Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-29
TO CHECK CHOLERA.
The Proposed National Quar-
antine Bill Gives the
President Full Power
TO SUSPEND IMMIGRATION.
Consular Inspection by Experts at
Foreign Ports,
AND A BUREAU OF INFORMATION.
The Hospital service of the Revenue
Marine to Bave Charge.
TO SUSPEND IMMIGRATION.
AND A BUREAU OF INFORMATION.
HAVANA HARBOR A PLAGUE SPOT

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28-The sub-con-
mittee having charge of the subject of
establishing a national quarantine have
agreed upon bill which they will report
to the full committee az its next regular
meeting after the recess on Friday week.
The bill agreed upon is q combination of
Senator Harris Senate bill and of a
measure introduced in the House by Mr..
RayneE 1t puts the national quarantine
system into the hands of the Hospital
Service of the Revenue Marine. It's lead
ing provisions are:
First-That wherever State quarantine
regulations exist the Hospital Service of
the Revenue Marine, under the direction of
the Treasury Department, shall have the
power to enforce the laws and regulations
of the different States
Second-Where there are no State quar-
antine regulations or where, in the opinion
Of the Marine Hospital Service, the quaran-
tine regulations of the State are insufficient
tc prevent the introduction OF contagious
diseases into the United States, the Marine
Hospital Service shall report the facts to
the Secretary of the Treasury, who, if in
his Judgment it is necessary or proper, shall
order the Marine Hospital Service to make
such additional rules and regulations as are
necessary to prevent the introduction of
such diseases into the United States from
foreign countries or in one State from an
other State. If in such event the State or
municipal authorities shall fail to enforce
such rules and regulations, then the Presi-
dent may detail officers for that purpose.
Weekly statistics to BE Published
Third-That the Hospital Service of the
Revenue Marine shall obtain and publish
statistical information of the sanitary con-
dition of foreign countries from which con-
tagious and infectious diseases are or NAV
be imported into the United States, and
shall publish weekly accounts thereof in
the different ports of the United States.
Fourth-The bill further provides for |
consular inspection at foreign ports by sani- |
tarv experts in consular Offices who are to |
supervise the inspection and disnfection of |
all vessels leaving injected ports The de-
tails as to the compensation and appoint |
ment of the sanitary experts are lett to be
provided for In the sundry civil bill
Fiith-The bill provides that whenever
all infected vessel arrives at any port of en-
try in the United States the Marine Hospi-
tai Service may remand said vessel at Its
>the 7essePs) own expense to the nearest |
national or other quarantine station and
treat and disinfect the same; and said vessel
shall not be permitted to enter anV port of |
the United States until it is pronounced
tree from infectious disease or danger OF
conveying the same.
Sixtk-Wherever il shall be shown to the
satisfaction of the President that, by rea-
son OF the existence of any infectious
disease in a foreign country, there is serious
danger of the introduction of the same into
the United States, then in such case the
President may tor the time being suspend
immigration until all danger from infection
mas passed.
Havana Harbor Constantly Polluted.
Surgeon General Wyman, of the Marine
Hospital Service, to-day strongly COM
mended the visit of the joint sub-commit-
tee of the House and Senate Immigration
Committee to Cuba and thinks that they
will gather some valuable information.
Havana harbor he says is closed, and is
the receptacle for the sewage of the mill
tary and other hospitals, at which yellow
lever and other diseases are treated, and in
consequence is always dangerous, especially
in the summer season. The harbor, he
says, has frequently been Investigated and
reported upon by sanitary experts from
this country, and its unhealthy condition
established. The danger from disease in
the harbor, he saws, is so great that the
Plant line of steamers, plying between
Cuba and FLORIDA, are prohibited from cast
ing anchor in the harbor by the Florida
laws, and are required to tie to mooring
buoys, as it is considered dangerous to hoist
an anchor aboard which has been imbedded
in the mud OF Havana barber
Taliapedra wharf, in the harbor, he saws
is so infected with disease that yellow fever
invariably breaks out among the crews of
vessels that tie up there unless the crews
are thoroughly acclimated or have had yell
low lever before. The sanitary condition of
the harbor, he says, could be greatly i'm
proved by all additional outlet, which
would relieve it OF much refuse matter
Besides The poor sanitary condition OF Ha-
rana harbor, the danger from importing
diseases from Cuba is greatly in
creased from its close commercial inter-
course with Spanish and other ports.