The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-28
FREEDOM FROM FEVER.
PLEA FOR PROTECTION SENT FROM
THIS CITY TO WASHINGTON.
The Hon. James Phelan Promptly Re.
plies, Assuring the Public That He
VIII Strongly Endeavor to Bring
About the Desired Legislation.

One OF the lessons impressed upon the
country by the prevalence and spread Of yell
low fever this year, is the need of powerful
government institution to assume control Of
the scourge Immediately upon its appear
ance at any point.
The sentiment in favor of the national
board Of health has undergone remarkable
and substantial growth during the past few
months.
A short time since Messrs. David +, Had
den, ]. NJ. Heating, J, IL. Martin, q. d.
Thornton, l.. b. suggs and Brother Maure-
lan sent TO his excellency, Grover Cleve-
land, the Hon. Isham G. Harris and mem
bers of the Senate, and the Hon. James
Fhelan and the members of the House Of
Representatives the following The pre-
yalence Of yellow fever in Florida
and its presence at Decatur, Ala,
and AT jackson, Miss, is due TO unre-
stricted intercourse between Cuba and Flor
ida during the past two years and demon
stratcs the necessity Of rigid and perfect
system of seaboard quarantine for future
protection of health, life and commerce. We,
therefore, earnestly request the re-essablish.
AlNllN VI AAlf hbtAlh VI HAhlAll VI W
some similar health organization, and its full
equipment, with power aud means to carry
out the desired object in conjunction with
state and local boards of health"
Yesterday communications were received
from the Hon. James Pholan in response 10
the plea, one IF them being addressed 10
Judge II. 5 Hammond. In note TO Tue
AlrEAL, acquainting IL with the fact Judge
Hammond SAYS; Our people may be as
surcd that Mr.. Phelan is alert to the noCcs-
stiles of the situation, and, before Congress
adjourns, II is probable that 1t will act with
efficiency 50 that we shall have quite a full
measure Of protection next summer. Sena-
tor Harris, as all know, is likewise alive 10
our wants in this regard, and the prospect
seems bright for useful congressional lcgis-
lation before this session ends II is no time
to wpngle or delay action over mere rival
rics Of methods or differences Of opinion as
Ia the character Of organization We need.
What is wanted Is national protection
against fever or panic because Of H."
The other reply was official and as follows.
HOUSE, OF RErREsENrArivS, U.sl
WASHINGTON. sept - ISIS. I
Nessrs David p. MADDEN, J. NJ. Heating, J. II.
Martin. q. - Thornton. l.. II. Sugys aud brother
Maurcllnn, Memphis Tenn.
Gentlemen: ON Saturday evening, the
22d, received from you the following tcle-
gram; THE prevalence OF yellow fever NJ
Decatur, Ala, and at Jackson, Miss, Is due
10 UNRESTRICTED intercourse between Cuba
and Florida during the past two years, and
demonstrates the necessity Of rigid and
perfect system OF sca-board quarantine Tor
future protection Of health. life aud con-
mcrcc. We therefore urgently request the
establishment Of the National board OF
health or Of some similar health ornnizn.
ton, and It's full equipment with power and
means To carry cut the desired object In con.
nection with state and local boards oi
health"
The communication was evidently written
under miSapprehension Of the real facts OF
the case. ! am not quito clear, from ia,
wording OF your telegram, whether you
mean that the national board Of health oI
some other organization. Independent u
and In addition 10, the present marine hos
pital service should bc framed for uuaran
tine purposes. This Is n question entirely
different from the suggestion you make that
there should be for THIS purpos, full equip
mont devised, with power and means :,
carry out the desired object In connection
with State and local boards Of health Thii
action, am glad 10 say, has already beer
taken by Congress. The Senate passed AZ
net 10 perfect the quarantine service OF tn
United States this spring, and II came 4
committee, aud ut my instigation was a
once reported back 10 the House and passed
enclose you copy Of the bill as approved
As you see, IL apropriaics SJOO,OOO 70
the establishment OF seven scsbOard qunran
tine stations at different points, and for thci
| equipment and current expenses. In adj
| ton 10 this, a bill had already beer
passed for the establishment Of
quarantine station In the. Gulf o
| Mexico. This was q radical dcpartur
and gratifying action on tho part Of Con
grcs., but IL comes too late 20 be of service
this year. Money enough, therefore, hal
been Appropriated 10 make sufficient pre-
partitions for scaboari quarantine. Thcs'
stations will be rendered effective by the 10
| cation % inspectors In various scapOrt-. VIII
i will send 10 these stations, vessels from In
fectcd ports. In operation, II amounts q
| having quarantine station At zach seaport
This. 1 believe. will be found 10 fulfil
adequately aud entirely, your suggestion n
20 equipment Of rigid and, In course o
time, perfect quarantine at the seaboar'l
/ This act was passed In accordance will
| recommendation of the present surgeon
general OF the marine hospital service. (Sc
his report Of 1851, and especially Page
~ and 49,
/ That the introduction of yellow fcyor int,
this country IL due 90 intercourse will
Havana aud other foreign infected port
cannot be doubted. II seaboarl quArantn
can prevent it, introduction, and | believe !
can, then the means are, or soon will be, Il
existence for this purpose. For myself,
believe II will bo done.
am not clear A. 10 your other suggestion
n you mean that tho national board O
health, or a similar organization with mmI
lar powers should bc sct on foot, ] answc
frankly, that In tho present temper u tli
House this IN no longer In the domain q
the possible. The sentiment Il Oyervheln
lngly against this-unjusuy ~, think.
tho national board " health had been give
proper equipment full power aud sun
Gent inrans, tbcileyc the result would hav
been satisfactory. hut II was. from the iirs
hampcrcd by the lack Of every necessar
function. Since then, ~ you know, th
quarantine service has been under Get
OF the recent bill, has been In puctichll
the same condition, being held responsible
for the achievement 81 results, ~ achicV
which no means were provided. The pa
sagc Of tho recent bill sooms To me, NJ n ma
ter " practical legislation, to settle the n,
ministr.tyo features oi tho national qua
nniino service. To b. an efficient service,
believe that both -.aboari and inland qua
Antino should be- under tho same head.
the functions now exercised by Gel
Hamilton cannot be transferred 10 IN
newly crcsie'l boarl. the practical and bus
ncSs.likc solution n the question seems
me tO be % give him all the auih0ii
, needed, and which it would be proposed
give 10 a new board am now diUuAsir
the matter NJ Il stands, recognizing cSisiif
conditions, not from the standpoint o. ~
regarding The question NJ an entirely nc
one, unhampcrcd and unaffected by prev
Gus legislation.
The question Of lnlapd quarantine has ~
been raised In your telegram, except N
YOU Suggst that quarantine regulation
should be carried out IN connection vii
i | ~. u