The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-25
SOUTH MAY GET
SOME LEGISLATION
Hopeful Signs Are Seen in Re-
cent Acts OF Congress
THE QUARANTINE BILL
1t Is Thought the Passage of This
Measure Will Be a Safeguard
Against Invasion of
Yellow Fever.
THE QUARANTINE BILL

New Orleans. May 24.-(speciaD South
ern men in many varied interests have
noted with much grateful hopefulness the
slightly reinvigorated endeavor at wash
ington to resurrect the national quaran-
tine bill and the denaturized alcohol Dill
from committee room pigeon holes and
the effort of a few southern congress-
men to secure the passage of them be-
fore the congress adjourns. A vigorous
campaign has been made by the man
ufacturers of gasoline motors and by the
farmers organizations in behalf of the
free commercial alcohol bill. Its oppon-
ents, the wood alcohol manufacturers,
and the Standard OIL company being
strong enough in congress TO render It's
passage extremely difficult A new In
terest has now taken the field in the
shape of the sugar growers, both in the
cane growing country and the sugar beet
section, and it is their intention to wage
an active campaign from now on
In the case of the national quarantine
BILL the absence of yellow fever in the
southern states has worked against 1t to
some extent. though thinking men south,
particularly at New Orleans, where the
| splendid efficiency and discipline of the
| United States Public Health and Marine
| HOSPITAL service was
| very trying conditions last summer. rec
! ognize the constant need for the strong
arm of the Washington government for
the safeguarding OF the coast line, the
guidance and control of the unsanitary
Central American ports, and an equip
ment which, in case of necessity. such as
arose last summer may. upon the re-
quest of a state governor be turned to
prompt account in assisting any stricken
locality that may ask for such help from
| Uncle Sam.
According to well-informed authorities,
| once the national quarantine bill shall
| have become law, the Marine Hos
| pital Service will begin very active opera
/ tons in Central America, first in order
to prevent infection from starting this
way, and secondly, In a campaign to
| eliminate yellow fever from all Central
! American ports having commerce with
the United States. Meanwhile the cam
| paign of education in sanitation and mos
| quito destruction. carried on by the Ma
rine Hospital Service in the southern
states last summer. will be taken up
again and pushed vigorously. 1t is a
fact that as a result of this campaign,
the sanitary condition of New Orleans
| has been immensely improved. and there
/ are now large areas in the city which
| are entirely free of mosquitoes, their
breeding places having been destroyed
| or properly screened.
Janvier Talks.
President Janvier of the New Orleans
! Fsalth association, who has worked tire
lessly in the effort to improve SANTA
ton and destroy the mosquito In the
south as a preventive of yellow fever,
| said to your correspondent today:
at is to be hoped the southern senator's
| and congressman will now put their
shoulders to the wheel and secure the
early passage of the national quarantine
bill, Richardson amendment and all There
is no question of states rights involved.
and the opposition to it Is not we'll
| founded There have been unwarranted
| and wholly unnecessary delays, and now
! that the rate bill Is out OF the way,
congress can have no valid excuse for not
! enacting the measure. 1t is in the in
terest of the people of the entire south.
and they should not neglect to so inform
| their congressman and senator's 1t
/ would be crime against the people II
| this measure be neglected and fails to
! pass at this session of congress. We all
/ need II now. in order to more surely
prevent the rentroduction of yellow fever
| State boards of health cannot safeguard
! the coast line with the sureness and
| per1ectnesS tnat the united states gov
| eminent can do 1t. We need our coast
| line guarded and Central American ports
| made clean. That is why we want the
national quarantine bill passed, The Rich
| ardson amendment. which prohibits UNI
| justified interference with interstate
commerce. is wise provision. and should
be included in the law Northern sena.
tors and representatives will vote for
the measure provided always that oui
own senators and representatives urge Its
passage. This they have not done with
that degree of vigor and enterprise the
people of the south expect them to show
on all measures of such vital public ne.
! cessity.'
successful operation on the forest re-
serves"
Should the policy thus suggested be es