The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-08-22
TO HEM IN EPIDEMICs.
A Bill That Owes It's Origin &c
Florida's Present Scare.


Florida's Present Scare,
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2l.-Following is the
text Of the bill drafted by the officials of the
treasury department, and presented IN the
senate to-day by Mr.. Harris to prevent the
introduction of contagious diseases from
one state 10 another. A similar bill was in
troduced in the house to-day by Mr.. Crisp
of Georgia.:
Be it enacted. etc. That when in pursuance
of the request of a governor of state the presl-
dent shall, by order direct the employment OF
any port on of the appropriation for the pre-
vention Of the spread of epidemic diseases with
In the boundaries OF state, in the maintenance
or quarantine at points of danger, or Otherwise.
in his discretion. Any officer or person acting
as an officer or agent of the United States
who shall knowingly and wlfully violate any
lawful order of his superior officers, shall be
deemed guilty of misdemeanor and when any
such officer, or person acting as an officer or
agent of the United States shall so violate, dis
obey or willfuly neglect to obey the order OF
superior officer, as to cause the extension OF
cholera, small pox, yellow fever, plague or other
disease prevailing as an epidemic, thaC officer or
person shall be deemed guilty Of felony
SEC. 2. Whenever any common carrier;
through its officers, agents or employees sha
violate any quarantine order or regulations
made in accordance with the provisions of sec
tion l, such officer, agent or employe shall be
deemed guilty of an offense in the same degree
as that defined in section l. and shall suffer the
same penalty as that provided in section 3 of
this act.
SEC. 3. Any person convicted of a msde-
meanor under the provisions OF this act shall
pay fine of not less than $500, and any person
convicted of felony shall pay fine Of NOT less
than S3,O00 and suffer imprisonment at hard
labor for q period of not less than one nor
more than three years; and when any person
in the service of the United States shall be con
victed of mlsdemeanor or of felony under the
provisions Of this act, he shall, in addition to
fIarN ARN0It nf h1 &c AEN N
service forthwith.
SEC. L. Whenever 1t shall be made to appear
to the satisfaction of the Secretary of the Treas
ury that any of the diseases specified in section
! exist in any state, and that there is danger of
Il spread of such disease by the usual channels
of transportation TO other states, he is author
lied to adopt such rules and regulations as in
his Judgment may be necessary In order to pre-
vent the spread thereof from one state
to another, and to employ such
inspectors and other persons as may be
necessary for the purpose aforesaid, and any
person who shall knowingly disobey or violate
any order, rule or regulation made by the Sec
retary of the Treasury pursuant to the author
ity herein conferred. shall be deemed guilty of
a misdemeanor, punishable by fine of not less
than $780, and by Imprisonment for not less
than one year.
In letter to Senator Harris transmitting
the proposed legislation, Secretary Far
child says:
1t has long been evident to the department
having charge of the matter, that while the
maritime quarantine Is fully up to the present
requirements, a general law making definite
provisions for the framing of regulations for the
conduct of operations to prevent the spread of
epidemic diseases from one state to another,
was wholly lacking in vital force and statutory
sanction. An appropriation originally passed
to tide over public exigency then existing has
been continued down to this time, and many
instances have arisen showing the inadequacy
of the power TO frame satisfactory regulations
In regard TO the proposed penalty, it is the
be too severe for such violation of the regula-
tions as would Introduce a virulent epidemic
from one locality to another and experience in
the conduct of the service has shown con
cusively the difficulty of executing by the
federal machinery the local ordinances Of a
state or municipality.