New-York tribune., 1901-06-08
MR.. POWDERLY EXPLAINS
WHY IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS DECIDED
TO EXCLUDE CONsUMPTIVEs.
ENFORCING THE LAW AGAINST lMMl-
GRANTS SUFFERING FROM DANOEh-
OUs CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
Icy rr1raRApH TO THE rRIBUNE.l

OUs CONTAGIOUS DISEASES
LBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNE.l
washington, June 7.-coF.snissioner-Cener
Powderly, when asked by a ~Tibune correspond
ent to-day Cor explanation Of the tuDercu-
losis exclusion order. replied.
Asa matter OF fact. no such order has recent
Y been issued. The act Of March 3, 1871 say ;
that persons suffering from loathsome anu
dangerous contagious disease" are to be eKcluc,
ed when applying for admission TO the ohi'eH
States. -
dangerous and contagious is tuberculosis OF the
lungs and as TO at what stage or the disease
the danger begins TO manifest ltself Is outs q,
tion which ] am not able TO determine -l ne
question came 10 me recently from the Noiil-
missioner Of immigration at NeW-horR ana
submitted the question as to whether tubercu-
losis was classed with contagious diseases uh-
der the act of 1891 :. the Supervising Surgeon
General of the ,iarix{ Hospital service, who de
.ded that IL was The department lhhleols.e-
~ invited the attention OF the different commits
si0oers of immigration 10 the ruling OF the
Supervising Surgeon General Of the Marine Hos
pital service, and I have no doubt that num-
Der OF questions will arise in the near future as
20 the right duty Of the immigration officials
20 bar persons afflicted with tuberculosis Among
these questions viii be. should those afflicted
with incipient consumption. those who af-
hicted with tuberculosis of the hip. stomach,
knee, throat, etc, be excluded" These ques-
tiOns viii have TO be answered in the same way
as that which has just been ruled upon.
Now, to my personal opinion concerning
tuberculosis of the lungs: If il is deemed wise
10 prevent eNpectOrat1on in streetcars or other
public conveyances by our own citizens for
much stronger reason should We be as vigilant
at our seaports in ascertaining whether i'm
migrants afflicted with this disease
CONTAGIOUS BEYOND QUESTION
That 1t is contagious is beyond doubt or oues-
ton That more people are carried away by IT
than by any other contagious disease is, be-
neve an admitted fact; and il must not he for
gotten that we are not attempting to enforce
10 NEa
20 shield the citizens OF this country from con-
tact with disease brought TO our shores by i'm
migrants from foreign lands. There is no law
requiring them TO come here. Such people
not physically adapted to the performance Of
hard work They must, IN the natural course
Of events, become charges on the public or on
relatives in a short time after arrival and while
il has been said that our country is "a haven
for the oppressed" we should nevertheless take
such steps as will protect our citizens from be-
ing oppressed in any way by the coming OF i'm
migrants afflicted with disease.
No fear need be entertained that harsh meas
ures win be resorted 10, for the surgeons OF the
Marine Hospital service at our various ports
are men of high ability in their profession. They
viii not unduly or unnecessarily cite any one
TO appear before the board Of special inquiry.
and there is always the right OF appeal 10 the
Secretary Of the Treasury from the decision Of
that board
Certain countries in Europe have placed quar-
antine stations on their borders. 10 prevent the
coming and going of cOnsumptives and l am
Informed that in other countries they are not
permitted to pass from one province or town
10 another when so afflicted; and if that is con-
sidered necessary. why should not guard our
ports against the introduction Of one Of the
most insdious and dangerous of contagious
diseases?
ENFORCING THE LAWS
Asked If he had received letters calling him
a ''tyrant" as the result OF this decision Mr.
Powderly said:
have received a few communications in
which have been taken TO task for what my
1-l
Commissioner-General; but / have issued no
order ] am simply endeavoring to have the
law observed, and / believe that the commits
stoners at the various ports will cooperate with
me in carrying these laws into effect in their
proper spirit. have simply replied 10 these
people, giving them the facts as they exist and
I tell them TO you, and rely upon their
good sense 10 view the matter in its reasonable
and proper light.
No eases from pesthouses or charitable in
stitutions have been reported to recently.
could not, on the spur Of the moment, cite any
particular cases. one case came TO my notice
however-that OF a young man who came TO this
country some two years ago, / believe il was.
He was In an advanced stage of consumption,
and great influence was brought 10 bear TO have
him landed. His brothers, living in the West
Colorado, / belieVe-were wealthy, and he was
finally landed and went out West, where he re-
mained a short time. I caused inquiry to be
made and learned that about ten months after
his arrival he died from consumption He tray
elled from New York TO Colorado two-thirds of
the way across the continent, and during that
time was Obliged To eXpectorate in the cars
he slept in the berth Of a Pullman breathed
the atmosphere of that for two or three
nights, and II there is danger in a person af-
fcted with tuberculosis breathing the atmos-
phere or eXpectoratng in ordinary streetcar
how much more danger is there TO be appre-
hended from the passage Of immigrants from
our seaboard to the interior in cars where people
nave 10 remain several hours with them?
NOT HELPED BY COMING HERE.
I do not think that it helps the immigrant in
any way 10 come here. Ii may alleviate his
suffering Tor a time and possibly delay the
inevitable; hut, as a rule, they are in an ad-
vanced state Of consumption when they make
up their minds to come TO the United States
IL may be all right for the United States 10 he
"a haven for the oppressed" of all lands but
there exists good reason why the United
States should be a hospital for the people OF all
lands
i believe this decision TO be of great impor-
tance but il may be that the time Is not ripe
Tor the taking Of action which will prevent the
coming OF consumptiVes TO this country; hut
under the present law they are not entitled to
enter the country, and some one must make n
beginning az some place, in order 10 direct the
attention Of the people of this country 10 the
danger, and you may rest assured that the
medical fraternity of the United States and the
people Of the viii settle this matter and
settle il right.
These consumptive immigrants come from the
north countries OF Europe, but our statistics are
meagne and our records do not show Just where
they do come from. I think however that tho
greater number Of them come from the cold
regions OF Northern Europe such as Russia