New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-29
SUPERVISING YELLOW FEVER.

State and local quarantine against localities
in which there had been yellow fever was al
most completely abandoned in the South last
week before the Presidents arrival in New-or-
leans That procedure, of course, was rec
IGNITION of the fact that the danger is ended
for the present season and that the victory
has been won for public health and safety.
The result is of greater Importance to LOUISE
ana than to adjacent commemorative because
she suffered much more extensively than her
neighbors 1t was there, TOO, that the modern
theory regarding the spread of the disease had
its most thorough trial-a trial which has car
ried conviction to many minds that We're DOM
mated by conservatism and skepticism before.
Finally it was in Louisiana that the demon
stration Of the federal governments capacity
TO deal with particularly desperate situation
was given.
The means whereby the plague can be most
effectively suppressed having once been re-
yealed, the question arises, By whom shall they
be employed in future emergencies? The mat
ter will be discussed at a convention called
for that purpose to meet in Chattanooga next
week and composed Of delegates from a num-
Der Of Southern States. For years there has
been q growing sentiment favorable to fntrust-
ing the responsibility to the national authori-
ties Such policy has much to commend it
The possibility of ignoring geographical boun-
daries when prompt action is needful is only
one of several advantages which it would pos
sess. Hence a strong argument can be made
in support Of a resolution which will be pre-
sented to the coming conference, asking Con-
gress to give the President larger power than
he now enjoys. obviously, If the appeal for
legislation Of this kind were practically unan-
nous the request could not well be denied.
If, Cd the other hand, there should be lack
of unity, and especially If Louisiana should
evince reluctance, Congress might well hest
tate to comply with the request. There can
not be any doubt that the Pelican State has
learned much by this years experience. If she
is confident of her ability to avert another
epidemic like that which has cost her so many
lives and SO much business since the beginning
Of last july there would be objections to de-
priving her of the privilege of attempting 10
do so. ANY approach to compulsion is undesir-
able Her voice therefore, will be listened to
by the country at large with peculiar interest
and Difference.
Louisiana is not, however, the only State
whose interests are involved. Several others
were affected directly or Indirectly this year
after the fever once secured a foothold in New
Orleans The harm done, it must be remem-
bered, is not to be measured by the actual num-
Der of cases of disease reported. The mere
menace of infection from Louisiana operated
prejudicially. 1t Frustrated business, created
q panic and drove people from their homes.
Consequently the whole region south of the
3Sth parallel OF latitude is concerned in the
control of the quarantine station at the mouth
of the Mississippi and in the firmness of other
lines of defence above it. The time for blame
and reproach has now passed, and it would be
wise to let bygones be bygones; but there is
need of an assurance that the mistakes Of last
spring and early summer will not be repeated.
1t is conceivable that Louisiana, with a view
10 meeting her responsibility to her neighbors
as well as TO her people more satisfactory
~, may voluntarily propose transfer OF some
of the functions Of the state government to the
nation If she does, her example viii doubt
less prove exceedingly influential both In the
South and at Washington.