Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-05-08

do, inmate AGAINST Virginia ports II
Establishing the yellow fever dead
line" lust north of our waters.
Third-No matter how efficient th'
quarantine STATEN at Old Point may
lbe. fl Is desirable To have local oil
lAcer actually on the ground at thii
mort with authority to board ships and
act in emergencies for the protection
of The port
ANY force that these contentious
may have had was swept away by
1.-The Information given the chamber by
lDr Cumming. Taking the objections
Inn IN their order, we give the Facts,
Showing that each contention is an
warranted:
Firs:-The federal officer at Old
Point is kept advised by the govern
meut as to health conditions In the
Southern domestic ports II con
Itagious or infectious disease should
|
break out in one of these ports. the
officer would be notified by telegraph
Immediately and from that time until
, the period Of danger passed all yes
GELS coming from the infested port
would he stopped at Old Point and
subjected to the close quarantine
regulations. Hence we are amply
slfesuarded against Southern domes-
tic ports at all times, and our ship
ming Is relieved of the useless handi-
cap that would be imposed II the gov
eminent inspected ali vessels from
these ports during certain months OF
the year. regardless OF the health
conditions at the ports.
Second-It il is a fact that the &C
ton of the federal authorities In plac-
ing the yellow fever 'dead-line' just
north of US is a discrimination against
our ports. the removal OF the federal
station In favor of the State service
would not change the situation in any
respect. Even If there were no fed
eral station at Old Point. the State
officers at this port and Norfolk would
be compelled TO observe the minimum
of the federal Qaaran-
tine regulations. The "dead-line" will
remain where ii Is regardless or
whether our quarantine is administer
ed by the federal government or the
State or both.
Third-The city has local officer
the city health officer-who Is act
ually on the ground and who has full
power to board ships and take such
action as he may deem necessary for
the protection of the city in emergen-
CIV cases. In an emergency, the city
health officer could call upon the
federal station at Old Point for did
with the same assurance Of having
his request complied with as the
State quarantine officer would have.
What argument have we. now in
favOring a continuation of the State
quarantine service? There is but one.
and that is not based upon any rea-
son that should have weight with the
governor If he desires to rid the ports
Of Virginia of an unnecessary handi-
cap and tax upon their commerce.
| The one reason or excuse, is that to
abandon the State service would elm
iuate a fee-paying Office now niled by
the governors appointment And we
trust and believe the governor will
not be Influenced by such an excuse
when the facts in the case have been
fully and fairly placed before him.
The Chamber of Commerce acted
for the best interests u the port FRI
day evening when it adopted a resolu-
ton requesting the governor to sboI-
ish State inspection at this port on
al! vessels admitted or inspected by
the federal station at Old Point Prob
ably il would have been better to
suggest that the governor make the
regulations asked for effective a few
months hence instead OF on july I, in
order to make IL plain that no per
sonal fight is being made against the
State officer here. However, II Is
not at al probable that the governor
viii investigate the situation and act
Immediately, OF that he win make MS
order. IL he Issues one. effective on