, 1884-12-13
FEARS OF CHOLERA.
Steps Being Taken to Prevent
Its Introduction.
Legislation Proposed by the
Board of Health.
Facts and Fiction Coming From
Foreign Shores.
Cholera

WASHINGTON, December IL. The
committee on Federal legislation appointed
by the national conference of the State
Board of Health has completed a bill
which embodies its views as to the best
methods Of preventing the introduction
into the United States of cholera and
other diseases dangerous to public health.
The first of the ten sections comprised
in the bill provides for a National Board
of Health, to consist of one member from
every State Health Board, now or here
after established, to be appointed by the
President and confirmed by the Senate.
This differs from the original act in that
1t largely increases the members of the
Board from the army, navy and marine
hospital service, and a law officer from the
department o fjustice.
The second section of the bill provides,
as did the corresponding section of the
original act, for the collection and dissent
nation Of sanitary information but greatly
enlarges the scope of the Boards powers
by authorizing it to frame rules and regu-
lations for the government of the quaran-
tine service of the United States and by
vesting in it (the board) all authority
which is now or may hereafter be pro-
vided by law for the control and protec-
ton of public health. 1t directs hat the
National Board cooperate with local
ho,~1a ~ G. Al "a Iourc,11., 49, ID A..
it aid in the enforcement of the lntter's
rules and regulations, but it also author
lies the National Board, upon the direc-
ton of the President, to act in the several
States independently and make and en-
force therein its own rules regardless of
local boards.
The third section relates to the regula-
ton of the marine quarantine service
and authorizes the National Board
to frame rules to be observed by all vessels
sailing from foreign ports to ports of the
United States, and provides 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 as well as by
the medical officers serving under this
act.
Section four provides that any vessel
from any foreign port which shall attempt
to enter any port of the United States in
violation of the above rules and regula-
tons shall be liable to process before the
District Court of the United States, and
upon conviction shall forfeit to the United
States any sum to be awarded in the dis
cretionof the Court. not exceeding 81, 1000,
which shall be a lien upon the vessel. In
order to show it hes complied with these
rules and regulations, every vessel shall
be provided with a proper certificate from
the United States Consul or medical
officer at the port of departure, who must
be satisfied hat the statements therein
contained are true.
Section FIVE provides for a similar obser-
vance Of these rules and a corresponding
certificate from the health officer at the
port of entry.
Section six authorizes the President Of
the United States in any threatening
emergency to make known by proclama-
ton what measures he may think neces-
sary to meet it such as suspending intro
duction by land or sea of any dangerous
kind of merchandise or prohibiting en-
tirely the entry into the United States
ports any vessels from infected countries.
He shall at the same time convene the
National Board of Health in special ses-
sion and the measures shall be revised by
the latter, which shall, upon approval by
the President, supersede executive proc
lamation.
The remaining four sections provide for
the collection by consular officers Of sani-
tary statistics and information in foreign
ports; for the detail by the President OF
department officers TO serve temporarily
under direction ofthe Board without extra
compensation; for the appropriation Of
$500,00 0 to meet the expenses incurred in
carrying out the provisions of the bill
such sums to be disbursed under the Ma.
tional Boards direction and by its own
discussing agents, and for the repeal Of
all acts inconsistent with the terms of thii
one. A delegation of physicians and
members of State Boards ofHealth placed
the bill in the hands of the House com
mittee on public health this afternoon.