Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1892-09-16
PORT GATES CLOSED.
Twenty Days Quarantine Or
dered by President Harrison.
4 Circular Which Practically
Suspends All immigration.

President Harrison practically suspended
foreign immigration by issuing an order
that all steamships from foreign ports
bringing immigrants be subjected TO
gu arantine of twenty days at the port OF
arrival before landing passengers
This order applied to all steamships
leaving foreign ports on and after Septem-
Der ], and was enforced against all steam
ships then on the sea bound hithsV, at the
discretion of health Officer.
On the announcement of the Presidents
order the Inman line, the leading American
Transatlantic steamship company, immedi-
ately cabled to all its European agents
directing them to suspend all immigrant
business.
AS about SO, 900 European immigrants are
brought hither q month the order will have
Dmediate and far reaching effect.
The agents estimate that the loss 20 the
steamship companies will be not less than
So 600, 900 month.
Presi lent Harrison arrived at the White
House from his vacation at Loon Lake and
his visit to Whiteaw Reid in New York
about half-past o'clock, and Immediately
called a conference of Government officials
to consider the cholera situation.
After an hours elaboration it was de-
cided not to issue proclamation suspending
Low ing circular:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE
SUPERVISING SURGEON-GENERAL UNI
TED STATES MARINE HOSPITAL SER
VICE.
WASHINGTON, September /, 1892.
To Collector 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 in various por-
tons of Russia, Germany and France,
as we'll as 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 introduce cholera into the United
States, and that vessels conveying them
are thereby a direct menace to the pub
lie health. and it having been further
shown that under the laws of the several
States quarantine detentions may be i'm
posed upon these vessels a sufficient length
of time to insure against the introduce
ton of contagious diseases, it is hereby
ordered that no vessel from any for
eign port carrying immigrants shall ne
admitted to enter at any port Of the
United States until said vessel shall have
undergone quarantine deteption of twenty
days unless such detention is forbidden by
the laws Of the State, or the regulations
made thereunder) and Of such greater num-
Der of days as may be fixed in each special
case by the State authorities.
This circular to take immediate effect, ex-
cept in cases of vessels afoat at this date
which will be made the subject of special
consideration upon due application to the
Department. WALTER WYMAN,
Supervising SUPERINTENDENT, United States
Marine Hospital Service.
CHARLES FOSTER,
Secretary of the treasury
Approved: BENJAMIN HARRISON
This circular was accompanied by legal
opinion as to the power of the President
from Attorney-GeneraI Miller, the essence
of which is in the following latter half:
By the law of 1878 it is provided, among
other thin gs:
First-That no vessel coming from any
foreign port or country where any conta.
gious disease exists, or conveying any person
or persons, merchandise or animals. affected
with any contagious disease shall come into
the United States except in the manner and
subject to the regulations in that act au-
thorize1.
Second The SUPERINTENDENT of the
Marine Hospital Service shall, under the
direction of the Secretary of the Treasury.
be charged with the execution OF
the provisions of this act, and
shall frame all needed rules and regula.
tons for that purpose. These rules
and regulations shall be subject to the al.
proval OF the President; but 5uch rules and
regulations shall not conflict with or impair
any sanitary or quarantine laws or reguIat
tions of any State or municipal authorities
now existing, or which may hereafter be
enacted.
The policy of Congress has apparently
been to mainly leave this branch Of the pub.
lie service with the States and most of the
seaboard States have statutes more or less
elaborate on the SUBJECT.
70 Gro fI1fo
ever, may be supplemented by the Ma
tlonal Executive. My conclusion, there
tore, is that the Surgeon-General of the
Marine Hospital Service and the Secretary
OF the Treasury. with your approval have
to make needful rules and reyula.
tons, not inconsistent with the State laws
AMI regulations for the quarantining of ships
coming into our harbors, with a view to the
protection OF the health and lives of our
people. Very respectfully,
w. &. II. MILLER, Acknowledgement
The Postoffice Department also decided
on rigid inspection Of all foreign mails
from infected countries. The step was con-
sldered necessary by reason of the large
commercial correspondence constantly going
On between the United States and those
and by which cholera germs
could be communicated. Mail matter
or this description is to be thor
ouyhly fumigated before being delivered for
distribution, and the utmost pains taken TO
prevent the Introduction of the disease into
the United States throu gh the mails.
The chief of the Foreign Mail Bureau has
postofice officials on the subject are rnoxt
comprehensive,
Additional means Of security have been
ordered for use at the National Ouaranti1a