The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-12
QUARANTINE BY THE STATES.
MOBILE CONVENTION ADOPTS A
DECLARATION.

for a department of Public
HeaIth-AIso to Enact an Efficient
Maritime Quarantine Law to BE
Enforced by the Several state and
Municipal Quarantine Health
boards.
Mobile Ala, Feb. 1.-THE quarantine
convention for the third day reassembled
at 10 O'Clock and the first business was
the adoption of the report of the commit
tee on resolutions. A majority and mi
uority report was offered. The various
topics reported upon were upon motion
considered separately.
The following portion of the minority
report was adopted THAT Congress en-
act bill empowering the President of the
United States to appoint a commission OF
experts to consist of one medical officer
from the army, one from the navy, one
from the Marine Hospital service and
one from civil life, who shall be charged
with investigating the cause and preven-
ton of yellow fever. One of this commits
sion shall be named by the President as
chairman. The headquarters shall be In
Washington and bureau of investigation
be established in Havana officials of the
government who are members shall re-
ceive no other pay than their salaries,
except when engaged in the performance
of committee work entailing special ex-
pense The civil member shall receive Sc
q day while i'm this service"
The amount to be appropriated is named
al $4,000.
Also the following portion of the ma
jority report:
''Resolved, That it is the sense of this
convention that as soon as possible the
South Atlantic and Gulf states meet in
conference and prepare code of quaran-
tine regulations to prevent the spread of
contagious diseases; said rules to be uni
formly accepted by the health boards of
these states; and, further, that the con-
ference adopt system of health certifi-
cate to be issued by boards of health of
these states"
Neither resolution caused any debate,
but the following resolutions did:
Resolved, That the convention invite
the attention of Congress to Senate bill
1850 (Caffery bilD as not conducive to
the sanitary interests of the country; this
convention does not regard the bill as nee
essary or wise; the powers proposed to be
conferred upon the Secretary of the Treas
ury are extreme and dangerous We re-
spectfully urge that said bill do not pass.
Resolved, That the adoption of Senate
bill No. g. 1873 (Spooner bilD creating a
commission of public health and provid-
ing a uniform system or quarantine under
the Federal government, with abe cooper
alton and advice of every state board of
health, would be wise and satisfactory,
and the convention respectfully urges its
passage"
The minority report on resolutions sim
ply recommended no Endorsement of the
Caffery or Spooner bills, but that Congress
pass adequate quarantine legislation.
Congressman r. II. Clarke of Mobile CT
fered substitute to the eff
feet that Congress should enact an eff
Gent maritime quarantine applicable to
the commercial ports of this country,
leaving TO the states power to prescribe
and enforce additional and reasonable
safeguards for the health of the commu-
mites provided such shall not unreason-
ably obstruct commerce.
TSecond-Congress shall assist the states
in establishing and maintaining uniform
quarantine laws for the regulation of in
terstate commerce, leaving TO the state
an equal power to protect the lives and
health of its people.
'rhird-Congress shall leave to the
states the regulation of internal COM
merce.
e'Fifth-In the framing of quarantine
laws Congress be requested to avail itself
of the learning and ability of the medical
BILE
Il was agreed that debate should close
at o'clock.
Discussion was continued until the recess.
Other business of the afternoon session
was the reading of a paper by Dr. John B.
Hamilton of Chicago, favoring national
bureau of health.
DIR. Hamilton presented the favorable re-
port of the special committee on resolu-
lions relative to the dangerous infected
ports and provision for medical inspection
al such points, and the calling OF an in
ternational quarantine convention. The re-
port was unanimously adopted.
The convention also adopted a resolution
recommending that priests and ministers
be allowed the same privilege in visiting
the sick as physicians, provided that they
observe the precautions taken by physi-
clans.
ITpon re-assembling after the recess, a
resolution was adopted providing for the
holding of a proposed quarantine confer
ence at Atlanta on the first Tuesday in
April.
Mr.. Clarke asked leave to withdraw his
substitute and offer another in Its place
This was granted.
Col Kay, author of the minority report
withdrew the report.
nr. Horlbeck withdrew the majority re-
port ana moved that Mr.. Clarke's substi-
tute be adopted. This was carried unan.
imously, and amid great applause. The
substitute reads as follows:
Resolved, That it is the sense of this
convention:
Il That Congress be requested to pro-
vide for department of public health as
soon as practicable
80. That IL is the sense of this conven.
ton that Congress should enact laws tC
provide for an efficient maritime quaran-
tine to be uniform and impartial in its APP.
plication to the different commercial ports
of this country so as to give to no one OF
more of them undue commercial advan
tage over the others, and to be enforced
by the several state and municipal quar-
antine or health boards if they viii under
take so to do leaving also 10 the states
the power to prescribe and enforce addi
tional reasonable safeguards for the heath
of their communities provided that sucl
state action shall not unreasonaby OBJ
struct commerce.
''3. That Congress should aid the seVera
states in establishing and maintaining
uniform. reasonable and efficient quaran
tine laws affecting but not regulating in
terstate commerce, leaving TO each stat,
adequate power to protect as il shall deem
best the lives and health of its people.
"A. That Congress should leave exciu
n fEn he sxft l.,s,