Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-04-10
SANITARY SERVICE.
The National Board CT Health Preferred
for It by the Council Of the Mis-
sIssippi Waller, Because
The Marine Hospital SerYi4e is a Pc.
litical Machine, and was Useless
in Texas Last Summer,
Except In the Maintenance Of a Gordon
at an Expense oGt OF All Proper
ton TO the Good Effected.

NEW ORLEANs-The Picayune, in its is
sue of Saturday, has the following edi
torisl: At the meeting OF the Auxiliary
Sanitary Association last Jhursday evening
Messrs. Fenuer, Schmidt and other gentle
men, who had just returned from the lat
session Of the Sanitary Council at Jaeksou
made an oral report OF the proceedings 0
the latter assembisge. Among other things
Ii was stated that great hostility was mani
tested in the Council toward the LoGisisni
State Board of Health. Mr. Fenuer sale
that but for the efforts OF the Louisiana dele
gates "'he resolutions of cooperation snc
assurance OF a deLermin atiou 10 act for tht
protection Of the health Of the people of tht
Mississippi valley, ssnt by the Louisiana
Board 10 the Sanitary Council, woHld have
bsen rejected with disdaiD" Another poin
brought out by the same gentlemen
was the unwiilingness of the Council
to recognizes steamboat health iuspec
lions by the Marine Hospital Service
Mr.. David P. MADDEN, president of the Tax
ing District Of Memphis, it appears, ever
went 70 far sc to declare that no boat from
New Orleans should laud III Memphis unless
it had the certificate of the National Board
OF Health, as he would not in any way recog
nizs the Marine Hospital Service. Mr.. II ad.
den, we are further informed, is Il member oil
the committee appointed by the Sanitary
Council 10 petition the President of the
United States'to place the 100000 health
fund, now at bis disposal, in the hsnds Of
the National Board in the event OF the
outbreak of yellow-fever or other epidemic
disease on the coast of this country.
1t will be seen that this report places three
very remarkable facts in glaring prominence
a. The Sanitary Council occupies az stti-
tude OF determined hostility toward the Lou
isisna Board of Health. (2) The Sanitary
Council, or at least very considerable por.
ton of il, has resolved to ignore the Msrine
Hospital Service. 49, The Sanitary Council
will be satisfied win nothing less than $780,
QUO of public money to be placed at the dis-
posal Of the National Beard.
These three facts are logically connected
under the system OF reason 1g which pre-
walls In the Sanitary Council; but placed in
their natural order Of sequence, the last oil
them should have been stated first, and the
whole should have been thrown into the
form OF reversed syllogisol in which the
Two premises should have been deduced from
the conclusions:
The Sanitary Council, az the teuder of the
National Board, is after 100000; therefore
il disclaims the Louisiana B&rd of Health,
and therefore it will refuse to RECOGNIZES the
NJ arine Hospital S5rV!ce.
We are aware that certain citizens of New
Orleans were acDGated By commend able
though in our judgment mistaken, motive.
of policy in attending the meeting Of the
Sanitary Council at Jackson; out we do be.
lieve that the meeting was arranged and en-.
gineered in the exclusive interest OF the Ma.
tional Board, and that the ultimate objective
point Of the whole movement wss to esp.
lure the contingent health luud at The dis.
posal OF the President of the United States
We are strengthened in this conviction by
the fact that the president OF the Memphi.
Taxing-D strict was permitted to say, with :
out rebuke, that ne would ignore the exist.
ence of the Marine Hospital Service, and
that he would recognizs no certificates of in
spection except those issued by the 'Naiional
Board.
1t Is aside from the argument to remind
Mr.. MADDEN that he assumes himself to pos
sess prerogative which was never vested ia
the mayor OF the city of Memphis, and
Which has never been conferred upon the
president Of the Taxing d strict of Memphis
He occupies simply a subordinate State
office, and he is very much mistakeu ~ to
the extent of his powers If he has been led
to believe that he can either establish q
quarantine or arrange it's detaila. But Mr.
Hadden's boast Of what he'will do and oil
what he will not do in regard TO those things
serves very wellto show tie controlling ami
mus of the beds before which he ~ sde il,
The Marine Hospital Service enjoys all
the prestige OF a genuine success. 1t has
demonstrated Its capacity TO deal with yellow
fever epidemics 1t has not dollar TO gain
either by reporting or concealing the exist-
ence of yellow fever. 1t is entirely free
both from the temptations OF individual
profit and from the pressure Of local irfu.
ence. In all OF these respects IL preseuls q
conspicuous contrast to the National Board
of Health. For this reason, therefore, we
incline strongly TO the opinion that the Pres
ident will not be induced ~ the proposed
petition to disc. animate against the Marine
Hospital Service in favor of the National
Board. % the contrary, if need be coun-
ter petition can be presented, setting forth
the superior claims of the Marine Hospital
Service, and refreshing the memory OF the
President as to the record of The National
Board, if be has forgotten it.
1t is to the credit of the Louisiana State
Board, and Of the people OF New Orleans,
that they are not in the least opposed 10 a
system Of fair inspections and accurate re-
ports. Their opposition has been wholly
confined to an unWarraDted interference of a
sell. constituted and unrepresentative Sani-
tsry Council cooked up in the interest Of q
National Board which Congress has shorn OF
its IA sused powers. Neither Mr.. MADDEN, nor
any other meal = OF the Sanitary Council,
has condescended to give the faintest shadow
OF reason for the preference he accords 10
the National Board, or shown any cause
whatever of distruSt toward the Marine Hos
pital Service. The position OF predetermined
hostility toward he Ma inc Hospital Services,
as toward the Louisiana Board of Health,
hiss been fact'ously and unreasonably as
sumed. Until some better showing is made,
We shall continue 10 believe that greed OF
public pap, the Unsuitable appetite OF little
office seekers, is the true explanation of the
mystery.