Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-01
NO HALFWAY MEASURESl
Should the President Call an Extra Session
to Suspend All Immigration?

Should the President Call an Extra Session
to Suspend III Immigration?
The following communication, which
voices the attitude of THE DISPATCH, appears
under the above caption in the New York
Sun of yesterday:
If Benjamin Harrison, President of the
United States, knows and does his duty, he
will, without a days delay, convene both
Houses of the Congress, under the power
lodged in the Executive by the third section
of Article II. of the Constitution.
This power applies to extraordinary occa-
sions. The present occasion is indeed extra
ordinary.
Upon the meeting Of Congress the Presi-
dent will recommend the passage of legisla-
ton SO amending the immigration act Of
March 8, 1891, as to enable him by proclama-
ton to suspend immigration altogether
until such time as the bar can be let down
with safety to the health and lives of the
people of the United States.
II the President already possessed the
power to suspend immigration without fur
ther legislation, there is no doubt that he
would now exercise it promptly. He does
not possess that power.
If Congress we're now in session, there is
no doubt that the enabling legislation would
be adopted speedily and unanimously. Con-
gress is not in session.
The assembling of Congress during a vaca-
tion OF that body is a costly and inconven-
lent proceeding. This consideration should
not weigh one centigramme. Nor should
the slightest regard be paid to the idea that
the call of an extra session will seem like
precipitate measure, and perhaps occasion
an unnecessary panic in the community.
No essential measure of protection is pre-
cipitate. The adoption of such measure
would quel1 panic, rather than excite it. 1t
would be better if the bars had been put up
ten days ago. 1t will be immeasurably bet
ter to put them up now, than 20 days, or 80
days, or 40 days hence, when tn e mischief of
delay has already been done, and the pestf-
lence has gained foothold upon this oonti-
nent.
1 believe that all physicians, all health
officers, all persons of common sense will
agree that the total prohibition of immigra-
tion during the season of danger is the only
certain and effective way to shut out the
Asiatic cholera. The State Boards of Health
in no fewer than "a States have already de-
clared Tor the policy of complete isolation,
and have recommended that immigration
be suspended from cholera infected coun-
tries. But immigration from cholera IN
fected countries can be shut out only by
closing our doors to immigrants coming
from any European port. The tide turned
back from one infected seaport will find its
way hither through a dozen other channels.
There is the same danger by way of Bremen,
Glasgow or Liverpool as by way Of Ham
burg, Havre or Antwerp. The gross I'M
efficiency of the British quarantine against
the continental ports has already been DEM
onstrated. Anything short of the absolute
stoppage of immigration for time, and the
closing of tine gateways at Ellis Island and
elsewhere against all corners, is a halfway
measure which may be regretted in terror
and in mourning when 1t is too late.
VIII President Harrison hesitatef The
traditions are against summoning the Con-
gress suddenly to Washington in any emer-
gency less urgent than the imminence OF
war. But here is a power whice has already
declared war against the people of the
United States, which is even now mastering
its forces for invasion, and which wages a
warfare from six to nine times deadler than
the mortality of the battlefield.