The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-04
EMBARGO ON TRADE.
Absurd Regulations by the
Treasury Department.
Or. coNovER EXPLAINS THE LAW
An Unrevoked Order Caused the A1ger
Trouble - Puget Sound Health
OMcer Not Needed.

yesterday and, in explanation Of the regu-
lation under which the sealing schooner
Allie l. A1ger was compelled to submit 70
quarantine inspection, said:
was in Spokane on q leave of absence and
deputixed DR.. Baldwin, the Puget sound health
officer. 70 act ia my place while was awny.
The order under which he acted was general
order Issued July Is. and requires all vessels
from foreign ports TO secure q Clean bill OF
health from the quarantine Official before being
allowed 70 enter at any port in the district
This order, coming ont at the same time
that quarantine was declared against Victoria
on account OF the smallpox, was generally sup
posed TO apply only TO vessels coming from
British Columbia, and when the quarantine
was raised the presumption was that this order
was no longer in force Collector WATSON and
all the deputy collectors so understood IL, but
that was not the case. The order was perman-
nent, and is stlll in force. ] explained this to
Mr.. WATSON, and ho recognized the fact at once.
That was the question raised when the steamer
City Of seattle went TO Port Angeles from VIC
toria with the excursion party a few days ago,
without stopping at Port Townsend in compii-
auce with this order. Her case has been sub
United 10 the department. and ID still pending.
The order has caused great deal OF confusion
In Just this way, and I am anxious to see 1t
modified, but until IL is l have no alternative
but TO enforce it.
Now as to the case of the Ager, DR.. Baldwin
did not have to. come over here TO inspect her II
he did not choose to do so, but could compel her
to be taken back to Port Townsend. He wss
willing to come for $50. and this was insignih-
cant compared with the cost OF taking the
vessel back 40 the owner agreed to pay it and
no camc over and inspected her. Had been
acting myself probably would have charged
nothing more than my expenses, ye. ! would
have the right to DO so II ! saw fit.
The quarantine officer 10 not supposed TO leave
the port ut which he is stationed, but construe
the law TO give him discretion to do SO 1t he
sees III, and charge q reasonable fec for Sd do
ing. The position is a salaried one, of course,
but the occupant is not supposed to be obliged
60 give any more time TO 1t than necessary to do
the work, and may have his private practice out.
side OF thnt therefore see nothing wrong in
the action OF Dr. Baldwin.
Inquiry among steamboat men shows
that the order DIR. Conover refers to, to-
gether with the order issued few days
ago for the quarantining for twenty days
OF all vessels from foreign ports carrying
immigrants, is working great hardship
and injustice on the shipping interests of
the Sound. 1t forces all vessels of all
classes coming from foreign ports to any
port on the Sound to call at Port Town
send. A freight steamer or tug boat going
from British Columbia to Whatcom.
Blaine or even Seattle is compelled
TO go Gin there. Vessels coming
in from the ocean are not in
convenienced so greatly, but those
running on the inside are put to great ex-
pense and the result will be to practically
prohibit nearly all the traffic with the ex-
ception of the steamer City of Kingston,
which goes into Port Townsend anyway.
The Pacific Coast Steamship Company's
vessels and the Merchants Dispatch ves-
sells in order to avoid being quarantined
under the last order have to stop carrying
Storage passengers from British Columbia
ports unless some modification of the
order can be secured.
Another feature of the case is the fact
that under the state law there is also a
Puget sound health officer stationed at
Port Townsend. DR.. Baldwin is filing
this position and every passenger steamer
going in there has to submit to inspection
by this official and pay a minimum fee of
e. so therefor, and If the vessel Happens to
land at night the fee is S. In view of the
fact that the United States quarantine
officer inspects every vessel, shipping men
consider the Puget sound health officer of
about as much use as the fifth wheel on a
wagon. Nevertheless the fee has to be
paid. Captain ID. b. Jackson and the
officials of the Union Pacific. when
that company's boats were running to Vic
toria, were always complaining about the
useiessness Of this inspection. But aside
from these companies it cut very little
figure, rs il was seldom other passenger
boats from British Columbia touched at
Port Townsend until the Wilmington and
Haytian Republic began running. These
boats have, OF course, been subjected to
the same regulations when they landed at
Port Townsend to enter or clear on their
way from British Columbia, and the Of
ficials Of the Merchants Dispatch Com
pany have been complaining against the
system. But now that all boats are COM
PEELED To call there, the perguisi;ies of the
Puget sound health official will be in.
creased, and every passenger steamer
coming from the British Columbia side.
Alaska boats, San Francisco steamers and
all Will be affected. Superintendent J. II.
johnson, of the Pacific Coast Steamship
Company, speaking of the matter SAID:
I had always supposed that the order for
vessels TO secure bill Of health at Port Towns.
end had only been issued on account of the
smallpox quarantine and was being kent up
alter the raising of the quarantine only as an
extra safeguard against the spread of the dis.
ease. thought IL would be revoked in short
time and never dreamed of its being perman-
snt order. Why. that is a regular embargo on
commerce. / cannot understand the mecca
sity OF IL a. regards vessels run
ming between British Columbia and American
ports l have Just received notice from our
ONCE at San Francisco 70 receive no moro steer
age passengers At Vancouver or Victoria until
the rules relating 10 this cholera quarantine
have been more definitely established You
see tho order applies To vessels carrying i'm
migrants. and | presume only steorage passeu-
gers are Chased rs immigrants
Henry Jackson. assistant manager of
the Puget Sound & Alaska Steamship
Company, said:
The whole business lisa nuisance It IN de-
stroyiug traffic ani believe 10 inspired by pco-
pie interested in Port Townsend 10 force trade
in there.
f. r. Caine said his steamer RAND
Transit. which is carrying stone from
Chuckanut 10 Vancouver. would have 10
stop running there If the order was en-
forced, bur DIR. Conover promised to do
what he could TO secure a modification of
il. One of his tug boats coming over from
British Columbia TO WhatCom with n
boom of logs had to leave her boom and
go TO Port Townsend for inspection.
". IL. Wilson, of the firm of III. ".
Baker & Co, agents for the Merchants
plSpatca line, said:
These regulations ara a terrible Inconvenience
and expense to our boats / cannot Tor the life
OF me understand Tire object OF that arss order
Why. II vessels have to so into Port Towns sand,
for inspection, thsy might just we'll enter
there; hence there Is 40 occasion for suh-parts