Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-05-07

lQutoeS by fumlkdtlon
Replying TO questions. DR.. Cum
lining said that he did not regard the
State quarantine as necessary. ana
that even II the state should spend
large Sums OF money maintaining an
efficient service it could not hope 10
make It's service compare with That
maintained by the federal govern
'ment. He explslned that New York,
Massachusetts,. Pennsylvania. Mary
land and Virginia are the only states
maintaining quarantine services OF
their own. lie explained. too that the
minimum federal regulations would
hsve to be observed here even If the
situation were turned over to the
state.
Both Not Necessary.
DR.. w. F. Greasy. State quarantine
officer at this port. spoke briefly. lie
said that he had always regarded the
State quarantine as necessary; that
he believed the State should protect
its ports and that an officer on the
ground here could more effectually
guard the ports health than one at
Old Point. He went on 10 ssy, how
double quarantine necessary and that
J he did not know until ne heard DIR.
Cummings statement that the fed
erai officer was kept advised as to
conditions In the Southern domestic
ports.
Not Necessary. Says Or. Hobson.
DR. s. w. Hobson, former State
quarantine officer. said he did not be-
lieve the State service was necessary
and that he thought 1t could be abol-
ished with impunity. though he was
confident that such step would not
help or hurt the ports commerce lie
went on to say that he believed that
all ports should have the federal quar-
antine. and that he did not think
the Virginia legislature ever would
provide for an efficient State service.
DR.. Hobscn went on to say that 1t
was nonsense to establish the yell
low fever dead line" at a point be-
tween this port and Norfolk: that
there had been yellow fever all along
the coast. and that Baltimore. with
its streets laden with sewage could
not compare with Newport News or
Norfolk In health conditions.
Shipping Representative.
Mr.. II. 3. Holmes. agent for the
White Oak Coal Company and acting
as spokesman for practically all OF
the local shipping interests. said that
he regarded the double inspection as
an Irritating. unnecessary handicap
upon commerce.
Mr. w. II. Landon, agent for the
Old Dominion Steamship Company,
said that the quarantine question and
not affect his company in Hampton
Roads. He added that in New York,
under the State service. the ships OF
his line We're required TO pay quaran-
tine fees when there was no reason
for it.
Mr.. Frank Bragg, agent for the
Merchants & Miners Transportation
Company. said that the ships OF his
line were not subject to inspection.
Replying to question by DR.. Hob
son. DIR. Cumming said that IL New
port News and Norfolk would get rid
|of their mosquitoes as many othe-
ports have done. the dead line"
would be abolished.
DR.. Aaron Jeffrey. assistan; State
quarantine officers. stated that he did
not regard double quarantine as
necessary; that he always mad
thought 1t Necessary to inspect vessels
coming from Southern domestic ports
during certain seasons, but that since
hearing DR.. Cummings statement he
was not so sure about that
Or. T. j. Kagey said ne did not
think the State quarantine was neces-
Isary.
No Politics Here.
Doctors Styll and Gary said that
they hid not made study of the
quarantine situation and did not feel
qualified 10 discuss the question. DIR.
1T. J. Sims spoke briefly in favor OF
the State service DR. Sims suggest
ed. toe. that politics had something TO
do with this fight. and the suggestion
Icalled forth an emphatic statement
from the president to the effect that
politics had not entered into the mat
ter as far as the chamber was con-
lcerned.
Mr. c. r. helms moved that res
olution similsr to the enc passed by
the Norfolk Board Of T5sde be adopt
ed
Mr.. II. r. Homes OF red as an
amendment the resolrt on quoted
above and this was accepted by Mr.
Neims.
Mr.. W F. Cottrell s1id that while
he did not believe in the double qusr-
antine. he did think the city should
have an officer on the ground who
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