The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-26
A BILL OF EXTREMES.
THE STATS BOARD OF RBALTa
WOULD BE A BJA I'D OF GAR.

Alderman Charlton Thinks It, Ia a
Measure aimed at Savennah's Com
merce-Tle B Il Contemplates Set
ting All authority ASIDE and Mex
Ing the Board q Law to Itself-It
Could ven Contro, the Military.
The bill before the Legislature TO create a
state ard OF health, already mentioned in
the MoRNING News, is of so remarkable a
character TO use the words Of Alderman
Charlton, that it appears almost as if it
was intended to be used as a weapon to
destroy the commerce of Savannah. The
bill is a very lengthy one. 1t provides that
within twenty days after the passage Of the
act the governor shall appoint five dis
creetn citizens Of the state, who shall he
confirmed by the Senate, and who shall,
after taking and subscribing an oath before
some person competent TO administer osths
faithfully to perform the duties # their
offices, constitute the state board of health.
Within ten days after their appointment
it shall be the duty Of the members OF he
board to meet and organize by electing one
of their number president.
NO QUACKs WANTED.
They shall then select and employ a ply
stefan "who shall be an expert in the dag
nosis Of yellow fever, smallpox, cholera
and other infectious diseases and who must
be person of recognized ability and skilled
in hygiene and sanitary science and gradu-
ate physician Of a recognized and reputable
medical college. The said person shall be
known as state health officer. The state
health officer shall ue the executive officer
of the board aud secretary of tie same, and
shall hold the office until removed by the
board for just cause.
The salary of the state health officer is
TO be S3, 900 per annum. II the health OIL
Ger should remain absent from the state for
i've days after his attention has been called to
the presence of any epidemic disease IN any
portion Of the state, the board Of health
may declare his place vacant end select AL
other per on for the place. II any mem
Der of the board of health remains absent
from the state for ten days after any disease
has besn declared epidemic, the governor
may declare bis office vacant and appoint
his succe ssor. The term of the members OF
the board is to be four years.
Section ! OF the bill makes it the duty of
every practIcing or licensed physician TO
report Immediately TO the president of the
board Of health in the most expeditions
manner every case Of yellow fever, small
pox or cholera that comes within his prac-
tIce. Any physician failing TO report as
prescribed shall be guilty OF a misdemeanor
and punishable according to section 1910 Of
the code.
Section gives good idea OF the gist Of
the bill. 1t Is as follows:
THE INSIDE OF IT.
Il shall be the duty Of the president of the
board of health Immediately upon cept of in
formation that there is any case Of yellow fever,
smallpox or cholera in any portion OF this
state to order the state health officer by tele-
gram IL he is not at hand TO proceed iumedi-
at=ly to said place and there TO investigate the
said reported case or cases OF yellow fever,
smallpox or cholera, and to report to the said
president by telegram the results Of his said in
vestigations; and said state health officer shall
have power, and it snail be his duty, to declare
said infected points 70 be in quarantine and to
place any and all such restrictions upon ingress
or egTeSs tnereat as, IN his Judgment, lau be
necessary, to prevent a spread Of the disease
IL the infected locality. And il shall be the
duty OF the said state health officer, when he
shall have declared any city, town, or other
place to be Ia quarantine 10 control the pop
ulation Of said city, town, or other place, aud
make such disposition of the same Rs snail. in
ms judgment, pest protect the population and
at the same time, prevelt q spread o. the in
lection among the same The sheriffs and con-
stables OF the several counties OF this state and
the police officers of a the cities and towns OF
this state shall be under the control of the said
state health officer to enforce and carry out any
and all quarantine regulations that he may
prescribe which said regulations shall be imme
disieiy published IN the most practicable man
in the several counties, cities towns or
other pisces where quarantine may be estab-
lished, and said state health officer shall make
immediate report Of his actions and doings in
the premises to the president Of the board OF
health and from time to time so long az quar-
sntine shall continue.
TooMUCH POWER.
1t will be seen that the state health officer
Is given imperial rover almost. Mayors.
judges, SHERIFF., and ali municipal. state and
county authorities must stand aside before
his ma jesty, the health officer.
Section makes the military his minions
IL is as follows:
Il shall be the duty Of the governor of this
state whenever called upon by the state health
of1cer so to do, TO furnish the said officer with
all requisite means 10 enforce whatever uuaran.
tine regulations it may be necessary, in his
Judgment, to prescribe. including such armed
force from the militia OF the state as, in the
Judgment of the government, may be required
upon information furnished by said officer.
The powers conferred upon the board of
health with regard TO the state ports equal
those possessed by the President of the
United States over all the ports. Section 10
gives an idea Of how the porls would fare in
case OF an epidemic. 1t reads:
QUARANTINE POWERS.
The board of health shall have power, and 1t
shall be their duty at all times 20 enforce upon
all railway aud navigation conn ami g. and upon
all individuals who may own or operate steam
ships or other vessels plying between any of the
West indian, South American, or any other for
eign ports, and the ports of the state of Geor-
gia, such restrictions and regulations as TO in
spection quarantine, and sanitary rules as in
their judgment may be necessary to protect
the health Of the people of this state, and which
may not be in conflict with acts Of congress
already passed, or that may hereafter
be passed, and do not amount to an
absolute interruption Of commerce with
SAID foreign ports: provided, that
whenever any case of yellow fever, smallpox
cholera or other infectious disease shall appear
or be developed among the passengers, officers
or crew OF any such steamship or other vessel
said steamship or other vessel snail be ordered
IN quarantine for such time and under sue
regulations as may be pr escribed by said board
OF health; provided, further, that should said
board of health at any time be convinced that
yellow fever, smallpox, cholera or other in
tectious disease exists in any foreign mort in
such form that the landing Of any steamship
or other vessel hang from said infected
foreign port at any of the DO Is of Geor-
gia will put in peril the health OF the people of
said state, it shall be the duty Of said oosrd to
put all and any such ste ernship or vessel their
crew. passengers and cargo in quarantine for
such time and under such rules and regulations
as may be prescribed by said board OF health .
provided, further. chat said board of healt h
shall charge and receive from such vessel un-
dergotDg inspection or sanitation as provided IN
this section such fee or fees as said board may
prescribe.
LOCAL AUTHORITIES IGNORED.
~ 81