The age-herald., 1898-02-10
THE QUARANTINE
 CONVENTION Is in Session at Mobile With i6O in
 Attendance. DAY WAS SPENT IN TALKING
The Opposing Delegates Locked Horns
 and Made It Lively.
NATIONAL PEOPLE IN mAIORIr'
Test Vote Was on Limiting the Programme to the Real Subject involved in Which
 the Anti-Sh Gun Delegates Won Victory.

Mobile, Feb. 9.-The south Atlantic and gulf states quarantine convention met at 10 o'clock this morning with one hundred and fifty delegates present from the states covered by the title. After the opening prayer, Governor Johnston, of Alabama, was made temporary chairman and well comed the delegates in the name of the state. The concluding sentence "A1l we ask is that all the states take hold of this quarantine question and settle it." Dr. A. J. Moody was elected secretary A committee on permanent organization being appointed, reported in favor of Dr. c. P. Wilkinson, of Louisiana, as perma- nent chairman. Adopted.
 Also in favor of adopting much of the
 executive committees prepared programme
 as would bring to the front the relations of
 state and national governments to quar-
 antine. A minority report was offered in
 favor of following the prepared program
 The majority report was adopted by a de-
 cisive vote. This result is regarded as a
 victory for the national quarantine ele-
 ment of the convention. The first topic
 taken up under this report was quarantine
 with reference to international rights and
 interests, a paper that subject being
 read by ex-Minister Hannis Taylor, of
 Mobile. Five minutes discussion followed.
 Committees Appointed
 
 pointed committees to recommend the ap
 pointment of medical inspectors at
 rious foreign ports, Dr. John B. Hamil-
 ton, Illinois, chairman. John E. Farrer,
 of New Orleans, read paper on Federal
 and State Powers as to Quarantine" He
 held that the police powers of the state
 have never been delegated to the federal government. There is no power in con-
 gress to pass quarantine laws It is a reserved right of the states. Congress had
 authority to pass quarantine laws controll- ing states between states and other na- tions, but not otherwise.
 In the discussion which followed a great variety of opinion was expressed. Ex- Congressman Clark, of Mobile, thought 1t rather inconsistent that we should con tinually be asking the federal government for aid and still to deny to the government the power to aid.
 Dr. S. A. Robinson, of New York, argued that the quarantine was common cause against common foe.
 Dr. Smith, of Texas, said that his state does not want federal interference and it is not going to have it.
 Hogg Brought InIt A delegate: "Did not the governor of Texas ask aid to stamp out smallpox at Eagle Pass?
 Dr. Smith: "Who was governor?" Delegate: Governor Hogg." Dr. Smith: "Oh, he was not responsi- ble''
 Dr. w. A. Blount, of Georgia, said the situation was one that Georgia could not | meet. What Is wanted is something stronger than shot gun quarantine. He favored going to the general government | to get assistance needed.
 John B. Knox, of Anniston, Ala, Norman Walker, of New Orleans, Dr. Robbins, of Vicksburg, Miss, Mayor Collier of At lanta, Hannls Taylor of Mobile, all upheld the necessity and night of federal protec- tion. Dr. Knowles, of Atlanta, offered a resolution condemning state, county and municipal quarantine and calling con- gress to establish a uniform system of quarantine. A discussion followed criticis- ing state quarantine and in defense there of. Railroad men present gave their expe- rience which showed that in some in- stances under state quarantine, traffic had been entirely supended during the late epi- dernic; in other instances traffic was con- tinued successfully.
 The nigd1t session was devoted to the consideration of the paper by Hon. W. P. Moldrim, of Savannah, upon "Quarantine and Commerce From a Legal Standpoint. " The position being similar to that upheld by MT. Farrar. Strong opposition was shown in the discussion which followed in which J. M. Faulkner and w. F. Van- diver of Mont tgomery and T. G.. Bush, Of Anniston, Ala, led. All contended that state, county and municipal quarantine being a failure last summer a uniform na- tional quarantine system is required to af- ford proper protection and restore the con- fidence of the people. s