The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1898-10-29
THE .STA TE BO4RD or
HEAL TIT AND ITS
METHODS.

advocated the establishment OF
reasonable quarantine restrictions.
It did not believe it necessary to
employ the extreme methods in
vogue last year and upon several
occasions expressed the hope that
the authorities would be guided by
reason instead Of fear. When the
time came for the various country
boards of health to act, the good
judgment displayed by all was a
source Of much satisfaction to the
thinking people of this section.
The law, as passed at the last ses-
sion of the General Assembly, was
carefully read and a conscientious
effort was made to carry it out in
letter and spirit. That the boards
were successful in their very COM
mendable endeavors to perform
their duty honestly and intelligently
has been clearly shown by the
splendid results which followed.
It is, however, unfortunate that
the State Board, which is. under
the law, the source of all authority
in quarantine matters, has not
evinced the same disposition to
perform it's duties in an honest and
manly way. Unfortunately the
State Board seems to have taken
charge of the commercial and rail-
road interests of the State. 1t ap
pears to have escaped Its attention
that it was appointed to look after
the health of the people of the
State and not after the business of
mercantile firms and railroad cor
porations. All along the State
Board has been entirely too solici-
eous for the welfare of the commerce
Of the State.
The following order or telegram
was sent by Superintendent Owens
to the agents of the Southern Paci
fic Road:
To ALL AGENrs-State Board of Health
of Louisiana is anxious to remove quaran-
tine existing in Louisiana on October rs,
but is unwilling to issue the proclamation
unless The different towns and parishes will
conference to same. They request us to
canvass the locality along the 5. p. Co.,
and find out the sentiment and report as
soon as possible If local and parish authori-
ties object to Oct. IS. Please ascertain if
November will be more acceptable.
w. F. OWENS.
We are informed by Mr.. Owens
that the State Board requested his
company to find out the sentiment
and report as soon as possible"
To an unprejudiced mind does it
not seem a little strange that the
Board should apply to the Southern
Pacific Company for this informa-
ton which it could certainly have
obtained from the boards of the
localities traversed by Mr.. Ovens
road? TIE local boards were IN a
position to furnish the State Board
with authentic information as to
whether or not the people favored
a continuance or Withdrawal of
quarantine restrictions. 1t strikes
US that if the State Board desired
truthful and disinterested reports it
would have applied 70 the boards
of health Of the different localities,
and not to Mr.. Owens who was
naturally anxious to run his trains
without the restrictions place upon
them by the quarantine. In its
haste to raise the quarantine the
State Board has evidently forgotten
the duty that it owes to the people
of this State.
If we are to have a State Board
of Health, let it be State Board
of Health, and not a sort of "Soci-
ETY. for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Railroads."
The present fever may be harm
less and the quarantine may be I'M
necessary; but if it is so, let the
Board say SO, and act accordingly.
A little book, very Interestingly
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