El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-08-25

An efficient quarantine officer will
know not only when to quarantine. but
when not to quarantine, and when
to raise q quarantine. The State
Health Officer of Texas should know,
without waiting to be told, that for
at least six weeks past there has
been no warrant for maintaining this
quarantine; and he should know, and
should act upon his knowledge, that
just as soon as there Is no reason for
maintaining . quarantine there is
every reason for raising it. Next to
epidemic nothing is more to be feared
by people than unnecessary quaran-
tine. We fully recognize the neces-
sity for prompt efficient quarantine
when epidemic threatens; but an off,
cious. meddlesome quarantine depart
ment that overdoes the thing IL almost
as much to be feared az a weak, in
efficient or negligent quarantine
department that underdoes the thing.
The only reason why the present
quarantine has not been far more de-
structive in It's effects upon business
interests 10 that it has not been Of
fecsively maintsined. It has been
maiutsined to the extent of doing
great damage to the business inter.
ests without being maintsined to the
extent of affording shs state proteo-
ton II there had been real danger,
Texas has not had bubonic plague, not
because the quarantine has kept it
out, but because the plague has never
tried to get in. Passengers from San
Francisco, who have urgent reasons
for securing admission 70 the state,
EASILY suffer lapses Of memory - to the
length of time since they left San Fran
CISCO. Other passengers ind It NOS
impossible to cross the line into Mex
loo and enter the state OF Texas BY
that route. Others have found 10
preferable to skirt Texas on tho north
and enter 10 from the east Still
others, aud many of them, have been
passed In BY authority Of the State
Health Omcer where no other ground
can be found for such action then that
they were 90 prominent aud inauea-
tial shat it was not prudent to harass
them az more humble citizsns have
been and still are hsrassed.
AZ to she shipments Of freight, it did
not take Texas merchants long to
discover that even though it involved
delay and expense, freight from San
could he shipped to some
point outside of Texas and from there
reshipped to Texas point.
We repeat that If there had been
any plague TO bring In, Texas would
have had hundreds Of cases of it before
this. That the State has been free
from plague lie not due to this un-
aud for the State Health Officer to
claim credit for the exemption Ia to
Invite still larger N ,asure OF ridicule.
There is another important conside-
ration to which We invite your attention.
1t IL not alone the present quarantine
against San Francisco which causes US
concern. That 10 probably nearly at
al end. Even the Texas State Health
Officer will not much longer dare defy
the public sense In this matter. But
what has been done this year may be
next, and the next. The same
to magnify small dangers,
the came inability or indisposision to
see things In their true proportions.
the came psrverse aud obstinate At
titude in the face of his own admissions
las In regard to the general employ
ment of Chinese servants in San Fran
cisco without harmful result)-al1 of
these must be reokoned With - long %
the present Health Onioer continues 10
oil the exceedingly Responsible, i'm
portant, and. under certsin circum-
stances. powerful post which he now
ocsupies.
In view of the above, We most
respectfully but most urgently request
that Sou procure she imme diate raising
of the quarantine against San Fran
cisoo.
We have the honor to be,
Very respectfully.
Your obed ent servants,
Ell PASO CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE,
By 8. J. FREUDENTHAL,
ERNEST E. RUSSELL,
Secretary.
Ell Paso. Texss, August %, 1900.
Chamber of Commerce,
Ell Psso, Texas.
Gentlemen: