The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-01


full. The epidemic outbreaks of small y
poX soon ceased to occur, and the countryF
was relieved OF the peslilence. Although
THIS EPIDEMIC Ml
authorized the board to use the "epidemic|
fund.-" yet it was found possible to avoid N
such use by the strictest economy in the &
employment Of the finds appropriated for
ordinary purposes. For two years, there n
fore, the epidemic fund" remained un-
disturbed by the board. At the next ses-
sion of Congress, lSSl.S2, q small sum was
allowed the board by that body The
epidemic fund.-" though placed in the
usual position OF the appropriations for the
national board of health, had this signif-
cant and remarkable qualification added, n
viz, ito be used at the discretion OF the
President" Prior to the adjournment of
| Congress yellew fever had appeared at \
! Brownsville Tex, and the authorities APP
pealed for national aid. On the morning
following the passage OF the appropriation
| bill, the officers OF the national board
called upon the President to inquire if the
epidemic fund" would not be immedi-
ately available to meet the growing epi-
| demic Of yellow fever in Texas. He in
| formed them that he had already trans
ierred his discretion" in the use of thou
fund" to the Secretary Of the Treasury.
lie also added that, while he, personally,
knew nothing about the matter, certain
officers OF the treasury had assured him
| that Congress intended that the "iund''2
! should not be used by the board OF health,
but should be under the control Of the
agents of the treasury. a Senator presentf
who had taken an active part in the dis-i
cussion of the appropriation bills in tho1
Senate, emphatically stated that Congress-
had no such intention, and reviewing The
discussion on this subject in the Senate,
proved conclusively that the Senate cons
mittee on appropriations regarded tl1o
epidemic fund as an appropriation u
the board OF health. The President stated.
however, that rs IL was matter With \
which he was quite unfamiliar, he lied
turned the 'iund' over TO the Secretary.
OF the Treasury, with power to exerciso
the discretion conferred upon him. He
advised them TO confer with the secretary. n
As the secretary was absent, a cDnmuni-
cation was addressed to him by the presi-
dent OF the board, advising that lid
'lund" be made Immediately avail-k'
able, in order that the board
might proceed 10 organize, and 4
aid in enforcing measures against M
THE VERY THREATENING INVASION OF YEL-
| LOW FEWER IN THE SOUTHWEST. IVA
The secretary replied. in effect, that lie
had decided 10 withhold the "fund" from
the board OF health, and TO disburse il IN
accordance with the discretion" conferred
by the President, Ms he himself might
think proper. This decision OF the secra-
tary was Immediately followed by an OF
der directed TO the surgeon-general OF tlio|
marine hospital service, comforting upon
| hin, full stltgsraii.uN IA th..
fund" This decision was an unexpcctedt
blow, not only at the usefulness, but al
the very existence Of the board. IL wilh-I
held from the only branch OF the public
service authorized by law TO exercise publ
lie health functions the means by which,
IL was 10 perform its duties, and imposed.
upon q bureau OF the treasury duties Of
which the statute had expressly deprived
IL. Ii was now only too evident that lhe
national board was TO be supplantcd, and<
that the change in the appropriation u
the epidemic fund, 1" by which il was ID.
be expended at the discretion OF the Prcsi-
dent, "was the flrst step in the process.
The transfer Of the fund" and tlio
discretion" 10 use Il, TO the Scc-.
Rotary Of the Treasury by the Prcsidcnt'
was the next step, and the consummation
naturally and Immediately followed UNI
1 Ahlt hhN w NblAluut Tvs NNTht anu 10
maintrin the several branches Of service
at the refugee stations and on the Missis.
sippi river, but DESTROYS that the greatest
possible measure OF protection should DO
afforded the people against the commence
ing epcdemic the board decided 10 turn
over 10 the President Immediately the
public property belonging 20 IL employed
IN aid Of the State and local boards Of
health, rs boats, hospital accommodations,
and other equipments, at the stations on
the Mississippi river, and at the stniions
Ship Island, Sapelo Sound aud Norfolk, "a
be used by him for the purposes for which
they are intended, until Congress should
provide the board with means for carry
ing ON thisbranch Of work. During that
season yellow fever prevailed extensively
In Texas, and also at Pensacola, Fla. Tie
public health service was now, for
the first time, under two juris-
dictions the officials OF the treas
ury expanding tho epidemic fund.-
chiefly In Texas, and
IN OPERATING THE REFUGE STATIONS
established by the board, while the ma
tional board employed lis limited mcans
In aid OF the health authorities OF Pcnss&
cola. At the session Of Congress lSS2-s4
the board cndcayored 20 secure n rc-enact>
ment Of the law Of June 2. 1879, which.
under the four ycnn clause, would expir
IN June, 1883, but no action was taken G
that end. Congress appropriated no none
for the work Of the board, and ngain
placed the epidemic fund" under d
control Of tho President The officers ~
the board again applied personally TO Tho
/ President, requesting him 10 empower do
board 10 employ the epidemic fund" .
preventive measures In the event OF q
threatened OF an actual epidemic Stat6H
boards u health and health organizations
pctiiioncd the President TO the same end.
but II was again turned over TO the trcao-
ury department, and used by It's oilicial6
The board Of health was not onlyHrippo1
OF all power 10 carry on its work, but also
Of funds with which 10 maintain an ind
pendent existence. At ils last sessiou
Congcss appropriated a small amou11
10 meet past deficiencies, aud 10 provide
Office Accommodations. Tho epidemic
fund was placed again at the discretion "a
the President, who turned II over 10 the
Treasury Department, which has EN-.
ploycd Y through its agents. The position
Of the National Board Of Health, since It's
duties and funds were transferred 10 bu.
rcau, has been, and Is, that OF we'll or
ganizcd branch Of the public service, fully
equipped with every necessary appliance
10 perform efficiently aud economically
the duties assigned 20 u by law, but which
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