Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-04-24


, the federal Cnicers are not requires
' TO interfere with, consequently II
a fact that a large majority OF th'
vessels inspected by the State ofieel
are not previously inspected by the
federal authorities.
~ Therefore the question Is this: a
n necessary TO enforce more string
EN- Inspection rules than are maze
iby the federal government? Nearly
everybody who has looked into me
ouestion saws II Is net. IL may De
= sid II is generally conceded that the
federal precautions are ample to pro
tect the Hampton Roads ports, ana
thai when a ship is allowed II pass
Old Point IL is reasonably sale TO as
sumo that the health of the virginia
communities is not endangered by
lis approach. Consequently, the state
inspection Is a useless handicap 10
the shipplng and il would be obJec'
ltionable even If the vessels were not
required TO pay fees TO the state OIL
6ccr. DR.. Greasy suggests that che
shipowncrs are gild T. have the III
spection for the benefit OF their yes
sells. We believe the doctor IS IN
error. If he is ri5ht; If the shipown-
ers are desirous of having the double
system continued. then this paper
will drop the subject and regret hav'
ing kicked-up row for no purpose.
The shipowners pay the tax and SUI
for the delays. and If they are salts
fed Il would seem that the public
has ~. ground for complaint BUT
this paper is quite sure that they are
far from satisfied. DIR. Greasy sug-
gests that the owners are glad 10
have the crews of their vessel treat
ed BY the quarantine officer. We has
understood that che United States
Marine Hospital assistant surgeon
perfcrmed this duty in most in
stances. And IL is a well known fact
that the state officer is entirely with
out the necessary equipment fer an
efficient quarantine station. and
would have no way OF dealing with
an epidemic aboard vessel even IL
bv any chance he should be called
upon to do SO. II the emergency
should arise. he hardly could do any
thing except send the ship back TO
Old Point to be handled by the fed
eral authorities.
Before the directors OF the Cham
Der of Commerce DR.. Greasy made a
statement to-the~ effect that he did
not propose TO allow his personal in
terests to prevent his doing whatever
may be necessary to keep Newport
News on a footing with Norfolk in
this matter. and that he would, II
necessary. join in a movement for
the abolition of the State quarantine
He went on to say. however. that ne
did believe the State quarantine ne
cessary, and that he favored the es-
Enlistment of an efficient state sta
ton at Old Point for the protection
of Virginia pcrts. in which event the
federal service probably would be
with Drawn.
This paper and other TidswaieT
newspapers two years ago urged that
the State take the step now suggest
ed by DR.. Greasy. We believed hat
il was desirable that the State protect
hts ports Bat. it has been demon
strated that there is no probability
of such a step being taken. The les
islature did not even consider the
question during the last session. And.
th~ugh the federal government msiH-
tains no service at Baltimore. where
the state quarantine is efficient, there
Is no likelihood of the service. being
Withdrawn here Vnder present cond;-
tons. In view Of these facts. there
hardly IS room for gument On The
question OF whether the State service
lshoul5 Re abolished. or At leas, limit
I'd & such an extent that it will not
BE- Objectionable.