The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-25
MAY ABOLISH THE CHARGES.
Council to Consider Doing Away
With Fees at Quarantine.

The quarantine charges for vessels en-
tering Savannah's harbor from ports in
fected or believed to be infected will In
all probability, soon be abolished. A
movement is on foot for the attainment
Of this result and the indications are that
1t will prove successful. The sanitary
board IS warmly in favor Of the costs be
ing borne by the city instead Of by the
vessels inspected, and Il is very likely that
a resolution from that body will be pre-
scented at the meeting of the city council
this afternoon. The sanitary board held
its regular meeting yesterday afternoon.
Present at the meeting We're Acting
Mayor S. =. Hamilton, Health officer Lee
Hardy, DR. William Duncan, and Mr. p.
J. O'Connor. It did not take the members
long to ascertain that they were in favor
of the city defraying all the expenses of
the quarantine station. The matter was
discussed from many points of
view with the invariable decision
that the contemplated measure would
prove largely conducive to the interests of
the port. Although no definite statement
could be secured from the members of the
board that a resolution had been adopted,
there was no denial made Of the fact. one
of them, when asked about it, said that
there would probably be a resolution, ad-
vising the repeal of the ordinance requir-
ing vessels to pay the costs of their dis
infection, submitted to council this after
noon. The board feels that the first posi-
tive knowledge council should acquire of
their action should be through the resolu-
ton itself, and il feels that as "A mark of
courtesy, notification Of such action should
be given to council alone.
There seems to be no doubt as to what
win be the attitude of council in the
matter The members of the sanitary
board believe that there will be unanimity
in favor of the repeal Of the ordinance re-
curing the vessels to pay the costs
The measure is believed to be a wise one.
1t would make the costs Of vessels enter
ing the port much less and consequently
would tend to bring many more to Sa-
vannah. Captains Of vessels have often
been heard to complain Of the expenses
connected with the quarantine
There is no doubt that the commercial
interests of the city would be greatly ben
Gifted by the abolition of the charges and
for that reason the measure will prove
popular.
1t is not improbable that the suspected
upon the conduct Of The quarantine station.
Some of the members of the board be-
lieve that if the restrictions observed at
the quarantine are not absolutely
necessary, some changes should be made.
They see no reason why a vessel should
be detained longer than is essential to
its thorough disinfection. Such a deten-
ton is a hardship upon the crew and own
ers and of no benefit TO any one. they
think. The members holding these views
are by no means advocates Of a system of
quarantine that will not protect the city's
health. They want every point observed
that may be necessary. but there they
think the restrictions should stop.
Savannah's yearly receipts from the
quarantine charges amount to about &c.
600. This sum is paid out in defraying the
expenses connected with the station. Even
then there is a considerable E@pfit to the
city. Ii is said that about half the re-
ceipts are net. The charges are adjusted
on a scale based on tonnage and run from
IS or $40 10 $40.
Quarantine has been in operation at this
port since the time whereof the memory
of man runneth not to the contrary" but
the rigid quarantine Of to-day was es-
tablished in 1871