Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-20

whether you have contract. expressed or
implied to perform labor in the Philippines,
whether you are deformed or crippled, and
IL so. from what cause. and, finally, you
are invited to express an opinion as to your
own mental and physical capacity. II had
answered some of those questions truth.
fully 1 suppose the steamship agent would
not have sold me ticket. so l filled out
the blank like everybody else. making the
best representa- tons possible.
But this was not all. Before the ship
was allowed to sail genial young doctor
came on board, and the passengers were
all rounded up In the cabin SO that he
might examine them for symptoms of
smallpox. cholera and the bubouic plague.
He was gentlemanly and considerate. He
performed the delicate duty required of him
by the quarantine laws in an exceptional
manner. and left everybody feeling that
they would find 1t a pleasure to meet him
again.
Waiting for the Doctor.
We arrived at Manila before daylight two
mornings later, when everybody was reut-
ed out of their berths at O'Clock TO be tn
spected by another doctor, and we sat
around without breakfast waiting for him
until 8.15. The purser apologfzed and ex-
planned that the doctor was cue at 6 o'clock
and would be furious If the passengers were
not all ready for inspection the moment he
came on board. He could not give us
breakfast because the cooks and walters
had to be inspected also and must be in
position when the doctor came up the lad
der or there would be trouble. The doctor
did not like to be kept waiting. OF course
everybody was cross and disguised. II you
ever sat around for two hours and quar-
ter before breakfast waiting for somebody
you did not care to see you will be able to
realize the state of mind of the passengers
OF the good ship Empire.
Finally the doctor came. handsome,
falln nv fxx-n
our little brown brothers wearing smart
new khaki uniforms and caps with insignia
in gold upon the bands and the sleeves. The
doctor was stern and reserved. He could
not disguise the consciousness OF his re-
sponsibilities and authority. and performed
his duties with military austerfty that
frightened us.
One of the passengers. an Australian
named Stanton. tired of waiting had taken
the liberty to go down below for bath,
and was in the bath room when the doctor
came. The purser explained the SITUATION
and suggested that the doctor might go
down and inspect him there, but the doctor
remarked that he would postpone the in
spection until Mr. Stanton appeared, and
the passengers blessed him for 1t silently,
but none the less earnestly, for 1t pro-
longed their misery another half hour.
Finally Mr. Stanton appeared. The doctor
arose, floated large pair of blue eyes over
the passengers, who were sitting around
the music room in all kinds of temper and
quietly THAT will do, sir" and passed out
upon the deck and down the gangway into
a launch that was waiting alongside TOT
him. Whereupon one of the lady passen-
gers exclaimed, It declare" and a gentle
man passenger remarked, TIL be -
and both expressed the sentiments of that
ships company.
Need of Discrimination.
Such inspections are required by law. and
they are right and proper. By means OF
them the plaques that prevail in several OF
the eastern ports have been prevented
from entering Manila, and as safeguard
they cannot be too highly commended, but
at the same time the inexperience of the
officials whose duty 1t is to enforce these
laws creates considerable Inconvenience and
friction A little less severity, little less
zeal and little more sense on the part OF
the boarding officers would be highly ap-
preciated by passengers arriving at this
port The inspecting officer starts out at .
O'Clock in the morning, and, having several
vessels to visit. naturally does not wish 10
be detained any longer than IS absolutely
necessary upon any one of them. Hence
officers of ships are instructed to have their
passengers up and awaiting inspection at .
L o'clock and to permit nothing to interfere
tors duties. If they disobey they are nneo
or otherwise punished. Of course, there
must be regulations, and the regulations
must be enforced, but the convenience OF
the travelling public should be considered
also and there ought to be ability enough
in the health office at Manila to devise some
way of performing the duty without keep
ing forty passengers sitting around the
cabin of a ship for two hours and a hall
before breakfast.