The morning call., 1892-09-12
THE oUARANrlNE Ar NEW YORK.

THE QUARANTINE AT NEW YORK.
The course of events at New York is
what might have been expected. The Sean
Gia, which left Hamburg on August IS with
1923 persons on board. lost thIrty-two CT
them on the passage from cholera, and now
lies in the lower bay with 1896 inmates. all
breathing infected air. The Wyoming,
which sailed from Liverpool on August %
with GAL persons on board. lost no lives from
cholera on the voyage, but the disease is
now said to have broken out on board. and
the vessel has been ordered to the lower
bay to join the Rugia, Normannia and No
ravia. Agents Of the Wyoming deny that
the epidemic exists on that vessel. No case
has occurred in the city of New York or
anywhere outside of the ships. Thus far
the quarantine has been hermetical.
Passengers on beard the quarantined YES
sells complain bitterly of the detention, and
their case certainly is hard To be kept on
board ship day after day in sight of land.
and OF an infected ship at that. is an expe-
rience that no one could relish. but it Is
case where the comfort and safety of the
few must yield to the safety OF the many.
/ Every one sympathizes with Manager A.
| Nj Palmer. the president OF Oberlin and
! their companions in misfortune. But it is
good deal better that they should suffer
some annoyance than that cholera should
be allowed a chance to gain footing in the
city of New YORK. In day or two they
will escape from their floating prison, and
will be CHARTERED in well-ventilated sheds
on the peninsula Of Sandy Hook or in the
hotel at Fire Island. Until then they must
possess their souls in patience. So long as
DR.. Jenkins keeps the pestilence out. New
York will lend duh ear to complaints of
his harshness.
Care has been taken by the Federal and
State officials to avoid friction between
State and national authority, but it has
not always been effectual. The Secretary
If the Treasury offered the New York
health officer the services of the United
States Marine Hospital stsff, but the offer
was declined, through fear that conflicts
of jurisdiction might arise. The President
has placed at the service Of the New York
authorities part of the military reservation
at Sandy Hook; it is to be hoped that the
fact that Sandy Hook is in New Jersey and
not in New York will not initiate against
lis utilization. The act OF 1873, which is
the only Federal enactment on the subject.
expressly recognizes the exclusive right of
States 80 legislate on the subject OF quaran-
tine. It says:
That no vessel or vehicle coming from any for
eign port or country where any contagious or in
fictitious disease may exist, and no vessel or
vehicle conveying any person or persons, mer'
chaDdse or animals, affected with any infectious
or contagious disease shall enter any port OF the
Uniled States or pass the boundary line between
tie United States and any foreign country contrary
to ths quarantine laws Of any one of said United
States, into or through the jurisdiction OF which
said vessel or vehicle may pass, 10 which II is
destined, EXCEPT 10 the manDer and subject 10
the regulations 10 be prescribed as hereinafter
provided
The Federal Government is thus bound
TO respect the authority of the State of New
York in carrying out her laws, so far as
not TO permit infectious vessels, merchan-
disc, persons, etc, to pass TO within State
jurisdiction in violation of State authority.
1t should cooperate until the State authori-
ties neglect their duty and stop there. Not
the least able member Of Mr. Harrlson's
Cabinet, Secretary Tracy Of the navy. ex-
pressed his view tersely and clearly:
When a quarantine is put on vessels from
foreign country where tie disease has broken
out il is the duty OF the authorities Of the
different States 10 make such stringent rules as
viii prevent The 3; read OF a disease similar TO
The scOuTGe which now confront this country.
in view Of the present serious state of affairs
there should be 10 hating or hesitation on the
part OF lie State or Federal authorities In their
effons 10 take prompt measures TO prevent the
entrance Of any vessel on which there is the
least CANCER that the germs Of an epidemic exist
that has come from 4 country where the
disease Is known to prevail even Ia The slightest
| degree. BY The Stale and General Government
| working together IN this quarantine matter and
with Yigiant officers acting for both, We may
b. able to keep this terrible plague from our
| shores.
lie present is not the time 10 raise any petty
questions OF authority.
Secretary Foster holds that in case of de-
| reelection of duty by the State officials the
/ Federal authorities would intervene for the
| public protection and take charge of the
| business. In this view he will be supported
| by public opinion. He says:
| Suppose a State quarantine is ineffective and
! incomplete. suppose the local authorities at any
| port are deTelet or negligent in dealing with a
! menaced epidemic invasion, has The National
| Government no authority to protect The country?
! Must 1t SIT IDLY by and see raYaging scourge
enter our gates and spread over the land? To ask
| the question is 10 answer it,
We do not propose 10 sit Idly by and see a
ravaglng scourge enter our gates AID spread
| over the land.
II the local authorities don't do their duty that
| is no reason why We should not do ours, and We
| win DO 1t, you may be sure.
There is ample legal warrant for this
action by the Federal authorities. Section
! 4796 of the Revised Statutes, which was part
of the act OF 1878, already quoted, reads as
follows:
The Secretary Of the Treasury is authorized,
whenever q conforpTy TO such quaraBtines and
health laws require 1t. and in respect 10 vessels
subject thereto 10 prolong the terms limited for
The entry for the same and the report or entry of
! their cargoes, and To vary or dispense with any
other regulations applicable to such reports or
| entries. No pant OF the cargo OF any vessel
shall, however, in any case be taken out or un-
| loaded therefgom Otherwise than Is allowed by
law or according TO the regulations hereinafter
established.
The guarantees and health laws" re-
| ferred to are the laws of the State of New
! York, but the Federal statute imposes on
Federal as well as State officials the duty OF
| carrying them cut.
u UI