The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-31
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
THR BILL TO PREVENT THEIR
INTRODUCTION.
The National Board to Give Way to
. Commission Directed by the
Secretary OF the Interior.

mt n submit ed to the Sena'e BY the
Postmaster General, giving let OF re-
mOvsls made in postoffists OF the
fourth c'&stiute March 4, 1885, shows
that he number OF such removals In
Tennessee has been 1888; in Arkansas
&C., and in Mississippi CO.
The Secretary CT the Treasury has
asked sn additi NAL appropriation of
5000 for the completion OF the public
building at Jackson, Tenn. The reason
Tor this additional allowance ia that
the estimates Of cost Of the building
were exceeded, owing TO the unex-
pectGd high cost OF the work, bsing
done in Al out-of-the. way place and
the high rsts Of transportation. An
exuS $1,000 is also required for the
OHinrd, Mss, building from the same
causes and The expense incurred In
providing Suitable drainage.
The Committee on Commerce have
pr pared Q favorable report on the
bill ITO prevent the introduction OF
eontagi lus and infectious dises 8 into
the UnitGd States." A Is well known
TO the readers OF the APPEAL, this In
several phases has been the subject OF
consideration in the committee, and
Il h gratifying to know that they are
not only willing to do their duty in
the premises, but are persistently uTg
ing The attention Of Congress aud the
country 10 the question OF sanitary
provisions and laws. This measure is
still another step in the right direc-
tion. The com ittee will say that
"yellOw-fsver lie pest whcss ravFges
sre not confined to any locality or
State, but which, II importei from its
home In the tIopicP, has spread over
large portions OF our country, pro-
ducing most disastrous result. Meas
ures n check the progress or prevent
the invation OF this class OF diseases
must be national in their character,
authority, and the extent Of their up.
plication."
In the report under consideration
the committee add: The Importance
Of aa Org n'Ssd public health service
IN connection with the general gov.
eminent 10 centrally conoeded. Every
clvllised country has made such pr1.
vision for the health ard ssfsy OF its
Inbabitante. The necessitI es OF modern
lille require such sanitary provision.
TIE increase in population within
receot times a5d It's concentration in
largo communities, the rapid growth
oil commerce aud the largely increased
communication between different
countries and various portions If the
same country, owing TO the improved
taci tiles for intercourse, have tended
70 d ttuse more rapidly and generally
the several forms OF oontagiens, infec- |
houB and epidemic diseases and in.
crease their danger and ia atty.
1t becomts important, therefore.
that the facts relating to the nature of
these di eases, and especially the
isws OF their dissemination, should be
Hscel tlined 10 order that proper and
efficient measures Of prevention may
be adopted. Such diseases are MT
localiSAd or lin ted by State llnes.
They 'pread rapidly and widely, and
become a national scourge, calling for
national m a3uTes OF relief.
After recitiug the good accom-
Pliahed by State Boards, the report
sAys:
1t would seem that when so much
has been accomplished by State health
organizations, a national health ssr-
vice, covering a wider field and con.
trolling conditions which they either
separate y or conformity cannot reach,
must, II properly organized and pru.
IDENTITY and efficiently administered,
20 bent hcial to the public interests.
Congress in 1879 recognized the pro-
prlety OF creating such a service, and
established the National Board Of
Health, which still exists. II per-
formed good service for several YEAR,.
but the fact cannot be disguised that
u does not now command the conf
dence Of Congress or the country. and
lie no longer useful {
Your committee are OF the opinion
that the medical profession do not de- !
'ire ite continuance, and one OF the :
provisions OF the ace lmpanyiDg bill re- :
peaIs the law establishing it. This =
bill places 1Ie service In the hands of a :
sommis ionef connected with the D. !,
partment Of the IHtsrior. II thus g.
lures tmclt ncy Of action and full re-
IponB 6Iuy, bsiDg always under the
control OF tue Secretary Of the IEte- \
nor. A change Of commissioner in
'ase oil Incl Efficiency 0oud be easily made
while a beard Of eleven members
,ould not be- changed without delay,
aud embarrassment. No pa
I0page Is conferred upon this Office.
md no executive functions are created
hat can 10 Aay way touch upon the
nights or powers Of the States, or other I
Of the government.
An impo taat bill has been pre-
lonted 70 the COMMITTEES on Lsvees
ind Improvements OF the Mississippi y
River for consideration, intended 10
.hange the present method of improv-
ng the great waterway. It provides !
hat for the purpose Of resi- a ming the
waters q the Mifsissippi river VITA. +
n lite ct aansl from Cairo to the
Head Of the Passes, and TO carry Cd
he fiold waters Of taid river to the ]
Gult If Mex CO, the Secretary Of War
% authorised TO entar into contract
With Patrick ] Kennedy and asto J.
Ates for the nstutti m OF 1000 1000
cube yards Of embankmenti or ear h
works, within the limits Of the S'a,es
bordering n the river, and to enter !
into contract with the same par Il, for
The opening OF outlets TO carry off the
food vsters Of the rivers through
Bayou P.squemine, Like Blrgne, and /.
along tha route Of the pr jecied Fort :
81 PhiliD canal. is
II provides for the building Of $780,
300 ouhie yards OF levee embankmant
in Tennessee; in Arkansas 2,0O0000
cubic yards; In Misti tippi 2,OOa,OOO
cubic yard-, and in l. ,uis ana 1000
300 cuhc yards, with the ha aace ia
Kentucky and / NOS. The
bill c, llA Tor an apprrp ration Cf 49,.
zoo, 90, 81 which $i,S00,00J il to be
aeed ior the outlete,
The Military Committs have been
Asked TO recommend 40 appropriation
Of 5000 f,r the construction OF q
used road from the town Of
Dover 90 the national csmtt Try In
that vicinity, provided that the right
Of way, net less than seventy.ige feet
in width, b II q 81 be secured o the
United stb7s 10 any part Of the
ground over which the 10 d hall run,