New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-19
TILE OT1RINT[NE Bills.

Senator Vcdder. who has charge OF the two
bills providing for substantial reform Of tho
Quarantine establishment, is reported as saying
that he hopes to get both measures through
the Legislature this week. Ii is certainly to
be hoped and expected that they will be passed
without delay. Sufficient time has elapsed
since they were introduced to learn the views
OF those whom they most. concern, and the re-
sponses that have been elected prove that
there is a strong non-partisan public sentiment
behind them They have the Endorsement OF
such representative commercial organizations
as the Chamber Of Commerce, and so far as
we are aware are opposed by no class having
business relations with Quarantine. " The
Albany Argus has sneered at the pending
legislation, and it has served to render 1.-THE
New York Tines unhappy. But then hide
bound Democratic organs never could DO
counted upon to support good Republican re-
form measures.
The Quarantine bill which was first intro
duced provides for a substantial reduction OF
fees and by so doing and by increasing The
expenses of maintaining the establishment cuts
down the income of the Health Officer TO
figure which will hardly be regarded as exces-
siye even by the most conservative. Some OF
che fees which are established have heretofore
been adjusted by the Health Oillcer ana INC
shining interests. The fee for inspection,
for example, will be established at %. WINE
tho fee for that service has been 30 %. nc
fee for fumigation and dlsinicction' "hch
has ranged from So to SIS. is made Uniform and
established at So, thus reducing the charges
in the majority of instances. since the majority
is composed of steamers that have been paying
SIS the maximum fee. The provision of the
bill i'm regard 10 the Health Officer compensa-
ton. whilo not specifically establishing 1t at
$4,000, names that figure. 1.-THE Health
Officer" the section reads, shall be entitled
TO receive total compensation of not less tnan
$4,000" Those familiar with the amount
of business carried ON at Quarantine have ex-
pressed doubt whether the fees as reduced by
the bill would yield the Health Officer $1,000,
after he has paid all the salaries and expenses
for which he is made responsible. If they do
hot it is provided that the Quarantine Commls-
sloners on proper proof shall pay him the
deficiency. Nothing, however, is said about
the excess of fees. The intent of the bill
would be more fully expressed if section were
added providing that fees annually remaining
$4,000 should be turned into the public
treasury
This excellent reform measure is appropri-
ately supplemented by a second which is de-
signed to take the Quarantine Offices out OF
politics. 1t provides for new Commission
to consist of the heads of the Health Depart
ment Of New-York City and Brooklyn and of
.'ohn A. Nichols, one of the present Commis-
sioners The proprIety of lodging the respon-
sibility in question in the hands Of the health
officers of the two great cities OF the State
that are most interested III the faithful manage
ment of the Quarantine establishment is too
evident TO require comment
We repeat. therefore, that the Legislature
will do well to push these bills and pass them
without unnecessary delay. 1t is clear that the
legislation is in the interest of the public
1t is equally clear that 1t would be good politics
for the Republicans to put them through
Governor Hills occupation as scheming poll
tician would be considerably circumScrl0cd II
the Quarantine establishment were rcmOdclled
as this bill proposes He is anxious to get con-
troll Of it for reasons not nnconnccted with
patronage and the promotion of his own and
his party's ambition. With these bills on the
statute book he would roar as gently as suck
ing dove about Quarantine matters.