The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-08-26
State Quarantine Rules.

many communities in the matter o
quarantine IL exciting general com
ment at the injustice and absurdity
OF the conditions provoked. 1t hal
come to such pass that the State
authorities have had to be invoked
In some instances. The latest zeal
down" is given to Lake Charles.
The following letter from Attorney
George s. Dodds. of the State Board
of Health, addressed to President
Souchon, Is Of especial interest in
view OF the application OF the Sta t.
law to unreasonable quarantine:
In answer to your request for my
opinion rs tn the validity Of the reso.
luton adopted by the city council OF
Lake Charles, which reads as follows
Be it
Resolved. That the City Board Of
Health be instructed to exclude and
prevent any and all freights and pas.
sengers, from New Orleans or any
other infected points from entering
the city OF Lake Charles. as long as
fever exists at these points"
My reply is:
Under section of Act No. 1872 oil
1898. Is found the following provfs-
ions.
After enumerating the various pow
era Of parish and municipal boards
of health. 1t ia stipulated:
II. They shall act under the super-
vision and advice OF the State Board
OF Health. and
''2. Shall pass no ordinance In con-
fiict or Inconsistent with the powers
and duties OF the State Board of
Health, and,
''3. But shall In all health and san
itary measures which they may
adopt, be auxiliary to and act in
harmony with the State Board Of
Health. and.
~. The object and purposes Of
this act being hereby declared to he
to intrust full power and authority
to such local boards to esta blish con-
troll and administer all matters of
strictly md purely local sanitation.
not affecting other parts OF the State
"5. Local boards 0f health shall
have power to establish quarantine
with the cooperation Of the councils
OF municipalities and police juries.
''6. The State Board shall have
supervisory power over all local
guarantees SO established"
Hence under these provisions local
boards Of health either parish or mu-
nicipal, even though aided by police
juries, or the city councils of munich
palities, has no power to pass any
quarantine law in conflict with the
rules and regulations, adopted and
promulgated by the State Board OF
Health in reference to quarantine.
1t is therefore my opinion. that the
resolution above quoted being in coli
fiict with the regulations of the State
Board, and not being authorized by
the State Board, IL not binding, and
the local Board of Health for the city
Of Lake Charles Is without legal pow
err and authority to enforce same.
While the State Board of Health Is
without physical power to restrain
the local board, would advise that
you direct the local Board OF Health
at Lake Charles not to enforce said
resolution, in go far as it conflicts
with the rules adopted by your board
with reference to quarantine against
freights, and that II the local board
attempts to enforce said resolution,
its acts will be In violation of law,
and thus subject the local board, and
the local authorities of the city Of
Lake Charles. to both civil and crimi-
nal penalty on the part of any one
injured.