Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-09-08
PROMPT ACTION.
President Harrison Takes Meas
ures to Prevent Cholera
Epidemic.
Recommendations That All YES
sells Be Guaranteed for
Twenty Days.

WASHINGTON, Sept. Z-treSluent dar-
rison arrived here to-day and conference
of the cabinet ministers now here. the first
assistant secretary and DR.. Wyman, sur
geon general of the Marine hospital, was
held at once to discuss the cholera situa-
ton. 1t was decided not to issue procla-
nation at this time, but the following cir
cular was issued instead:
Quarantine restrictions upon immigration to
aid in the prevention OF the introduction OF
cholera into the United States. To collectors OF
customs, medical officers OF the Marine hospital
service. foreign steamship companies. state and
local boards Of health: 1t having been officially
declared that cholera is prevailing i'll various
portions OF Russia. Germany and France.
ana at certain ports in Great Brit
ain. as well as in Asia; and it
having been made to appear that immigrants in
large numbers are coming into the United States
from the infected districts aforesaid. and that
they and their personal effects are liable to in
troducc cholera into the United States, and that
vessels conveying them are thereby direct
menace to the public health; and it having heen
urther shown that under the laws OF the sew
eral states quarantine detention may be i'm
posed upon these vessels q sufficient length OF
| time to insure against the Introduction OF con-
| tagious Diseases it is hereby ordered that no
vessel from any foreign port carrying lmml-
grants shall be admitted to enter at any port OF
| the United States until said vessel shall have
undergone a quarantine detention OF twenty
days (unless such detention is forbidden by the
laws OF the state or the regulations made there
under), and OF such greater number OF days as
may be fixed in each special case by the state
| authorities. This circular to take immediate
effect, except in cases of vessels afioat at this
date, which will be m>le the subject OF special
consideration upon due application to the de-
partment.
IT WILL STOP IMMIG RATION.
The announcement OF the issue o: the
circular meets with general favor every
where the subject is preached, and the
president and his advisers are heartily
commended for the action they have taken.
1t is said that the quarantine proposed is to
be applied to vessels from all ports. although
it is assumed that health officers will have
| discretion in the matter, and Will be
allowed to act as they see fit in the case of
vessels that come from non-nfected ports,
and that have clean bills o. health. The
practical effect OF declaration of a twenty
days quarantine. it is believed. will be to
stop immigration from Europe for the
time being, and thus will be brought
about o result which the popular
mind believes desirable at this
time. Steamship companies, it is argued,
will not care to bring immigrants to this
country and support them for long period
| before they are allowed to land as such
traffic would be very improbable. The
declaration OF twenty days quarantine
will be notice to foreign governments that
immigration for the present is not desir-
] able.
The president, though not alarmed, fully
comprehends the gravity of the situation,
and nothing which the general government
may properly do to lessen tho chances
of cholera invasion will be left undone.
| While nothing definite can be stated as to
| The presidents return to Loon Lake. it is
probable that the start will be made to-
morrow, and it is altogether likely that the
contemplated detour to Oydensburg and
other points in Northern New York will be
postponed until his final return trip. His
| purpose now is to return to Loon Lake
| without making any stops.
THE PRESIDENTS PRERoGATIvE.
An opinion as to the aut hority of the ex-
ecutive in matters Of quarantine regulations
was sent to the president by Attorney Gen
eral Miller this afternoon. Alter citing de-
cisions and quoting the law. he concludes:
My conclusion is that the surgeon general Of
the marine hospital service and the secretary of
the treasury, with your approval. have author
ity to make needful rules and regulations not
inconsistent with th. State klWsand regulations,
for the qItrantinlng OF ships coming into our
harbors, with view to the protection OF the
| health and lives OF our people.
The postmaster general has issued the
following order:
The superint ndent OF foreign mails is hereby
instructed to Immediately take such steps
may be necessary and pract!ca Bile to thoroughly
dlslnieCt the mails reaching the United States
from foreign ports at which contagious diseases
are said to be prevailing, and to facilitate safe
mail communication between vessels undergoing
quarantine and the nearest United States post
Office.
Measures have accordingly been taken to
procure the thorough disin ection OF lncom-
| ing mails from infected ports. In an inter-
view this afternoon Secretary Foster said:
1t is well for the public to know that state au-
thorities and the steamship companies are act
ing III perfect accord and in hearty cooperation
with the government, all being determined to
exhaust their legal power to accom- psh the pre-
vention OF the Introduction OF the dreaded dis
Lutte embargo OF commerce, there is more or less
danger. though remote, that 1t may creep in
through seamen and in other minor ways. The
posto1iice department. is cordially cooperating.
From the moment this department had knowl-
edge CT cholera in European! ports. vigorous
measures were taken to place a Gordon OF quar-
| antnes around the entire country. This de-
partment is gratifed with the thoroughuess
with which the work has been done.