Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-04-30
ASKS PRACTICALLY FOR
ABOLITION or SERVICE
Desired Exemptions Would Leave
State officer Win No Duties and
No Fees-Local Delegation Attends
Meetins--strons Letter Sent by
Newport News Shipping Interests

Mayor Marquis Jones and President
w. Lee Powell. Secretary w. h COT
trell, II. M. Lett, II. |. Ford, George
helms Wise and W. b. ColoHna. OF
the Chamber OF Commerce, attended
a meeting in Norfolk yesterday after
noon for the discussion of the quar-
antine question and, after hearing the
statements Of the United states
surgeons In charge OF the federal sta
ton at Old Point and Norfolk ana
number of physicians OF Norio!k ana
Portsmouth, they returned TO th's
city last night more convinced IMAM
ever that the dual quarantine system
obtaining at this port Is an evil that
cannot be remedied any too quickly.
Yesterdays meeting in Norfolk was
called by the Norfolk Board OF Trade
for the purpose of ratifying resoiu-
tions adopted Thursday night by the
Board of Trade committee on griey-
ances and trade abuses. That resolu-
ton REQUESTS the State Board Of
Quarantine Commissioners 10 exempt
from inspection. on and after May l.,
1910, all vessels coming TO this port
Norfolk which have been inspected,
or admitted by the United States
marine hospita, and public health SER
vice station at Fortress Monroe
Should the quarantine commissioners
comply with this request the state
quarantine at Norfolk would be abol-
ished, for every vessel entering Hamp-
ton. Roads is either inspected. or adj
mi&ed'' by the federal quarantine sta
ton at Old Point.
Norfolk Doctors Support Resolution.
Several Norfolk physicians, some OF
whom have at one time or another
held the post of State quarantine of
ficer at Norfolk, spoke TO the resolu.
ton adopted by the committee and
everyone of them went on record as
fayoring Ii. They declared with the
shipping interests OF Tidewater that
the State quarantine is not necessary
and that the federal station at Old
Point furnishes ample protection for
Norfolk and Newport News from any
diseases that may prevail on incom-
ing vessels.
Surgeon w. p. Wertenbaker. OF the
United States marine hospital and
public health service, stationed at
Norfolk, made very interesting adj
clarod that the federal quarantine is
an ample safeguard against diseases
being brought into Norfolk or New
port News by incoming vessels. In his
opinion the State quarantine Is who'll
~ unnecessary and merely causes yes
sells delay in tho Virginia ports and
initiate against the commerce of the
ports.
Why Not Inspect Trains?
DIR. Wertenbaker declared that the
idea of holding up vessels coming
from United States ports on the
Gulf of Mexico and on the Atlantic
coast south of Cape Look. \. C.. is
sabsurd. He said ,dat every day trains
come into Virginia bringing people
from those cities. These trains are
not held up for inspection by quar-
antine officers. They make the trip
from the Southern seaport cities in
from one TO two days and persons
who brought diseases from those cit
time. IL takes the ships coming from
those ports from three to ten days TO
make the trip ana by that time any
disease contracted by the sailors
would have broken out.
Surgeon Hugh Cumming, of the
marine hospital service. who is sta
toned at the Old Point quarantine
station. also spoke before the meet
ing. He fo.sowed the general lines
of Dr. wertenbaker's speech. In re-
ply to questions. he said that the cost
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