Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-03-24
For the Ellsworth Americana
Southern Quarantine Regulations.
Dear Editor.

Dear Editor:
want to say just few words through
your valuable columns about the injustice
of the southern quarantine. As | have
been victim of this unjust and unhappy
law, have, think. just and becoming
reason for complaint | sailed from New
York for Savannah, Aug. s, with cargo
OF railroad iron. Ga my arrival at Tybee,
Aug. 2lst, | was detained at quarantine
over night and fumigated. or stunk out,
which is much more appropriate name
than fumigate. In the morning | was al
lowed to depart after being detained twelve
hours. On my inquiry If it was customary
to detain vessels from New York at quar-.
antine, | was informed that my vessel was
from Natal, Brazil, before going to New
York, and therefore it was necessary to
stink her out before proceeding to the
city.
This quarantine regulation is only prac-
ticed on some vessels, while others are al
lowed to proceed to town unmolested.
While | lay in Savannah three vessels came
up TO town without being detained at
quarantine, and all of them were from a
West India port before arriving in New
York, which, according to the quarantine
law, subjects them to detention. Now,
one beautiful feature about this law is the
Injustice of OBTAINING some while others
OF the same class are allowed to go scot
free. The detention twelve hours cost me
as follows: Visit, So, fumgaton, S22,
extra towage, SIS, extra pilotage. sl7, to-
tai, $50. So this beautiful state law cost
me $50, the whole of which Is uncon>titu-
tional. There has been decision after de-
ci,ion in the United States Supreme Court,
that any state quarantine law where the
fees are fixed upon the ship is Illegal. If
the state wants quarantine it should pay
the expenses of maintaining one and not
fix the expenses upon the vessels. This Is
tax by one state upon the commerce Of
another state for which there is no con,ti-
tutional right. 50 the quarantine law
compelling the vessel, to pay the expenses
is unconstitutional and Illegal | was po-
litely Informed by the doctor after com
ing to anchor that my vessel would be
fumigated a. soon as | would 20 On
shore and get the pans. | said that had
been detained at quarantine in different
parts Of the world but was never asked
before to get my boats out and 20 for the
fumtgatlng pans, which, however, | was
Obliged to do. and return, them again be-
fore | could get my pass To proceed to
the city. All this l., done contrary to Law, ,
openly, before the eyes of the general gov
ernment, which looks on at state making
law taxing the commerce of another state,
all of which is forbidden by the con,titu-
ton of the United States
While was in Savannah six vessels ar
rived all of which were from affected ports
before arriving in New York. Three were
detained at quarantine while the Others
were allowed 10 pass the station without
being spoken thus saving So, besides the
detention. What this j. done for it i, i'm
possible for me to determine or even con
lecture Why not make the whole as well
a portion victims of this unjust law !:
The constitution Of the United States
says; NO tax or duty shall be laid On
articles exported from any state No
preference Shall be given by any rcgula-
ton Of commerce or revenue to the ports
Of one state over those of another, nor
shall vessels bound TO or from one state
be obliged 10 enter, clear or pay duties
in another" Is not this quarantine fee a
tax fixed by one state upon the commerce
of another state: II 1t Is not a tax, pray
tell me what ii Is: Has not the state of
Georgia established a law levying tax
upon the commerce of another State and
subjecting the tonnage of another state to
penalty for noncompliance with the law
OF their own making: All this imposition
Is imposed upon our commerce ia defiance
of the supreme law of the land which is
the constitution itself The moment any
state passes law laying a tax of any Kind
upon commerce like pilotage, quarantine
harbor master fees, and the like, she is
surprising her authority and the law be
comes void when brought before the Su-
preme Court of the United States. All
these unjust laws are imposed upon our
commerce with not the least effort taken by
Congress % stop the state from infringing
on it, own authority. ask the Congress
Of America TO intervene and STAY this uu-
just law implore the power Of the Ma
tlonal Go'ernmcnt To put stop to this
unjust taxation imposed upon American
shipping. | ask the parties Interested in
shipping who are members of either house
Of the National Government to give this
matter their serious attention. Consider
the injustice Of being deprived Of en-
ptoying whom you choose, and also the in
justice OF being compelled to employ a
man to take charge of your ship when you
can perform the same services fully as
well yourself. Look upon the injustice Of
being compelled to pay a man SIS for
three hours services for simply seeing
your ship steered after tug-boat: put
your hand in your pocket and pay S15, be-
cause a man has rendered you his services
and YOU have rejected them, but the state
has made law compelling you to pay that
man for his services whether YOU require
them or not, and you will have some idea
OF our grievances, ana make an EFFORT to
bring us relief; measures that will give
us breathing spell from this unjust and
obnoxious compulsory pilot monopoly.
In many states there is a law granting
vessels engaged in the coasting trade, a H.
cense on the payment of certain tonnage
dues which exempts them from pilotage
one year. This is direct tax upon ton
mage, which there is not a shadow of law
or right to justify only by the state author
ity, as such law is forbidden by the CON
stitution. Yours truly,
JOHN w. KANE.
Master |. w. Parker.
Pernambuco, Brazil, Nov. IA, 1891.