The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-11-20
--------------------------
ABOUT QUARANTINEs.

| III SVutANaH PfEs" Juot uOW Is 0lcCuculuE
the proposition advanced and advocated In
some quarters looking to the substitution
Of the National for the State guarantees
The Georgia legislature has gone so far
a. to favor surrendering to the National
government In tho premises, but the
weight OF conviction, as gathered from
Southern exchanges, Is opposed to such q
transfer OF authority.
The experience OF Texas this fall enable,
her to speak In no uncertain tones on this
matter. and there can be no doubt that
her voice Will be strongly in favor OF re-
tanning In her own hands the right to
guard her own interests and health That
Mississippi was saddled with an inefficient
health guard, or that New Orleans became
the prey OF the dreaded disease, simply
demonstrates that some changes and re-
forms In their boards and quarantine ma
| chlnery are necessary and not that State
control ~ Enthusiastically or Inadequate.
| There was not case OF yellow fever in
Texas during all the excitement. In spite
| OF our proximity to the disease In Louis
lana. No authority, National or otherwise
could have more sklllfully or successfully
guarded the health Of this great State than
officer and his assistants. Success is the
test OF merit. OF systems as well as of
individuals.
The trouble with several OF the Southern
and Gulf States Is that they have placed
their health departments In the hands OF
cumbersome boards of health rather than
concentrate authority In the hands of a
single officer with plenary powers. 1t is
impossible to secure that promptness and
unity OF action required to meet great
emergencies when several mon are TO be
called together and consulted. The differ
ences OF opinion invariably found in such
boards and the Difference paid by one to
the other Of the members who compose the
board. beget delay until 1t is too late-the
disease has entered and the epidemic has
obtained foothold while the learned board
was celebrating.
There ought however. to be some
changes made In the law relating to local
guarantees within the Stnte. 1t was
demonstrated in this State this year that
a panlcky community. without cause. can
block the wheels OF commerce of large
section and entail immeasurable losses
upon communities and individuals. An
extension OF authority In the State health
officer so as to regulate or negative local
guarantees might not be bad plan,
Whatever may be the outcome Of the pres
ent discussion OF quarantine matters, how
ever. 1t Is gratifying to Texans, in the
midst OF 1t all, to reflect that our own
State health department is so admirably
organized and that II has again demon
strated it's ability to thoroughly protect the
people OF Texas against threatened danger
1t would be difficult task to convince
our citizens that National quarantine
would be more efficient or In any way
more desirable than our present systemic
say nothing OF the question OF the en-
enactment by the Federal government
upon state rights which Is involved In the
proposition to surrender quarantine mat
'ers to the marine hospital corps.
----~---------..
In view Of the efforts THAT nre 10 ho
made toward a reciprocity treaty letwacn
Sarada and the United States, 1t Is in
eoseStars to iearn that the average an
nual exports from Canada TO Great Brit
am Increased from f91oo.oo0 IN the Ave
yeafs ended 1880 to $4,000, 900 in the fol,ow-
ing qoinquennlal period while the aver