Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-01
rFRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT ]

WASHINGTON, Aug. 81 - The CORE
spondent of The DISPATCH happened to
be in the Office of the Secretary of the
Treasury to-day, when an Associated Press
telegram was handed to Secretary Foster
stating that the steamship Moravia had ar
rived at New York, and had reported 26
cases of cholera and % deaths during the
passage. Secretary Foster said that he
could hardly believe the statement,
as he thought that the news would
have been communicated to him at once,
direct from the Marine Hospital officials,
and he had received no intimation of such a
terrible condition of affairs on any of the
vessels arrived at New York Up to 4
o'clock this afternoon neither Secretary
Foster nor any of the Government authori-
ties had received any information conirma-
tory of the statement from New York, but
they were assured that it was hardly possible
there could be any mistake about it
1t is pleasing to say, that these author
tiles were stirred up by the story of the
Moravia more than they have yet been in
regard to the cholera. Though they claim
that they have done all that could possibly
be be done to prevent the entrance
of the plague, there has been evil
dent among them lack of serious compre-
hension of the gravity of the prospect.
Talk of stopping immigration.
A few days ago, when the scare came of
the outbreak OF the cholera at Hamburg,
there was immediate talk of prohibiting
immigration altogether, at least for time,
until the quarantine authorities could get
their work of disinfecting thoroughly in
hand was told at that time that there
was doubt of the power of the Government
to place an embargo upon the en-.
trance of all immigrants at any
port of the United States 1t was
then intimated that an order would be
speedily issued for such prohibition, pos
sibly in the form of Presidential proclama-
tion, but nothing more has been heard of
the matter, and it seems probable that the
President himself has had hand in staying
this sensible action, in fear that it might
in come way affect unfavorably his chances
for reelection.
1--WE have done all that can be devised for
the prevention of the intrusion of the
cholera" said Secretary Foster in the course
of conversation on the subject to correspond
ents and others who gathered in his office
this afternoon.
81 think that the quarantine restrictions
will be as perfect as such machinery can be
in their operation. Not a soul can enter
al oF tbo irfo 81
ports without being thoroughly disinfected
as to person and luggage. All will be treated
alike. The lady in her silks is as likely to
be contaminated. if she comes from an in
feeteu city, as the immigrant in rags, and
no matter how annoying it may be, she
must suffer the operation of the regula-
tions. There is no necessity for any mis-
take.
Foster Thinks Prohibition Unnecessary.
1.-The quarantine barrier should be so
strong as to m Ike it impossible for any ner-
son who has been exposed to the disease to
gain an entrance until he or she is rendered
totally harmless tor injury. While the
general Government has the power to as
sumo absolute control of the quarantine, in
accordance with an opinion rendered BY the
Attorney General, do not think that any
such step will be necessary"
The local government and the general
Government, through the Marine Hospital
service and the Collectors of Customs. will
cooperate in the most earnest and harmon
ious manner that there may be no loophole
for the entrance OF the contagion. hardly
see how We could prohibit immigrants with
out prohibiting ALL as an immigrant that has
been dlsinlected is as safe person to per-
NIT to land as any other class of passenger
There is no law under which we NAV
retnrn immigrants except they be paupers or
criminals or workmen imported under con-
tract. But we can detain immigrants and
others as long as is necessary at ouaran-
tine until all danger of their injecting any,
body is past. In the case of the Morayia,
for instance, If the story be true that she is
plague ship, she can be detained 10, 20 or
81 Gays or six months if need be until there
is no iongers particle of danger"
The Quarantine Iegniatious Sufficient.
Assistant Secretary Spaulding, who had
charge OF cholera matters before the return
OF Secretary Foster. does not DISPUTE the
position that there is no law under which
Immigrants can be prohibited from landing.
regardless of having been exposed to the
plague, or of their having come from an in
fected region, but he is heartily in favor of
doing all that can be done to call halt on
immigration during the prevalence of the
cholera abroad.
Il think" said Mr.. Spaulding, 'that all
that is necessary will be accomplished bv
thorough quarantine. Under the re-
strictions now imposed, it will be very un-
profitable for steamship companies to make
a business of transporting immigrants. as q
few days at quarantine will put them to SO
much extra expense that there will
be no profit in conveying pas-
sengers A single case, or even
suspicious illness of anyone will
prevent the landing of the whole lot for
days and possibly weeks, and that would be
a ruinous traffic, in SO far as the immigrant
passengers is concerned, all OF whom are
carried at small profit at best. 1 think
that you will see that for some time to
come the immigrant passenger list on all of
the lines running between this country and