The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-24
City Health Officer Must Fight
Plague Unaided.
RAIL WAYS ARE UNoUARosp.
00vsvnment Watches Mouth of
Strait ana Canadian border, but
Tpaans From south Enter State
WfShoat Tnspectfon-ouarnn
station at Kaiama u Necessity
Some More PopuMstfo Economy.

This arrest and brief detention Of two
Chinese bubonio plague suspects by
Asnith officer McKechnie in this city
9hursday night has revealed the fact that
II the dreaded disease does exist I'm San
Francisco this city must rely solely upon
~ own resources 70 protect its citizens
aeainst tho contagion- Tho state board
Of health. DR.. McKechnie and other Sc
at<1s physicians state. has. under tho
Pcpunst regime. become practically de-
funct through the application OF a policy
Of economy. and cannot be looked 70
Sor am aid whatever in protecting THE
OtaNe ~ large by the endorsements or
proper quarantine regulations.
The two suspects arrested by Dr. NC
Kerha1a. An Sing and All Kee, were
Guaranteed in Chinatown at San Fran
cisco when tho plague first appeared
thsuA Later tho courts entoinsd the city
from enforcing the quarantine. and tho
swo Csisstials. with many thousands or
others, were left FREQ to 60 and como
as they pleased. All Sing and All Kee
csme 20 Portland and later to this city.
After they were arrested here they re-
alissd that they were not desired as rest
dsnts OF this city, and upon being re-
leased from the city jail. gladly awaited
themselves OF an opportunity to return
20 Portland. Had the state 9uarnntins
bank OF the Columbia river. Dr. McKech-
ME says IL would be Impossible for plague
susp.ots to reach this city from the south
by rail.
Likely 10 Como by Rail.
II 10 By rail- from San Francisco that
tho plague Is most likely to reach this
city. II II comes at all. according to
Or. Mcxachnia The United states gov
ernment, he says, early realized the i'm
portancs OF summary action TO prevent
tho disease from gaining an entrance TO
tho state from foreign ports. and from
domestic ports known TO be infected. by
ordering a strict quarantine at Port
Townsend OF all vessels entering the
Strait Formerly only vessels from for
the plague was reported at San Fran
cisro coastwfst vessels as well have been
ordered to report at Port Townsend for
Dp. McKechnie believes that there IL ut
tjs ~ no danger OF the plague entering
the country by way OF British Column
biA. The authorities across the line. he
says, are vigilant and can be depended
on To do their duty by ships arriving
from the plague infected Orient. Never
inspectors keep close watch OF all ORR
entails arriving in this city by train or
steamer from British Columbia. and
have q medical examining board com
v, Calhoun. Of this city, TO which all
suspicious cases ara referred,
But kalnma, tho third gateway into
the state, Is now. aud bds fair, II is
claimed. to remain wholly urguarded.
The only protection the city has from
coutagion brought overland from the
south Is through It's own board of health.
The board has employed DR.. w. l.. Lud-
low As special quarantine officer TO watch
all trains arriving from the south, but
Chinese arriving from the southern and
eastern parts of tho state by other routes
cannot be watched, although they may
fornia within but few days of their
arrival In this city.
work Of PopuIist Legislature.
Prior to the Popuiist legislature Of 1897
the state of Washington had a board
OF health which. u is said. would have
been a6andantly able TO protect the state
IN tho present emergency. That legis-
lHtur@ however, cut down the usual
20 all practical purposes. abolished the
etate board OF health Prior 10 that time
thu secretary of the board was allowed
a salary ofsi0o q month. and had an al
lowance of ST roo year for expenses,
and with the funds at HIS command was
abls 90 conduct experiments and proper
~ carry on the work OF the board.
DIR. Elmer h. Heg. now OF this city,
was At that time secretary of tho board.
Tho legislature In CARRYING out Its no.
tions ct economy, he says, cut his salary
down 20 500 q year, with an expense
fund ahou, sufficient 90 pay tho postage
OF the Siiies' ThsTsapsn he rendered IN, h,s
man. the state veterinarian. he SAYS. now
acts ma secretary OF tho board. the Rogers
ssn,'trs9n rsSso9hnf .e' It T n,,5 81,
performing tho duties Of that ofTlce II
would be A wtne stroke Of economy 20
put upon him the duties OF secretary OF
the state board ~ health as well
The last legislature. II Il claimed, also
dealt harshly with the state board Of
health, and rs result Of hack ~ funds.
80 IL claimed, the board. no matter how
much Il might desire to do It's duty. "a
pcverieas
Dr. McKoehnis and other members Of
the city health department are OF tho
belief that II IA po~sibie for Gov Rosers.
n he feels 40 Inclined. % divert some
~ the state funds 20 the use OF thu
atats board ~ health In tho emergency
that the bubouio plague threatens to
BECOME dangerous on the Pacific coas,
rr, Nsg believes. however. that white
the EsNssn9r mlse5 TAM saee esStio acton, he
srfsapprovsa by the next Legislature. thero
being no fund from which tho money
could be legally diverted
Dx. Newman interviewed.
The Poet rntelligeaccr yesterday Tn.
ss7icted Us OLYMPIA correspondent o. as.
certain from 0av Rogers " any stems
haa t~~n taken GO quarantine tAis stafa
against parsons coming nom plague
d'stne9 81 sAa Francisco. Gov Rogers
The ~ akans correspondent q the Post
ipteifEcncer WIS notified 80 interview Dr
y &. NewmaR president 90 ihs state
tosti 81 health. On the su6je7et NttA the
following Teauitj
srolSANE. luss g-pr d. c No~.
raaa. pfo@aer; - The state honrI g.
aay. hao been taken 70 euarart!ac ne
stats asninas the plague Districts 81 san
franctaeo
Il c&ilea a meeting ~ the hoarl a.
,'w'lnan ,et june 70 20 discpss TIE Qurs-
tlsn 81 inssitunrs = quarantine" saN ~
q 7 nm