The record-union., 1893-01-07
COMMERCE, NATIONAL QUARAN
TINE AND STATE-RIGHTS,

Commerce is said to be selfish, unfeel-
ing and regardless of community sani-
tary needs. But this old verdict must
now be set aside; all the chief CONNER
cial bodies of the Union are to-day unit
in insisting upon National quarantine
supervision. The commercial bodies take
this stand with full knowledge that it
may result in complete cessation for
some time this year of intercourse by
ship with foreign countries. This means
a heavy direct loss to commercial inter-
| ests. Nevertheless the merchants see
that there are some things superior to
trade, and they are human life and the
preservation of the health of the people.
DR.. Jenkins, the Tammany quarantine
officer, now stands alone in protest
against Federal supervision and regula-
ton of quarantine-alone except that
| Papa-in-law Sachem Croker, for Tam
many supports the pretenuous young
physician i'll his fight against his entire
profession and the expressed wishes Of
the people of interior, as well as those Of
the coast States.
The interior States have no confidence
in the local quarantine agents of ports
chosen through political agencies. The
Savannah NeVs. a State-rights Demo-
cratic leader, frankly admits that there is
good ground for this distrust, and that
while it regards enlargement of National
authority as dangerous, it must concede
that there is great strength and reason
ableness in the belief that National GUAR
antine is the better means through which
to secure uniformity Of regulations and
the greatest measure OF protection from
importation of infectious and contagious
diseases. This radical Stute-rights Demo-
cratic exponent has the courage to say
and the New Orleans Tin qa- Democrat
Joins it-in the face of the Tammauy pro-
test and its own political creed:
TITS admitted by all who have given the
suhiect thoughtful considerable tuat state
ouarantines do not give the country as great
protection AGAINST contagious and in. ectious
| disc aSGS a NSllOudl luiiIduliIt would, be-
cause some OF them are very elective, ana
there is no uniformity IN them. The quaran-
tine regulations at one port ale very dlnerent
| from those at another, and as there is great
rivalry between some OF the pDr.s the tend
encv at those ports is to 50 lessen the Quaran-
tine burdens in the interest of commerce that
their uuarantines afford very tile protection.
UnGera National quarantine system all the
ports would be treatt alike, On would have
no advantage over anotIer. and quarantine
regulations would be made with a tutl under-
standing of the requiremenlsn n C sSarN ioC an
efficient quarantine serv &c, Men trained tor
tbat service would have charge of it, ana all
the ports would be under tie direction OF 4
, 4 central authority. The country
I should have National quarantine and
I should have agents established IA Europe to
inspect immigrants s. as 10 prevent those
suffering from contagious or infectious dis
eases from coming 10 this country. TaiS can
not be done under the present quarantine
/ = stem The marine hospital service could be
I readily enlarged so that il would MT ct all the
demands of quarantine. It already contains
a great many men who are extremely valu-
able tor quarantine work.