverpool tarlh
may be. proves nothing. What we
know and what we must ac-
cept as the conditions governing our case,
are our only rules of action. We are con-
frOnted with the fact that New York and
Baltimore have taken away vast deal OF
our once fOurishing commerce, and that
now even Charleston, Savannah, Norfolk
and Galveston are handling thousands Of
bales of cotton which we might secure by
offering superior facilities and by the al
ways powerful inducement of reduced
charges upon shipping"
If we are not in the same or a very sim
liar situation. it is not for want of similar
modes of procedure in the matter of regu-
lating commerce. How accurately, or the
reverse. the reasoning of our contempt
rary applies in our own case, our shippers
and importers, and business men in gen.
eral. can Judge for themselves, 1t cannot
be gainsaid. though. that commercial
growth must be hampered as little as
possible. for it will be dwarfed in
proportion TO the restrictions put
upon it. The problem thus ad-
vanced suggests itself naturally
when one considers the commercial in
terests of GeOrgia's metropolis. 1t is one
that calls for thoughtful consideration
and speedy solution, though the former
may be aided and the latter FASTENED by
the progress and passage Of the measure
now pending in Congress for the restora-
ton of the American carrying trade.
But to return to the question raised by
Judge MOnrOe's decision. How shall the
cost of quarantine be met? bill intro
duced by Senator Harris, of Tennessee, is
pending in Congress for the re-establish-
ment and improvement of the National
Board of Health, The fate of the meas
ure is uncertain. If adopted it may tend
materially to promote the sanitary welfare
of the country, but this matter, after all,
is one that concerns primarily the States
themselves.
We of Georgia have an extensive sea-
coast. indented with harbOrs of growing
importance. How shall this be properly
guarded against infection: If left solely
to the local boards one portion may enjoy
less protection than another for lack of
means or vigilance. The best solution, 1t
appears to us. is to have a capable and
efficient State Board of Health, supported
in its efforts by the revenues Of the State,
and supplemented by boards with CORE
lated duties, maintained by local re-
sources. Furthermore. the Federal
government might be made to see the
prOpriety of aiding in this work, mas
much as the welfare of the country at
large is more or less affected by the
causes that call forth these expenditures.
We need an efficient State Board of
Health to deal not merely with one
mode of infection but with all.
The questions we have thus presented
are important. and should have thoughtful
consideration and the speediest possible
settlement. They concern not merely
Savannah or Brunswick or Darien or
other seab0ard communities, but the State
at large.