The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1898-06-24
The Sea Coast Enters a Vigorous Pro-
test Against the State Board of
Health.

Biloxi, Miss, June 16.-In com,
pliance with the call from Jackson
county, representatives from the
coast towns assembled in this city TO-
day to deliberate upon matters con
nected with the quarantine of the
coast. Representatives, were present
from Bay st. Louis, Wavcland, Lonp
Beach, Pass Christian, Gulfport,
HandsborO, Mississippi City, Biloxi.
Ocean Springs, Scranton ana Moss
Point. The assembly was an en-
thnsiastic one, and united upon the
proposition that The action of uuaran'
tine against this coast, while in ar
absolutely healthy condition, must
stop.
M. e. NJ. Weed, Of Ocean Springs,
was elected chairman, and Mr.. G. M,
Rhodes, Of the Pass, secretary. The
committee on resolutions, which had
been agreed on, retired, and on thcil
return presented the following, which
after much talk, were adopted:
Whereas, after the epidemic of 1897,
upon the advice and recommendations
of The State Board Of Health and the
marine hospital service, the citizens
of this coast, wherever the fever was
supposed to have been, submitted t.
the Inconvenience, annoyance and In
many instances to actual loss of prop.
erty from the iumigation Of residences
and bedding, under the assurance
from these bodies Of immunity Of q
return Of the pcstilence; and whereas,
the citizens Of this coast have sub.
mitted to having in their midst a rep.
resentative of the Mississippi board
and Of the Louisiana board as an
earnest of their willingness to have
the world know Of the earliest appear
ance Of fever in Il midst, should
such Il deplorable contingency happen.
and whereas, every facility has been
given these said inspectors, both by
the medical profession and citizens OF
this coast, to ascertain full and
accurate information Of the condition
of affairs in this territory; and where
as, there has not been and does not
now exist any serious suspicious sick.
ness in this territory, which fact the
representatives, respectively, Of the
Louisiana and Mississippi board at
test; aud whereas, the Mississippi
board, aided and abetted lay Tie
boards of Louisiana and Alabama, in.
slst upon maintaining an oppressive
quarantine against the whole coast,
notwithstanding the report Of theiI
own inspectors that the same is free
from injection, alleging a fear of the
outbreak of the fever again this sum
lner on this coast, while the said Mis-
SisSippi State Board allows fun and
uninterrupted intercourse with the
cities IF Mobile and New Orleans. and
With Edwards, in Kinds county. this
State, where the fever prevailed long
or and Of a more virulent type; now
be it
Resolved, by this, joint meeting of
representatives OF the gulf coast.
That this action of the Mississippi
State board, which Is the main offend.
er, IN quarantining this section is
arbitrary, unjust and illegal.
Resolved, further, That it is the
opinion OF this assembly that there
has not been and is not now condi-
tions or threatened conditions exist
ing in this territory to Justify
the curse Of said board, or serve as a
reasonable excuse for same, and that
the mere fear, coupled with the exist
ence or fever in a remote and isolated
community, furnishes no reasonable
preteXt or excuse for this account.
Resolved, further, That in the in
stitution and maintenance of this
quarantine, considering the condi-
lions existing, the said board acted
hastily, unwisely and unjustly, and
without cause or reasonable grounds
to excuse same, and has inflicted an
lrreparable injury to the commercial
and property interest Of this part of
Mississippi, not only for the present,
but reaching far into the future.
Resolved, further, While we are
willing, nay, anxious, to obey any rea-
sonable and proper regulations and
restrictions, and to support the board
IN the enactment and enforcement of
such, we protest against the present
methods of quarantine, and demand
the immediate removal OF the same
from the counties of Hancock, Harri-
sona and Jackson, except as to the in
fected locality of McHenry. now
thoroughly and effectually isolated
and q~uarantined.
Resolved, further, That we demand
that said board recognize and act
Immediately upon the report of its
own inspectors declaring this section
free of infection, and In the future
inform themselves as to conditions
before ~isolating a healthy community.
On motion the chair was authorized
TO appoint an executive committee, to
pc composed Of one representative
from each town on the coast, to whom
should be referred matters of quaran-
tine and dealing with the State
Board of Health. The chair appoint
ed the following: i. J. Bowers, OF
Bay st. Louis; w. B. Stevenson, Long
Beach; W. G. Evans, Jr., Mississippi
City; j. J. Harry, Handsboro; ]. b.
McKie. Biloxi; Volney Brown, Pasca.
goula; A. +. Dantzler, Moss Point;
Thos. Cauham, Lulfport; VIM. Rohm-
er, Waveland.
On motion the chair was instructed
to appoint a committee Of three to
present the resolutions to the State
Board OF Health, which was done.
The committee Is as follows: M.
I'M. Evans. n T pnworc w A Whito