Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-10-06
FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD.

L
1t usually requires an emergency to
arouse the American people to action
and the visitation of cholera has eX-
posed to us the inefficiency of our
means of self-preservation As a re-
suit of the conflict Of authority between
nation and state in New York harbOr
the pleasing assurance comes from
Washington that a national quaran-
tine established by federal legislation
will PROBABLY be enc of the leading
recommendations of President Harri-
son in his message to congress i'll De
cember. The recent experience Of the
federal officials with the quarantine
system as enforced by the various
states has led to the conclusion that
there ought to be a uniform national
system Of protecting the country from
pestilenCe. This would prevent all con-
ficts between state and federal au-
thorities, and would make it certain
that whatever precautions were taken
by the federal authorities to shut ont
pestiIence would apply equally in every
part of the country The marine hos
pital service could easily assume the
work Of enforcing Il national quaran-
tine law, and it would have within easy
summons the revenue marine service
and if necessary the entire military and
naval force Ct the country. Citizens
at home who feared the incoming of
pestilence would know just what steps
were being taken to shut it out with
out consulting the laws and regulations
Of twenty or thirty states. Citizens
abroad returning to this country would
know that the same rigid inspection
would await them at the remOtest
part of the Carolinas or the gulf as
awaited them at New York, Boston or
Canadian points Immigrants and the
steamship companies would know that
they had but one authority to deal with
at quarantine, and that was the author
ity Of the nation. Foreign govern
ments would also be able to deal di-
rectly with the department Of state
In any negotiations regarding quaran-
tine and could cooperate with that de-
partment In measures for an interna-
tonal warfare against pestIence.
If constitutional warrant can be found
for placing the whole matter under
the absolute control of federal officials,
1t will undoubtedly be recommended
by President Harrison. There is no
specific reference in the constitution
to any such authority In congress, but
power may be found under the clause
authorizing congress ''tO regulate com
meTce with foreign nations and with
the several states" If authority could
on commerce for merely political pUr
pose IS years ago, when the bonds Of
She federal union were much weaker
than now, it is argued that the de-
tentlon of vessels in quarantine to save
the country from pestilence is easily
within the powers of the federal gov
eminent There is no question that
congress has the power to regulate
immigration, whether the power is de
rived from the authority to regulate
commerce or from the famous slavery
clause which provides that the mi
grafton or importation of such persons
as any of the states now existing shall
think proper to admit shall not be pro-
hibited by congress prior to the year
enc thousand eight hundred and eight"
The absolute prohibition of immigration
In times of danger will probably be
placed in the hands of the president
if any law is enacted, and this will be
strictly within the constitutional au-
thority of congress. If doubt arises
as to the power of congress to exclude
the states from the exercise of Quaran-
tine powers, it may still be found prop,
er to establish some federal regulations
and to provide that they shall have
full force, subject TO the laws of the
states.
Any action that the federal govern
ment may take will undoubtedly meet
with the hearty approval of the Amer
lean people who repose the great
est trust in the wisdom and power Of
the central authority. A national quar-
antine system would not do away with
state boards of health. The latter
would still find an abundance to do
within state boundaries and in supple
menting the labors of the national
organization.