The age-herald., 1897-11-17
THOSE QUARANTINE RULES.
Cart. Amerine Replies to Ex-Gov. Thos. G
 Jones.
,o the Edttor of The Age-Herald:

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 In re gard to the letter of Ex-Governor Jones published in The Age-Hegald Sun day which is intended, I suppose, as a reply to the little interview printed in The Age-Herald a few days ago. At the time I was talking I had no fdsa. of a newspaper controversy nor do l in- tend to engage in one. This is the hast I expect to say on the subject. As sta' ed in his letter at the time of the Brunswick epidemic he and were not on very good terms.
 That year the position of chief stal.e quarantine officer was voluntarily ten dered me by Dr. Cochran and che stalte board of health I did not solicit the pc- sition. I received my instructions from Dr. Cochran do no- know what hls orders were from the governor, but as the doctor, like myself, was a subordi- nate, guess that but Ettle was said by the governor to him since the superior talks but little to subordinates. l am of the opinion that the doctor obeyed his instructions. I know that I endeavorsd to do so. At times I did eXerc.ss some discretion, as an instance: Cover nor Jones and a party of his friends left home in his privale car for the Chicago exposition and were absent from the state several days. On this occasion I instructed the quarantine officer who ran between Montgomery and Nashville to allow Ghe party to go and return with out questions and no certificates being rsqu:red as was our rule. Discretion was exercised then as now on many oc- casions by me, but not by the train in speclors.
 In regard to telegrams having been sent by the governor to officers on trains to allow refugees to get off, I have no right to doubt what he says, but nearly all of the officers are living, and some of them at work for the state today I have never heard one of them say that he ever received an order from either Governor Jones or Dr. Cochran. If they had I am sure that they must have re- ported the same to me, and delivered the telegram, and I would have been posted. I must say that all of this is news to all the old quarantine officers! Dr. Cochran is dead and can make no statement, but many of the officers are near by, and I feel safe in ing that each one of them will say that they nevr received a telegram from the governor during that epidemic.
 I selected and employed all of the off, cers that year, as I have done this Neither Governor Jones nor Governor Johnston named one of them. In regard to not many people coming into Alabama from Brunswick, a great many passed through and great many were stopped before they reached the state line. One night Quarantine Officer McTyeire cut two car loads off at Smithville Ga., on account of the passengers having Ala bama points in view. Almost every day and night we had more or less trouble with refugees, but none were allowed to stop in the state if we knew it.
 The fiscal appropriation of $5 900 per year was the same then as now. We could not keep up very extensive camp of detention if wa had desired to do so or as to some dlscressfon to be allowed quarantine officers, as twas done this year on the sly with passengers" will givs. an instance. The morning after the fever was announced in Mobile, Mrs. Pickens and two children and a Mrs. Jones came into the Birmingham depot from there. They wers fatgued and excited, did not know where to go nor what to do. They had paid their rail- road fare from station Ito station and could not get off anywhere. I allowed these ladies and children to buy tickets and go to private house in the country near Springville, Ala. and telegraphed one of their husbands in Mobile He replied by dnquiring if more Mobil= peo- pie could go to Springville. replied mo" This was case of justifable dis criminiation-
 Again, if I had not exercised some dis erosion as to railroads today every iron and coaa industry in tine state would have been paralyzed. The same with the cotton I have conducted the state qua--