The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-14
A WATCH ON CUBA
MAYOR AGAIN MAKES APPEAL IN
INTEREST OF HEALTH.
CONTROL OF THE QUARANTINE
SHOULD BE IN THE HANDS OF THE
UNITED STATES.


Charge of the Health Department
of Cuba, the Mayor Said, south
ern Ports Have Felt Secure-Ir
should Not Revert to Unframed
Cubans-Rigid Quarantine should
BE Resumed Under Such Circum-
Stances-COnference of Health Of
HciaIs of All Southern Ports Sug-
rested by the Mayor-MemOrial
Might Have weight with Con-
2ress.
Mayor Myers has been interested foI
some months in the question as to
what provision might be made to guard
against disease from Cuba finding its
way to this country. He advocated a
clause in the Cuban constitution to
provide for protection, but it seems
that none has been adopted.
In a few months Cuba is to be turned
over to the Recently elected government
of the island, and home rule will begin
in the Queen of the Antilles But
before that historic event comes and
the new republic is added to the ma
tions of the world, Savannah is apt to
start discussion as to health matters
that will become of national, if not of
international, Importance.
The course of events in regard to
Cuban independence has ben watched
closely by the Savannah authorities,
not from a political but from health
standpoint 1t has for many years
been recognized that the greatest men
ace to the health of Savannah, as well
as of all other South Atlantic and Gulf
ports, lay in Cuba. That island has
been the home of yellow fever. its abid-
ing place year in and year out, and
extreme watchfulness and the most
rigid of quarantines has been neces-
sary to protect the South from vis-
itation of yellow jack" from that
source.
charge" said Mayor Myers yesterday
afternoon, I'VE have breathed more
freely. This government, through it's
Marine Hospital Service. has done all
in its power to protect us from an in
Nason of the disease or from any other
contagious maladies getting into this
country. To this end it erected great
maritime disinfecting plants both in
cuba and Porto Rico. thoroughly dis
injecting vessels before leaving for our
ports. and granted pratique, or certifi-
Gates Of non Effectiveness, which were
recognized by our port and Others and
materially lessened the encupmbrance
10 commerce resulting from the old
health conditions of Havana and other
ports of the Island of Cuba which,
as all are aware, were hot beds of
disease. The health officials of Savan-
nah and ! presume of other Southern
ports, have worked hand in hand with
the national quaratine officers for the
protection of our people and the lifting
of restraints from commerce as far as
possible. We have done this because
we have had confidence in the federal
government and its lobars.
In watching the progress of the
movement for the handing over of
Cuba to the native government | find
nothing so far said of the quarantine
system of the country. From what
can ascertain l am inclined to the be-
lief that it also is to be handed over
to the new republic. This, to my mind,
constitutes a direct menace to our
Southern ports We have no idea into
whose hands the quarantine or health
service of the island will fall, and
there certainly will not be the same
inclination to accept certificates isSu-
ing from it as there has been TO ac-
ccpt those issued by our government.
In the first place we know that the
new men into whose hands the respon-
sibillty would fall could not have had
any practical experience in the man
agement of such matters. Then we
would not know whether they We're re-
sponsible parties or not, whether they
would appreciate the danger and eX-
ercise the same caution that our ma
tional officers have been doing Under
such conditions 1, for one, would cer-
tainly advocate a resumption of rigid
quarantine against vessels coming
from hitherto infected ports in the
island.
1T certainly would be vastly to the
benefit of Cuba to have the United
States continue in control of this de-
partment for some years to come, un-
til corps of trained, capable and
trustworthy officials could be secured
such as is certainly not available the
day the new government takes pos
session. Unless this is done there is
n real and not a fanciful danger to
the South Atlantic and Gulf states
from this source. The matter is one
that should be taken up by our rep
resentatiVes in Congress. and no effort
spared TO secure adequate protection
from disease in this way Indeed. |
am heartily inclined to favor some
interstate action in the matter. A
conference of health officials of all the
Southern ports would he one way in
which the matter could be discussed
such gathering could give the mat
ter professional consideration that
would carry weight and memorial
from II to Congress, indorsed by the
different city or state governments,
would be of force.
"One thing is certain. something
should be done before Cuba leaves our
hands for the protection Of the health
OF our people. This country has spent
untold millions for the benefit of the
island, and it is as little as our people
could ask TO retain control Of "A matter
so vitality affecting us Before the war
with Spain it was frequently said that
it would pay this country to go to war
and get Spain out of Cuba il for no
ou1er purpose than to clean the island
up and free us from the frightful mem
ace OF yellow fever that hung over all
the South during the heated weather.
] might well ask, what good has all
the expenditure of wealth and lives
been If now we are to turn over the
control of the health of our people in
that direction to irresponsible, or, at
least, unframed officials from whom we
VIII not know what to expect
The Morning News and other papers
OF prominence in this section should
take this matter up at once. While il
is some months before Cuba becomes
a sovereign nation ii will not do TO
walt until that time comes and then
expect To interfere with the plans laid
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