The morning call., 1893-01-09
A NATIONAL QUARANTINE.

The committee on quarantine appointed
by the New York Board of Trade has adj
dressed a circular 10 the State Boards of
Health, inviting suggestions on the subject,
and opinions on the relative merits of State
and national quarantine systems. DIR. J.
r. Lame, secretary of the Board Of Health
OF this State, replies in printed letter in
W hich he takes strong ground IN favor OF
a national quarantine in preference 10
State quarantine. Dr. Lame thinks the
duty Of protecting the States of the interior
against pestienee is as peremptoTy as its
duty to protect them against hostile inva-
sion, and be holds that the authority OF
Federal official would be more promptly
recognized than that of q State Off
eial, tie dwellS. also. upon the fact
that the expense OF enforcing a rigid
quarantine, which may be heavy,
should properly deyolye upon all the States
which are benefcaries of the system, and
not on one single State which happens to be
on the seaboard. The expense 10 which
New York was put last fail was large. but
the advantage Of the measures taken by the
quarantine officers at that port was shared
hy all the States from the Atlantic TO the
Rocky Mountains.
That opinion on The question is not unaai-
nous IS shown by the contention OF Gov
ernor Flower OF New York that his State
should not surrender the control OF quaran-
tine TO the General Government. But the
Governor is probably not in harmony with
the public at large. No arguments can be
adduced IN favor OF State quarantine eX-
cept such as Apply to tho exercise Of all
Federal authority within the limits of
State. There was once Common Council
in New York which protested against the
occupation Of the public squares in that
city by Federal troops during the draf5 riots.
Such body would naturally resent inter-
ference By the General Government with the
police of the pert. But this would be
sacrificing substance for shadow. The real
question is which authority would be most
likely to guard the public health-the State
authority or the Federal authority? IL the
latter, contentious based on State right
theories are frivolous.
We can study the question 10 advantage
on this coast. Suppose a violent epidemic
should break out in the islands, and infected
persons should begin TO land on this coast.
Ii would deyOve upon the authorities TO in
stitute a rigorous Quarantine. The Board
Of Health would begin at once TO bsTTieade
here, and it is quite possible that measures
might be adopted " hieh would exclude the
pestiIence from this BAY. But there are
other ports which are in communI cation
with the islands, San Diego, Wilmington.
Eureka, Portland, Seattle. Tacoma, and
smaller ports; San Francisco might be closed
Theoretically, vet if these ports remained
open, the plague mightente through them,
and spread over The coast And il is not al
Il trN,
authority would be so vigorously exerted
that people might rest easy IN the con-
fdent belief that the quarantine was ef-
feetiye: whereas, If the whole subject
were committed to the national authority,
a quarantine inspector at this point with
deputy inspectors at the other ports would
be reasonably certain TO exclude infection,
If he did his duty.
The CALL has seen no reason to aban-
don the opinion that the true place to fight
contagion is The port Of shipment, and not
the port Of arrival Guarantees. TO be
really effective. should be established at
Liverpool, Queenstown, Rayre. Bremen
Hamburg. Il would be DO hardship 10 de-
tain intending emi2rants at these points in
side a sanitary Gordon for two or three
weeks, which Is about the life of the morbi-
nc germ; then the vessel bearing them
might proceed with her voyage with a GER
taiDty that she bad no disease on board.
But if it proves impossible 10 persuade the
European Governments to join US in such
measures Of precaution, then We ought to
be as thorough as we can in our schemes Of
| self preservation al home, and as part Of
the thoroughness we ought TO lodge author
ity in the strongest hands that can be found.
In opposing Federal control Of quarantine.
Governor Flower is counting a responsi-
/ bility which Re need not have assumed. He
Knows better than any one else how much
trust can be placed in the politicians OF
New York City, who will have to carry out
measures Of quarantine if the cholera breaks
out next spring at European ports. And
without puch stretch of Imagination he can
figure how much will remain of his reputa-
ton If through their neglect. aud ineompe-
tency the pestilence gains a foothOld in
this cnuntrV next simmer