The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-08-09
PUT TING 1T UP
TOIUNGLE sam
FEDERAL AUTHORITIES wREsTLE
WITH LEPER PROBLEM.
Acting Immigration Commissioned
Stump Has Sent a Report 20
Washington Giving His
tory Of Syrian.

WASHINGTON. Aug. 9.-Acting
Secretary Of Commerce and Labor
Murray yesterday consulted with. Sur
geon General Wyman, of the Marine
Hospital Service, and Commissioners
General of immigration Sargent re-
garding the case Of the unfortunate
Syrian leper, whose recent presence
lin Baltimore county caused SO much
perturbation and anxiety. The whole
question of the authority of the gov
eminent to take any steps in the mat
ter turns on the length of time that
he has been in this country. Under
the law. il he has been here more than
three years and has contracted the dis
ease since his arrival he cannot be de-
ported. Acting Commissioner OF Inn
migration Stump, at Baltimore, was
communicated with by telephone. and
was asked to submit to the Depart.
ment a complete statement OF the
case. Mr.. Stump replied that he hal.
lust finished a very elaborate report,
which he to-day mailed to Washing
ton. Pending its arrival here to+mor-
row morning no action was taken by
Secretary Murray.
State Secretary of Health Fulton
was here yesterday and called on Sur
geon General Wyman. with wlom he
discussed the syrian's case very ful.
liz. Mr.. Murray had suggested to DR..
Wyman the propriety Of detailing a
surgeon from the Marine Hospital
Service who should go to Parkersburg
with a Syrian interpreter to examine
the man and ascertain If he, were real
ly suffering from leprosy, and to OBJ
tain also, if possible, some infor1na-
tion regarding the mans history. Aft
er DR., Fulton's visit to DR.. Wyman the
suggestion of sending a surgeon was
abandoned, as Dr. Wyman had no
doubt from what Dr. Fulton told him
that the Syrian is a genuine leper.
mir. Stump. 1t is unlerstood, has de-
voted much time to tracing the man
history, and it is possible that evil
t1ence can be. found from among the
men where the Syrian worked severel
years ago that he was suffering from
leprosy in its inclpient stages when
he landed in this country. If this
statement can be proved then the gov
eminent has the authority to deport
the leper.
Two grave questions will present
themselves IL the Washington authori-
ties finally decide that toe govern,
ment has the power to act. In the
FIRST place there is doubt If any steam
ship company can be found which will
take the man back The government
has no fund sufficiently large to war
rant it in chartering an entire steam
ship for the purpose, 1t IS said that
The steamship company which brought
the leper here is subject to punish.
nent by fine, II 1t refuses to take him
hack, but the authorities here place
little. reliance on this provision of the
law. In the next place there is doubt
IL the government at whose port the
steamship company will undertake to
land the leper when It gets him back
to Europe will permit him, to be I'M
loaded there.
Mr.. Stump's report is expected to-
morrow morning, and until It arrives
no action was taken to-day by either
Secretary Murray Surgeon General
!yyyrnah or Commission General
sargent The authcfitt ties Il washing
ton synpat hize deeply the Iinfors.
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