The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-09-01
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Doubtful if Immigration Could
Stopped without Action by Congress

Doubtful if Immigration Could be
Stopped without Action by Congress.
NEW YORK, Sept. 1, 1S92.-The non-in-
tercourse plan. 1t is understood that
Federal officials believe that according to
the strict letter of the law, no further
precautions could be taken against the
introduction OF cholera than those now
exercised.
Attorney Miller has gathered a
great number of authorities on the sub
Ject, and is of the opinion that in cases of
imminent danger like the prerent, when
the country is threatened with
disease from infected ports abroad.
the President has the right to declare a
suspension of intercourse. or at least to
prohibit immigration for an indefinite
period without the authority of Con-
gress.
The probability is that the President
will Immediately call Cabinet meeting
at which the situation will be fully dis
cussed and prompt. measures taken to
strengthen the safeguards which have al
ready been set up as barrier against the
pestilence.
Wall street financial men and speculat-
ors do not want an extra session of Con-
gress called, because they think 1t would
create panic and unsettle business
This Is the opinion of Henry Clews, who
says he has every confidence in the ability
of our Quarantine officers to protect the
city against the cholera.
Bank Presidents f. D. Tappin and j.
Edward Simmons hold the same view.
and Judge Lacombe, of the United States
Court, thinks that prohibiting immigra-
tion would do no good, because cholera
could be brought into the country by
cabin passengers as well.
Postmaster Van Colt SAYS that no chol-
era will get into the city through the
mails if he can help it. Every bag and
parcel of foreign mail matter is carefully
fumigated on board the ship before 1t Is
taken out and distributed by the clerks.
CHOLERA GERMS NOT IN THE AIR
DR.. Talmadge, of Health Officer Jen-
kins's staff at Quarantine, says in regard
TO the ch olera contagion:-
ut cannot be too distinctly understood
that cholera cannot be taken through the
air, 1t Is not in the air. The only way to
get the disease is to take the germs into
the stomach or bowels with the food or
through the medium of conJamin ated
water. The germs must be swallowed in
some way or You cannot have cholera
Cholera is infectious, but not
contagious. might bring cholera
germs with me and brush
against you, but unless the germs got
into the stomach-as they might in hun
dred ways, by passing the hand to the
mouth, by eating anything handled by or
near infected people-there would be no
cholera. The food, and especially the
drink, is what should be particularly
watched in time of cholera"
This is reassuring to the people of
Staten Island who have become some
what panicky since the pest ship Morayia
came SO near their homes yesterday.
They imagined that the cholera germs
fioated around In the air and that a
strong breeze from the bay might watt
swarms of them over the island.
This WAS also the belief of the summer
residents at Bath Beach and other places
along Grayesend Bay. where the Moravla
was anchored for a long time yesterday
1t is reported this morning that some
people became so frightened that they
packed up Immediately and started for
home, and that even the old residents
were afraid to go out and take in the
ocean breezes for fear of swallowing a
microbe.