The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-09-13
WHO BOSSES THE
YELLOW FLAG?
Quarantine Officer Chal-
mers' Hard Struggle for
Existence.
Captain Finch of the Gaelic
Will Be a Prisoner Be-
fore Night.
Federal Authorities Will Back the
Mariner Who Snubbed the Doc
tor on the Bridge.

Both the local ard the State Board of
Health intend to back up Quarantine Oti-
Ger Chalmers in his struggle for official
existence, and it will soon be known
whether the captain of vessel may safely
overlook him like white chip when he
elm bs on board to make an inspection.
DR.. Williamson, chairman of the quaran-
tine committee OF the Board OF Health,
3aid yesterday that Captain Finch OF the
Gaelic and Pilot Jordan would certainly
be arrested to-day for violating the State
quarantine laws.
This will bring the squabble to direct
issue and the quarrel will be apt to be set
tied one way or another The case is fine
one for test OF the right of the local and
State auth critics to maintain an independ-
ent quarantine service alongside the Fed
eral one after the President has exercised
the discretion vested in him by law and
proclaimed that the Federal Government
will take charge OF quarantine matters at
this port Captain Finch, having the per-
mission of DR.. Rosenau to land totally
| ignored Dr. Chalmers and his authority
| and steamed ahead to his dock in cheerful
| disc bedience of the express orders of the
! furious local officer. OF course if any Off
Ger of the aw can be snubbed that way he
may as wei quit.
But CAPTAIN Finch is not worried and
| has plenty OF good backing. II he should
| be fined tie $500 which the State law i'm
| poses for refusal or neglect to obey and
assist the Quaran tine Officer, the Occiden-
| tai and Oriental Steamship Company will
! cheerfully pay it, for this and other ship
| ping companies wish to recognize the
| Federal service as supreme, and it is un-
| derstood that the captains action is in
| dorsed by his spperors.
| All Federal authority will be at his
back. Collector Jackson is very vigor-
| ously upholding the Federal end of the
| squabble, and the United States District
Attorney will likely take a hand in the
| case.
The situation involves an interesting
| question of State rights and also, one of
practical expedency. This is the only
| large port in the United S ates which the
Federal Government has thus taken
| charge of. 1t maintains the quarantine
| service at Port Townsend, Key West and
e lew other small places, and has tenn
porarily taken control OF the admission OF
vessels from foreign ports at few others
in times OF epidemic At New York. New
! Orleans, Boston and other important
ports, local or State authorities maintain
efficient quarantine service. which has
never been invaded, the Marine Hospital
service giving supplementary aid when
needed.
San Francisco never secured efficient
| facilities for such a serv ce under local
control. There was no iumigating plant,
no hospital and no place 10 care for quar-
anuned passengers. The China steamers
used to be held with he passengers all on
| board in Mission Bay when they came in
with infectious diseases aboard or some
times the passengers were transferred 10
| hulk. Three years ago the State Legisla-
| furn asked the Government to take
! of quarantine matters here and the
! Cham Der of Commerce passed strong reso-
lulions to the same fleet. Other similar
requests were made and the e3ta blishment
of a fine quarantine station on Angel
| Island was begun. The Government has
| spent $3.50 000 on the service here, which
costs $4,000 year to maintain. The
! local service consists of DR.. Chalmers, an
intelligent and efficient physician, a
messenger and the boarding-tug Governor
Perkins. Dr. Chalmers salary is $1,000
| and this quarantine service costs the CITY
about $4,000 year which is between $1,000
and $1,000 more than the fees collected for
| quarantine inspection and turned into
the City treasury.
| Up to few months ago the inspection
OF ir coming ships remained with the local
quarantine officer who would send YES
sells to the Government station, where his
dictum was accepted Since a special
treasury agent came out here a few
months ago and investigated the situa-
ton, the marine hospital service has been
ordered 10 take charge of the inspection
and admission of all ships from foreign
ports ana has done so, to the turning down
of DR.. Chalmers. He is even unable to
longer see bill OF health unless he gets
to vessel first. Shipowners and masters
object to the annoyance OF two inspec tors,
which are unknown in other ports.
The Board of Health. and, least Of all.
DR.. Chalmers are not disposed to resign
their authority and go out of the quaran-
tine business, which they will apparently
have to do if DR.. Chalmers authority can
not be upheld. The State quarantine
laws and the quarantine officer will exist
I'm til the Legislature abolishes them, and
as double quarantine is not needed, the
battle is one tor principle mainly.