The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-27
LOCAL OR NATIONAL CONTROL.
rur QUARANTINE QUESTION AN M
poRTANT ONE TO SAVANNAH.

r,obt Not the Control BE Used
AGAINST the Interests of the City
:, n Case Like the Present Where
u Il Desired to Bring Troops
from Cuba Through without De-
tention, Is Asked by Those OPP
rosed to It-WOuId Be a Financial
saving to the City, and if Wisely
conducted Under Government Con-
/ .roI 1t Is Claimed by Those Who
rovor 1t Would Benefit the Com
MERGE of the Port.
4 The question whether The city shall turn
aver lis quarantine station and intrust its
maritime quarantine to the marine hos
dtal service is a topic of vital interest
n the people of Savannah.
heretofore the main objection raised to
.cb a policy has been that the quarantine
under national control might be so rigldly
enforced as to damage the commerce of
,5e port and place it at a disadvantage in
competfng with neighborng ports having
control of their own quarantine. Now an
other state of affairs presents itself. The
,ossibiljty has been suggested whether
with body ir as close touch with
the administration as the marine hos
ntsl service is known to be, it would
rot he an easy matter for such
influence. 10 be brought to bear that under
certain circumstances the quarantine re-
srict,ons would be relaxed to a point
which might be considered as dangerous
bv the people of Savannah.
Notwithstanding their desire to have as
many regiments of troops now about to
come from Cuba to this country mus
tered out here the people of Savannah
Fl do not for one moment think of relaxing
The quarantine restrictions and allowing
The troops to come in, or even TO pass
through. without proper detention and
fumigation of their effects at quarantine
II II the marine hospital service were now
IN control of Savannahs quarantine, it is
urged by those opposed to national con-
Fl troll Of quarantine there is a possibility
that the war department in its desire
to please localities clamoring for troops
Il might bring If fiuence to bear upon the
marine hospital service which would Sc
cure such relaxation of restrictions as
would enable troops fresh from Cuba to
pass through without detention.
On the other hand the growing rivalry
between New York and the Southern sea-
ports, it is claimed, would make it more
n than likely that the metropolis would
bring its influence to bear in government
circles in order to secure the maximum
of restriction in Southern ports and thus
diminish competition by hampering their
commerce This has always been the tr-
~ TaTJ " ur1n
believes in building up the summer COM
Fl merce of the port and at the same time
exercising such precautions as are de-
manded by the circumstances or required
by the fears of the citizens.
It is pointed out by the friends of the
movement that Brunswick has been under
81 the quarantine control of the marine hos
81 ptal service for several years and that the
commerce of that port has suffered no
drnumtoh in consequence. In fact it has
81 sometimes appeared that the national
81 quarantine rules as enforced at Bruins
# wick were more favorable to commerce
| than the local quarantine rules as enforc-
III ed at other ports. On the score of finan-
caI advantage the city is satisfied it would
81 be the gamer by having it's quarantine
n placed under national control 1t is under
an annual expense of about $4,000 for the
Ri maintenance of the quarantine and in adj
u''OH 'Hele Is almost annually large bill
for repairs and improvements. It Is est-
mated that to put the present station in
me condition in which it should be to prop
II erly handle the commerce of the port
would require an expenditure of about
. $4,000
II the quarantine could be turned over
ii 10 the marine hospital service conditional
II 49, Inc condition being that a completely
Fl EQUIPPED, up-to-date plant, with all ar
Fl easements necessary for the expeditions
uSIhIectlng of vessels and persons should
ne provided, the city is assured that ii will
oe me gamer aside from the question of
Fl saving to the city treasury. If the gov
eminent on taking charge, should provide
n completely equipped modern plant the
handling of vessels might be greatly ex-
pedlted and the port correspondingly bene-
htled. One of the conditions of placing
M 'Ae quarantine under national control
might be that IL after term of years the
city should desire to resume control of it's
quarantine, 1t should be allowed to do so
upon reimbursng the government for its
Expenditures or paying the actual value
o. the improvements at that time.
Mayor Myers is understood to be sup
ported IN his disposition toward the ma
.tAe hospital service by the opinion of
N y'e TWO medical men upon his board, AL
ueImen Graham and farrell, who are ia
yofaply disposed toward the move. This
oeins the case, Council is likely to be in
Vlneo favorably toward the proposition
should IT be brought before 1t in tangible
FORM On the other hand. the question
IS one in which the people of Savannah are
Interested, and on which they may be
'edrd before any decisive action isl TAX