New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-01
IMMIGRATION AND CHOLERA
TESTIMONY TO TIE SENATE COMMITTEE
DIR. EDISON SAYS THAT KEEPING OUT sTEERAGE
PASSENGERS WOULD AVERT
CRAVE DANCED

PA SlNGLRS WOULD ANikI y
CRAVE DANGER.
There WAS On interesting session of the Senate COM
m,ttce on immigration at the Fifth Avenue Hotel
YESTERDAY. DR.. Cyrus Edison, the superintendent OF
the Sanitary Iureau invited day or two ago 10
appear lcfore the committee and tell what he could
In regard the prevention OF cholera In TINS country
and the effect The stopping q immigration would nave
upon II. Dr.. Edison first explained 10 the committee
about the ten cases OF cholera which occurred In
this city Lest fal and about the efforts OF the physl
clans to determine the difference between the Asianc
cholera germ and the cholera morbIs germ. The
doctor then made a long explanation as TO the manner
in which the two germs coud he distinguished from
each other Tho members OF the committee became
greatly Interested in this part 81 DR.. Edsons
statement The doctor told the Senators that IL was
his opinion that with single contamination OF lhe
Croon watershed In any way. account OF the r1pu-
fly with which the cholera grows and propaea5'
II would not he than SIX or seven days peiore
cholera would he raging In this city.
When he was asked by one Of the members OF the
committee II he expected that the cholera would
appear again next summer. he declared most e'p"a'
cay that no thought that It would, and that IL wono
be mach harder u fight and keep 1t ont Of inc country
than II was this year. This due. he SAID 10 inc
fact that II would appear In Europe much carrier next
year than 1t did this This year II did not develop
until August and 1t did not get the time 10 ueVeiop'
as cold weather soon came on. Next year however
tbe cholera would In all probability break ont In the
spring. and there would be the entire summer 'or
It to spread. He added that he had the gravest
apprehcn sOns 70 The coming OF the dls'lse next
year.
Senator Chandler asked Lin II he had any Ideas
as n how II might be Kept ont OF the country
DR. Fdson replied that il possible t. establish Mt
each q; tho foreign ports from which Immigrants
come a sanitary station where Inc immigrants conh
be detained from ten 10 twenty davs, or long enough
for the disease TO develop there were germs among
them. This plan. he thought. was impracteable 10
carry out DR.. Edison then asked II he thought
that the stopping OF immigration for wear wond
be likely tn prevent cholera getting into the country
Dr. Edison replied that this womb be Of the greatest
assistance in keeping cholera ont Of the country
Dr. Edison did not say outright that he was IN iaVor
Of the complete suspension OF Storage immigration
for year from next March, but he declared that the
aid which II would he In keeping ont the cholera would
be wonderful.
Dr. Edson will BE- before the committee again 70
day. and he will bring with him powerful microscope
and specimens Of Asiac cholera germs. so that tho
members can sec for themselves the raPdltv Win
which they grow 4 number Of other physicians
will tell tho committee what they think abont the
probability Of cholera next year and the beSt means
of keeping it out.
Colonel John b. Weber, the Superintendent OF
Immigration also before the committee yesterday
bat rs tho cholera did not reach Ellis Island he
could give nothing but indirect testimony in regard
TO 1t. II is now more than probable that the com
mttee will report TO the Senate bill embnylns
the features Of Senator Chambers proposition 70
shut Off immigration entirely from March next for
year.
In the discussion Yesterday the question came up
as TO how this would affect the visitors TO the WoTds
Fair. All the members Of the Senate COMMITTEE
agreed that it would have beneficial rather thah "a
harmful effect Tic fact that the prevention OF lnh'-
grafton would do so much toward keeping out cholera
would in tie minds Of the members attract pe9pe IRON
countries where it could not be Kept out 10 CONF W
this country which would be comparatively Tree run
e. In Glis way the passage OF law CLOS mg W. VI.
ports upon the immigrants for the year wOud Deheht
The fair and also tend to keep the disease from ue
senator Hlll could not find time YESTERDAY 10 lem
his colleagues on the committee and ne RENAMED
away from it, as he has done ever since the qles-
tion was taken up. Senator Proctor was absent YES
terday but he has attended the previous mecuneS %
Tho committee and he called 10 Washington late
on Tuesday night. Senator Hiscock joined the COM
rat,nn md no Will hencefOrth be In Attendance.