The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-14
THE FACTS about QUARANTINE.

G INCE public authority was first asserted to $50
- late all infected district sequester injected
- travellers for forty days, quarantine OF time
there has arisen many countries an issue between
local and supreme jurisdiction that subject The
policy OF our Federal Government has been IN the
direction OF wise cooperation with the States Epl-
denies among men are OF subtle and sinister force
Their contagion takes often secret and snuous PATH
which science follows with difficulty, and which may
well battle insufficient agencies OF authority:
This being true the Federal Government has wisely
added to its extensive power and instrumentaes the
element OF local solcitude powerful prompter OF
the active vigilance of the State Working together
in harmony the two have saved this country from any
prolonged and disastrous invasion OF yellow fever or
cholera.
Sanitary science has had great progress III the last
half century. Formerly yellow fever was too ire
quent visitor in New York City, and ragged as far
north as Halifax. New York was once divided by a
high board fence crossing the island at Grand street
In this fence were guarded doors, and communication
was cut off with the part OF the city from the fence
70 Castle Garden to isolate devastating epidemic OF
yellow fever which ragged in the lower part of the
town.
Our San Francisco climate is not especially favor
able to febre epidemics but in such close
commercial relation with Asiatc ports, where these
plaques are endemic that we cannot afford to omit
any precaution against their importation. For long
time there was resistance TO any Federal quarantine
here lest it should furnish footing for evasion Of our
Chinese exclusion laws.
Even our members of Congress, in Difference to
this form OF the ant-Chnese movement listiess
about securing Federal cooperation in quarantine.
During that time the practice established of put
ting the matter in the hands OF quarantine officer
appointed by the San Francisco Board OF Health,
who boarded incoming ships, to grant or withhold a
clean bill of health or free pratique.
When Federal quarantine was established here and
a station was located on Angel Island the city quar-
antne officer continued to exercise this authority, and
the result has been annoying to commerce and ship
owners. Numerous clashes of authority have oc-
Cured and for time there high friction with the
Federal authorities.
All this was caused by the non-appearance of the
State in the field of cooperation. The policy OF the
Federal Government being clearly in the direction OF
working in harmony with the State authority, and
there being no assertion thereof it could more
cooperate in this important function with munich
pal officer than it could divide jurisdiction with the
baiff of one of our police courts.
The public has in turn blamed each side OF the
controversy when special blame attached either
for the whole difficulty arose in the absence of any
official representative of the State
A bill is before the Legislature to provide what has
been lacking. by authorizing the appointment of a
quarantine officer representing the State Board OF
Health. This will supply the needed and essential
presence of the State for Federal corporations and
the relations of the two jurisdictions will amicably
adjust themselves for the facility of commerce and
the protection of the people against the diseases oil
Asia which may be carried shipboard. 1t is to be
hoped that the bill will pass and thus additional pro-
lection will be given This is needed in view of the
increase in our Asiatc and Pacific contacts. We must
watch leprosy from Hawaii as well smallpox and
typhus from Manila, cholera from Yokohama and the
bubonic plague from Hongkong The friendly and
scientific cooperation of the State and Federal Gov
ernments will give of safety needed proec
our community against epidemic panics and prevent
the losses which they cause.