The age-herald., 1898-11-17
MANY DELEGATES ON HAND
Good Representation From Communities
 Most Deeply Interested.
PROMINENT SCIENTISTS PRESENT
Questions of Epidemics and Quarantine Will Be Taken Up and Discussed Ex- haustively -Surgeon-GeneralW Wy
 man Unable to Be Present.

Memphis, November 16.-All Is in readi- ness for the national quarantine conven- tfon the opening session of which will take place tomorrow morning in Germania hall Local committees to whom the details or preparation for the reception of delegates and their comfort and convenience during their deliberations have left nothing un- done which would contribute to this end.
 Many delegates arrived today and 1t is believed that a good representation from the communities most deeply interested will be present at the opening session. The op- ening session will be called to order by J. S. Menkin, chairman of the local committee and an address of welcome will be delivered by Mayor Williams. The convention will then effect an organization and enter upon it's deliberations.
 Early in October the call for the con- vention took definite shape. All over the country there was feeling that something must be done for the south in combating the situation resultant upon repeated cpl denies or threatened epidemcs. Not only was human life rsked but the paralysis to business and consequent ruinous financial conditions were felt throughout the whole southern territory no less than in the stricken communities. Dissatisfaction with present inefficient quarantine regulations and a state of affairs which unnecessarily paralyzed an entire section of country be- cause of few infected points, resulting in complete commercial demoralization was apparent and nowhere was the feeling that a change of method must come, more wide spread than here in Memphis.
 Meeting of Merchants
 At a meeting of the Memphis Merchants Exchange, specially called for the purpose, a set of resolutions setting forth the situa- tion and the need of taking action to se- cure national control of quarantine were submitted and adopted without dissenting voice, and invitation was sent out ask ing all interested to meet in convention in this city on November II, IS and 19 The questions of epidemics and quarantine will be taken up and discussed exhaustively. Many prominent scientists will be present.
 pr. John B. Hamilton, of Chicago, who was for twelve years the surgeon general of the United States marine hospital serv- ice, arrived yesterday. Surgeon General Wyman of the United States marine hos pital service has telegraphed that he would be unable to be present, and asks that Surgeon H. R. Carter, who arrived today, be received by the convention as his repre- sentative. Among the letters received is one from United States Senator George Vest of Missouri, in which he regrets that he cannot attend the convention. Senator Vest is chairman of the senate committee on public. health, and as such he says at the last session of congress he tried earn estly to enact a law placing the entire quar- antine system under one head. The meas ure was opposed by the senators from all the states most affected by yellow fever
 of,,. fftrNt h that "any legislation can be had doing away with the present complex and con- hicting conditions as to quarantine.
 ''The state boards of health," the letter concludes, "are determined to retain their Jurisdiction as it now exists, and this is ab- solutely inconsistent with the idea of such a national quarantine as will secure rapid and efficient opposition to yellow fever"