The San Francisco call., 1897-07-27
Federal Authority Disputed
by the State Board
Of Health.
Subject Reviewed and Referred
to the Governor for
Action.
Meeting of State Health Authorities
Held at the Palace Hotel Last
Evening.


of San Francisco, which was impending
for several weeks has taken place. The
State Board of Health has resolved to
sustain the local board in disputing the
Federal authority in the premises and no
doubt the matter will be taken into the
courts here as II was in New York ana
New Orleans.
Yesterday afternoon Dr.. Williamson
and DR.. FizgjbDon OF the San Francisco
board and DR.. Morse and Dr. Crowley OF
the State Board OF Health, together with
DIR. Chalmers Quarantine Officer; Or.
Matthews, secretary OF the State board
and Mr.. Godchaux. secretary Of the local
board, met in the office OF Or. FitzgioDon
and considered at length the salient points
OF the conflict.
Last evening the State Board of Health
held a meeting at the Palace Hotel and
received the report from the quarantine
conference com mittee.
Dr. Morse in presenting the report
stated that the object OF the meeting was
to bring before the State Board of Health
the continual interference OF the Federal
quarantine authorities with those ap-
pointed by the State. Definite action
should be taken, he said, so as TO main
tain the State quarantine as 1t now exists.
DR.. williamson made a lengthy state
ment Us to the situation as it now exists.
He said that the time the health au-
thOrltIes took posse eSslon OF the health al
fairs of this City the Federal Government
was maintaining a quarantine station at
AugeI Island, At which all passengers,
baggage and mail subject to quarantine,
were sent by the Quarantine Officer of the
mort. an appolntce of the San Francisco
Board OF Health.
At that time the local and the United
States Marine Hospital authorities
worked in harmony. About July l, 1896,
THIS board was informed by DR.. Ro>enau
o. the Marine Hospi al service that the
Fedora. authorities would establish and
maintain a nay inspection. From that
time on there has been more or less fric-
tion between the two authorities. Several
Conferences were held with the Federal
quarantine people and the latter promised
faithfully TO Cooperate with the local Off
ce:s. The Federal people asked one con-
cesslon, anu that was that the local board
concede that the letter OF prati0Ge of the
Federal quarantine officer be necessary for
the entry OF vessel al the Custom house.
I his concession was granted, but never
thc!ass the Federal quarantine officials
failed to cooperate with the local officer
in the management of the quarantine al
fairs OF this port
Now il is the custom of the Federal
officer 10 board all vessels in advance OF
the .ocal officer, entirely ignoring the
laws OF this STATE. and 10 grant letters of
pratiQue TO the masters OF vessels, a the
SAME time instructing them 10 proceed %
the docE without regard TO the local quar-
antine offieer.
The Federal officers have also stated to
masters OF vesaes that the quarantine
service of this port is now in the hands of
the United States Government and tn at
the payment of fees as provided by the
State laws is entirely unnecessary.
The quarantine committee of the San
Francisco Board OF Health claims that
the Federal auth hOrities have been guilty
Of unnecessary Interference in the man
gement of quarantine affairs OF this port;
that they have persIs, Is,ently Interrupted
and attempted to minimize the authority
of the local quarantine officer; and fur
ther, have declined TO receive mails from
infected ports iOr the purpose OF fumiga-
ton, in defiance of orders issued by the
local board 10 its quarantine officer direct
ing that spch mails be transmitted to the
quarantine station for disInfection.
Tne doctor cited several instances. One
was on the l1th inst, on the arrival OF the
steamer San Juan from the Central Ameri-
can ports with a dead CAinese on board,
VINO the day before had died before enter
ing port. The local officer wanted 10
make a posLmorlem examination and
came back to the City Tor his Instruments
Z pon his return ne foun that the vessel
had left he quarantine line, ana had de-
parted taking the body Of the Chinese.
and to this day The local officer has not
received any official notification OF The
whereabouts OF The body. The case of the
bark IODgalant was also cited. In II g
case the captain of the ship went ashore
taking his papers upon receiving infor-
nation tnat the Federal Government had
ia ken charge of the quarantine affairs OF
this port, and that it was not necessary
for him to pay any quarantine ices ior the
in pection OF his vessel.
Another case was that of the steamer
China that arrived on the oath inst. a
Chinese was sick and the Federal officer
sent him into quarantine, but notwith-
standing this precaution the other passen-
gers were allowed 0 go ashore, and in no
way were he local authorities gwen any
voice in the matter. The doctor con-
ciuded by saying that he considers this
course clear case OF usurpation and en-
croachment upon the authority OF the
San Francisco Board Of Health in mat
ters pertaining 60 quarantine i'll this port,
and clearly in violation OF the laws of the
State OF California.
Quarantine officer DR.. Chalmers SUBJ
M mlI,ed a report in which he substantiated
all that Dr. Williamson had slated.
Mr.. Godchaux called attention to the
fact that the Federal authorities had de-
tanned in quarantine Baron Henri Fov,
representative Of The French and Be, gian
consulates, who came on the steamer
China, simply because a Chinese passen-
ger was sick, and in spite of the fact that
the other passengers were released.
The foregoing report will be submitted
TO the Board of Health al its next reg gular
meeting.
At the meeting of the State Board OF
Health Dr. Rueges OF Stockton presided.
DR.. Crowley of Oakland, DR.. Henderson
and DR.. Matthews of Sacramento, D. VIII
Hanson, DR.. Gerald Fitzgib bbon, DR.. Morse
anu Secretary Godchaux of San Francisco
were present.
The report of the quarantine commit
Tee was discussed for some time.
Dr Morse introduced a resolution which
was adopted, to the effect that the subject
matter con aimed in he report be sub
m1tted In full 20 the chief executive with
a recommendation that action be taken
IN the matter by himself and that an
onlnlon be obtained from Mr.. NJ McEnerney,
attorney OF the State Board Of Health, in
regard 10 the power of the Federal au-
thorines TO interfere in the matter of Stale
quarantine.
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