The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-09-21
PORT GATES CLOSED.
Twenty Days. Quarantine Or
dered by President Harrison.
A Circular Which Practically
Suspends All immigration.

4AooAAOAO 4teA ioSh PhoSe~AJ
foreign immigration by issuing an order
that all steamships from foreign ports
bringing immigrants be subjected to q
qu arantine Of twenty days at the port OF
arrival before landing passengers.
1. This order applied to all steamships
leaving foreign ports on and after Septem-
ber l, and was enforced against all steam
ships then on the sea hound hither, at the
discretion of health officers.
On the announcement OF the Presidents
order the Inman line, the leading American
ately cabled to all its European agents
directing them to suspend all immigrant
business.
As about so, 900 European immigrants are
brought hither month the order will have
immediate and far reaching effect.
The agents estimate that the loss to the
steamship companies will be not less than
$4,000, 900 month.
President Harrison arrived at the White
House from his vacation at Loon Lake and
his visit to Whitelaw Reid in New York
about half.past o'clock, and Immediately
called a conference Of Government officials
to consider the cholera situation.
After an hours deliberation it was de-
cided not to issue proclamation suspendlnS
immigration, but instead to issue the fol-
lowing circular:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF TIE
SUPERVISING SURGEoN-GENERAL UNI
TED STATES MARINE HOSPITAL SER !
VICE.
WASHINGTON, September /, 1892.
To Collector Of Customs, Medical Officers Of
the Marine Hospital Servics, Foreign
Steamship Companies, State and Local
Boards Of Health:
1t having been officially declared that
cholera Is prevailing in various por-
tions of Russia, Germany and France,
and at certain ports in Great Britain,
as we'll as Asia, and it having
been made to appear that immigrants in
large numbers are coming into the United
and that they and their personal effects are
liable to introduce cholera into the United
States, ana that vessels conveying them
are thereby a direct menace TO the pub.
lie health, and it having been further
shown that under the laws Of the several
States quarantine detentions may be i'm
posed upon these vessels sufficient length
of time to insure against the introduce
ton of contagious diseases it is hereby
ordered that no vessel from any for
eign port carrying immigrants shall he
admitted to enAer at any port OF the
United States until said vessel shall have
undergone quarantine deteption OF twenty
days unless such detention is forbidden by
the laws Of the State, or the regulations
made thereunder) and Of such greater mum.
Der Of days as may be fixed In each special
case by the State authorities.
This circular to take immediate effect, e1.
cept in cases Of vessels afoat at this date,
which will be made the subject Of special
consideration upon due application to the
Department. WALTER WYMAS,
Supervising Surgeon-General, United States
Marine Hospital Service.
CHARLES FOSTER,
Secretary of the Treasury.
Approved: BENJAMIN HARRISON.
This circular was accompanied by leg gal
opinion as to the power OF the President
from Attorney-General Miller, the essence
Of which is in the following latter half:
By the law of 1873 it is provided, among
other things:
First-That no vessel coming from any
foreign port or country where any conta-
gious disease exists, or conveying any person
or persons, merchandise or animals, affected
with any contagious disease, shall come into
the United States except in the manner and
subject to the regulations In that act au-
thorized.
Second The surgeon-General of tn,
Marine Hospital Service shall, under the
direction of the Secretary Of the Treasury,
be charged with the execution Of
the provisions of this act, and
shall frame all needed rules and rsgula.
tions for that purpose. These rules
and regulations shall be subject to the ap.
proval OF the President; but such rules and
regulations shall not conflict with or impair
any sanitary or quarantine laws or regula
tions Of any State or municipal authorities
now existing, or which may hereafter be
enacted.
The policy Of Congress has apparently
been to mainly leave this branch Of the pub.
seaboard States have statutes more or less
elaborate on the subject.
The State statutes and regulations how
ever, may be supplemented by the Ma
tional Executive. My conclusion. there
fore, is that the Surgeon-General of the
Marine Hospital Service and the Secretary
of the Treasury, with your approval have
authority to make needful rules and regula-
tions, not inconsistent with the State laws
and regulations for the quarantining of ships
coming into our harbors, with view to the
protection of the health and lives Of our
people. Very respectfully,
w. u. u. nlLLht1 AttofAoy -SSAoia''
The Postoface Department also decided
Oh rigid inspection Of all foreign mails
from infected countries. The step was con-
sidered necessary by reason of the large
commercial correspondence constantly going
on between the United States and those
countries and by which cholera germs
could be communicated, Mail mattar
OF this description Is to be thor
oughly fumigated before being delivered for
distribution, aud the UTMOST pains taken to
prevent the introduction Of the disease into
the United Suites through the mails.
The chief OF the Foreign Mail Bureau has
the matter in charge, AMI his instructions to
posto.fice officials on the subject are most
comprehensive.
Additional means Of security have been
ordered for use at the National Quarantine
stations at toe Delaware Breakwater and
Cape Charles, Va. The revenue cutter
Winona was ordered to the former and the
revenue steamer Crawford to the latter
place.
Both boats are well equipped for the work
IN hand, and Marine Hospital officials say
that their presence at the two stations
named will be fruitful OF good results should
infected ships put in there.
The revenue steamer Ewing is also at the
Cave Charles station fitted up for use as q
ioating hospital, and this makes the Quilt
4. that station complete in every particular
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