The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-09
STRONG AGAINST SURRENDER.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS SAYS CITY
ERRs IN GIVING UP QUARANTINE.

Under the Present system Commerce
Is Encouraged, but the CombIna-
ton of transportation Interests
| Threatens DISCRIMINATION IL Local
Control Is LOst-POints to Increase
in Summer shipping, Which He
Considers the Result of Present
Effective QuarantIne-The station
of Health officer Must work in
Harmony to Produce Desired Re-
suit
Alderman J. 2. Williams is probably the
most pronounced member of Council
against the proposed quarantine change
which he is convinced for several reasons
will not be an advisable step. The argu-
ments offered in support of the surrender
has converted many who at first strongly
| opposed any change. but the reasons ad-
vanced are not considered well taken by
Alderman Williams, who sees in the move
ment to surrender control the initial step
to losing the great commercial prestige
| Savannah has acquired.
A step of the kind proposed by Council
appears TO Alderman Williams to carry
admissions which are not In keeping with
the citys dignity and Importance. He
insists that quarantine is indissolubly
part of the sanitary department., and 90
dissolve the present relation of the sta
ton with the health Office will be the
same as "a house divided against ITSELF
As they two form the essential branches
NJ
ton of the city's health they must work
in perfect harmony to produce desired re-
suits. That they have been working to-
gether for years is demonstrated In the
success the health authorities have had
in combating yellow fever. A scourge
unfortunately fell some years ago upon
the little town of Brunswick only sixty
miles away, but the disease was kept out
of Savannah by the effective working or
| its present quarantine.
While he looks first to the public health
In considering the question, and believes
this should govern whatever action Is
taken, Alderman Williams is convinced
that the surrender of quarantine will be
at the risk of losing the commercial rela-
tons Savannah has built up in the past
Few years by its quarantine alone. There
has been noticeable increase in the num-
Der of vessels that come to this port dur
ing the summer months, a thing which
many other cities do not enjoy. Alderman
Williams attributes this to the confidence
ship owners feel in Savannah's safety
from disease. These people know that on
coming here they enter a port where their
crews have the best of accommodations
and where they will not contract disease"
he said. Knowing they can come here
with safety during the summer, they do
not hesitate to do so, the result being that
this city has been favored with better
freight rates and better facilities than
other places where these advantages are
not offered
"A REIMBURSEMENT of quarantine to the
marine hospital service" he insisted
means that this city is either incompe-
tent TO protect itself, or has not the funds
with which to 90 so. To admit either con-
tingency Is more than care to do There
is nothing to prevent Savannah from main
tanning the same unexcelled record in pre-
serving the public health that ii has held
for years.
1T is well known that he management
of railroads" he continued, lis gradually
falling into the hands of a few, and the
probability is that the future will see all
lines in the South combined into one or
two great systems controlled by trunk
lines entering New York. 1t would not be
surprising if such a consolidation also in
cluded the steamship lines. Considering
the infallibility of all men, it seems the
evidences of the amalgamation of all
great transportation interests is enough
to open the eyes of our citizens to the dan
gers of parting with the last vestige OF
our local control over commerce. We only
! have to look around to see what advances
have been made in the past. What as
| surances have we that this improvement
| is to continue, or even that We will retain
! the hold we have gained"
| Alderman Williams looks upon the con-
ditions il Is intended to prescribe in the
| surrender resolution as specious argu-
| ments. While it is true one may provide
| that all the present quarantine employees
! shall remain in the service he said, the
| city has no assurance that they will stay
| any length of time. If marine hospital
| surgeon is designated to this station, he
| said. and enormously diagnoses some
slight ailment as yellow fever, and this
| is announced to the world through the
departments at Washington, the effect of
! it in the depreciation in value of any
! three blocks of lots In Savannah will be
| equal to the cost of running the station a
year The city Is losing nothing by its
| present expenditures on quarantine as is
| evidenced by the excellent state of bust
ness. and the uniform preservation of pub
lie health.
1t is admitted by Alderman Williams
that a majority Of Council seem inclined
| to surrender quarantine, but he does not
| think business men countenance il. There
| Is every reason TO believe that the gov
| ernment's control VII! be permanent. as
| large expenditures will be made which the
| city wiH be unable to refund as one of
| The conditions TO resuming control. He is
| decidedly oC opinion that the efficient man
| agement of quarantine during the nast
! few years, from both health and a com
nerc.al standpoint are potent reasons for
concluding that this is not an opportune
time to consider relinqushinc control
Ii Is One Thing