The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-12
Protec.!on Aaainst Cholera.

! protection Against Cholera
The fact that there was scarcely any op-
position to the bill which passed the Senate
on Tuesday granting additional quarantine
powers aud imposing additional duties
I upon the Secretary of the Treasury ond
marine hospital service Is a strong indica-
/ ton that this congress has no intention Of
enaotinR a national quarantine law. or .
Law suspending immigration for one year or
any other period. The bill having been
passed by the Senate so quickly and with so
little debate the presumption is that there is
an understanding that the House will
pass it.
The bill confcrs considerable additional
powers upon the Secretary of the Treasury
and the marine hospital service, and, be-
sides, it gives the President authority to
prohibit in whole or 10 part, and for such a
period as he may deem advisable, the in
I PRODUCTION OF persons and property from
countries In which contagious or infectious
diseases exist. To carry into effect the pro-
visions Of the bill 81, 100000 is appropriated.
The country is satisfied probably with
that feature Of the bill which gives the
President power to suspend immigration
close our ports TO immigrants from any
country in which cholera or other infectious
or contagious disease should appear, but it
is doubtful if the other features OF the bill
are as satisfactory as a national quarantine
la ~ would be-
II the bill should become a law it would
be difficult, il not impossible, to prevent
conflicts Of authority between state and
federal officials II the occasion for the exer-
else Of the powers Of the marine hospital
service should arise. The officials Of the
states and of the United States are exceed
ingly tenacious in insisting upon their re-
spective rights, and it is not always an easy
matter for these officials to determine ex-
actly what their rights are.
In New York harbor last summer, when
the cholera was present. there wac q notice.
able lack Of harmony between the quarau-
tine officer Of the state and the representa-
tive OF the marine hospital service. They
carried their differences into the newspapers,
and their dispute was far from edifying to
those who were wholly interested in having
the most effective means adopted for keep
ing cholera out of the country. Il can be
oAAOAy o1o1LAAoA buab VIC ebhbc huu 16u6TaL
health authorities cannot work together In
harmony. There is pretty sure to DO a con-
.tiict between them whenever the state
officials show q disposition to resist the
sncroschments OF the federal officials
Under the bill passed by the Senate the
federal officials are granted enlarged powers,
aud when the opportunity presents itself
they are likely to be more aggressive than
ever. IL is not to be understood that they
have been or will De extensively aggressive.
They will endsavor 70 carry out their pro-
gramr2e because of their belief that they
ara right, and a conflict will result because
the state officials will be equally sincere and
determined. While the officials are trying
70 settle their differences the interests OF the
country will suffer.
Eventually the country must have a ma
tlonal quarantine system-a system that
will be effective and have the same regula-
tions at every port and the same rules for
all the interior states. Now each Of the
forty-four states has system of quaran-
tine Of its own. and it ia different from that
Of every other state. II cholera should APP
pear in the country next summer there
would be forty-four state boards Of health
besides number of municipal boards,
directing what should be done to keep the
disease out OF their respective states and
cities. Bsdlam turned loose could not cause
more confusion than there would be. Bust
ness would be brought to standstill with
jolt that would be absolutely startling.
There would DO sort of panic throughout
the country without. perhaps a guf1cient
reason.
Oaly a national quarantine could prevent
such deplorable condition OF affairs, but
it looks as if an epidemic of cholera would
be necessary TO convince congress of the
need for such quarantine.