The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-13
OR, PORTER FAVORS
 FEDERAL CONTROL Should Also Regulate Com- merce and Interstate Travel SHOULD BE MORE UNIFORM Arranqements Should Be Made Provid- ina for the Transfer of ouaran-
 tine Property Belonging
 to the States.
SHOULD BE MORE UNIFORM

Atlanta.
 conference at Chattanooga on quaran- tine and immigration, the states or Ala bama and George were represented prom inently by Dr. W. H. Sanders, state health officer of Alabama, and pr. W. F. bru- ner. health and quarantine officer or Sa- vannah. Florida's representation iacheo the presence of pr. Joseph Y. Porter health officer of the state, who was de- l tained at Pensacola by the emergencies or the yellow fever situation there' Ills views on the quarantine question: now ever, were filed among the records or the meeting as follows:
 'I heartily endorse the proposition or federal control of maritime quarantine, and also to regulate interstate commerce and travel in times of epidemic prevalence of either yellow fever cholera of bubonic plague. that there shall be uniform system of sanitary supervision which in scientific intelligent and reasonable man ner shall administer needful and neces- sary restriction on both commerce and travel between states. Florida, through legislative enactment in 1901 on advice and request of the state board of health, transferred the management Of It's marl- time quarantine to the United States through the marine hospital service, and sold the states quarantine stations to the United States treasury department. The state has been entirely satisfied with subsequent results. Therefore, the only interest which Florida can now have in the present agitation of federal of ha quarantine onpStiOn lates solely to interstate regulation dur ing epidemic prevalence, and this hear tiy endorse and advocate.
 Funds Are Necessary.
 'I do not think that to effect federal control of maritime quarantine 1t is ab- solutey required that Congress shall be importuned to obtain this feature of san itary government, because the federal act of 1893 gives authority to the treas ury department dhe marine hospital ser vice. to accept a transfer of quarantine management from any state whenever the state authorities decide to do SO, and to rent or purchase at fair valu- ation on an apprasement the quarantine property of the state. It would seem, therefore. that the only thing necessary to obtain federal control of maritime quar- antine, Is for any state to legislate au- thority to the proper state officers to perfect the transfer.
 ''The federal government by the public health and marine hospital service, in ad- dition to having absolute control and management of Floridas maritime quar- antine, acts also in an advisory capacity in all health and sanitary matters in Florida through the state health officer, who is invested with requisite govern mental authority to enforce United States quarantine regulations Thus the nat | ional health authority at Washington ad- vises direct cooperation In all important sanitary undertakings. and emergencies occurring in Florida-a system which works harmoniously and smoothly.
 President Gan Assume Control. Section 5 of act of 1893. likewise pro- vides that when any state does not en. force quarantine regulations in conform ity with the prescribed and published maritime quarantine regulations of the United States treasury department. the President has the right and power tc assume control of such quarantine ser. vice of any state ana to appoint and detail officers for that purpose.
 When public opinion crystalizes to the extent of belief that federal control of maritime quarantine Is better for a state than local management either by reason l of expense or through dissatisfaction with
 previous conditions, 1t would seem the | better plan that the individual state de. siring such transfer should without all appeal to Congress to force others into a similar compact, surrenders it's quaran. | tine functions to the federal government A uniform maritime quarantine can be conducted throughout the seaports of the 1 United States if the several states of the several states now operating their owr maritime quarantine system will adopt | and faithfully execute the national quar. antine regulations"