Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-13
PUBLIC HEALTH.
Ae'''"o OF the New BtIl PREPARED tv TIE
Committee or the Sssiessi Conference Or
stae gsaIds.

Committee or the National Conference q
State gsards.
49,. iby telegraph 10 the Dtspatch.f
WELLINGTON, December I2.-Thc Com
miitee on Federal Legislation. annointed
| Wy the National Conference Of tie site
Boards OF Health, has completed the hill
"pon "hlcn u was engaged yesterday. aud
which embodcs the views Of the Confer.
enee as TO the best methods Of prevent,ng
The introduction into the United states Of
the cholera and other diseases dangerous
TO the public health.
| The first OF the ten sections compri.ed
IN The bill provides for national board OF
health. 10 consist Of one member from
every health board now or hereafter estab-
ished. to be appointed by the President
and confirmed by the senate. This az.
iers from the original act in that
largely increases the member.
ship OF the Board and excludes from
u medical officers from the army. navy,
and marine hospital service, and law.ofti-
Ger fiom the Department OF Justice. The
second section OF the new bill provides, as
did the corresponding section Of the origi-
nal act. for the collection and dissemination
oil sanitary information, &C., but greatly
charges the scope Of the Boards powers
ly authorizing II TO frame rule, and regu.
la'lons for the government OF the duran
tine service OF the United States. and By
vestine IN the Board all authority which
Is now, or may hereafter be provided
by law, for the control and pro.
lection Of public health. II directs the
National Board TO COOPERATE with To-
cal boards as far rs it lawfully NAV
ana to aid in reinforcement OF the latter's
rules and regulations. but IL also author.
ICES the National Board. upon direction OF
The President. TO act in the several States
independently. and to make and enforce
their own rules regardless OF the local
boards
The third section relates to the reglIla.
ton OF the marine quarantine service. and
authorize the National Board to frame
rules TO be observed by all vessels sailing
from foreign ports TO ports OF the United
States, and provides that such rules, when
approved by the President and
issued by the Department OF State,
shall be enforced by all consular officers
and agents Of the United States, ~ well a,
by medical officers serving under this act.
Section 4 provides that any vessel from
any foreign port which shall attempt to en-
ter any port OF the United States in viola.
ton Of the above mentioned rules and reg
ulatiOns shall be liable TO process in the
proper District Court Of the United states.
and upon conviction shall forfeit TO the Uni
ted states the sum TO be awarded in the dis.
erection Of the court, not exceeding $1,000.
which shall be lien upon such vessel. In
order 10 show that 1t has complied with
these rules and regulations. every vessel
shall be provided with proper certificate
from the United States consular or medical
officer at the port OF departure, who must
he satisfied that the statements therein con-
tanned are true.
Section provides for similar OBJ
seryance Of these rules and q correspond.
ing certificate from the health officer at the
port Of entry.
Section authorizes the President Of the
United States, in any threatened emergency
to make known by proclamation the mea-
sures which he may think necessary to meet
II, such rs suspending the Introduction, by
land or by sea, OF any dangerous kind OF
merchandise, or prohibiting entirely the
entry into United States ports vessels
from infected countries. He shall at the
same time convene the National Board OF
Health in special session. and the measures
devised by the latter shall. upon the ap-
proval OF the President, supersede the Ex-
ecutiye proclamation.
The remaining four sections provides for
the collection by the consular officers OF SAN
itary statistics and information in foreign
ports for the detail by the President OF de-
uartmentgl officers to serve temporarily
under the direction OF the Board without
extra compensation; for an appropriation
Of 100000 TO meet expenses incurred in
carry ing out the provisions OF this bill,
such sums to be discussed under the Ne
tional Boards direction, and by lis own
disbursing agents; and for the repeal OF all
acts inconsistent with the terms OF this
one.
a delegation Of physicilns and members Of
the State Boards Of Health in attendance at
the conference placed the bill in the House
Committee on Public Health this afternoon.
DR.. Wacott OF Boston. Hon. Erastus
Brooks OF New York, and DR.. McCOr-
mack of Louisville, made short speeches
LetoIe the committee. They urged legisis-
tive action IN the direction proposed by the
bill and laid that The measure was APP
proved by tie boards OF health Of twenty
five States.
Representative Beach, chairman OF the
Committee on Public Health. says that he
regards the measure prepared by the con-
ference as a most important one, and that
his committee will give it consideration at
an early date.