New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-09

present system Of State guarantees, 10 which
public attention has repeatedly been called by
the occurrences Of former years. were supphed
in the course of the recent yellowfever epidemic
at the South Without Disagreement or those
whose duty it became to administer the quaran-
tine resources Of the several afflicted STATES II
IL generally admitted that the disease was not
skilfully fought at every point. 1t was, in iact'
virtually impossible that it should be. with vari-
GUS conflicting and haphazard methods IN OPP
GRAFTON and no paramount authority 10 hai
monte them and exercise full control. Inc
fever in spite OF all that was done 10 check 1t.
spread with alarming persistence, and would
presumably have grown TO disastrous proper
lions except for the Intervention of freezing
weather. To the lateness Of the outbreak rather
than to tho sufficIency Of the means employed
~ end II Is due its comparative insignifcance
The Surgeon General. the Secretary OF the
Treasury and the President agree that the Ma
tional quarantine regulations should be maze
paramount Under the present law the Ma
rlno Hosptal Service is charged with the duty
~ aiding in the enforcement Of local regula-
tlons: but while 1t Is only just to say that THIS
duty has usually been performed as in the
latest instance in a faithful and sagacious man
tenn have invariably been apparent Fortu-
natey there Is reason to believe that anotner
demonstration of the importance Of establish
ing central quarantine authority VIII not De
required 10 recommend to the States most deep
" interested such an amendment or the law as
the President and his advisers propose. Sen
ator Caffery, OF Louisiana, whose trying per-
sonal experiences last fall impressed the neces-
IT. hno o.
cared his purpose Of bringing the subject be
fore Congress- and his advocacy Of the proposed
reform may be relied upon; unless indeed. he
should think that It did not 60 far enough. With
credtnble disregard of the States rights fetch.
Senator Gallery is understood to favor the pas
sage OF n bill vcsting the exercise OF quarantine
powers exclusively in the Federal Government;
hut he is not likely to insist upon that extreme
step at the risk Of defeating more moderate
measure Of great utility. 1t is doubtful If. in
the opinion OF the country at large. the time
has come for the assumption by the Federal
Government Of all the care and cost OF quaran-
tine administration II that time is destined to
arrive the bestowal OF such paramount author
Ity MS is now suggested would be suitable
preparation therefor.
To the proposals OF the SurgeonGeneral ana
the Secretary OF the Treasury PRESIDENT NC
Kinley adds the recommendation that n sys-
tematic investigation Of the obscure and hither-
to undetermined cause OF yellow fever should
be made by a commission Of four expert bacterl-
ologlsts appointed by the President from the
medical departments OF the Army and Navy
the Marine Hospital Service and civil life II
would cost only trfng sum to carry out this
suggestion. and the results might be OF vast adj
vantage to the whole world. We hope that
Congress Will promptly ndopt both propositions.