Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-01
Feature of Preparedness Hav-
ing End of European
War in View.
ONE QUARANTINE STATION
ONLY IN STATE CONTROL
Baltimore to Be Sole Port of I'M
migrant Entry Lacking Fed
eral Supervision

In its activities for preparedness for
war against certain invasion of dis
ease most positively predicted to fol-
low the close of the war in Europe
the public health service is 10 obtain
possession of every avenue but one,
the quarantine station Baltimore
being the exception, by which the
health scourges may enter the coun-
try.
The great gateway of immigration,
the quarantine station at the port of
New York, is now in charge of DR..
l.. E. Cofer. assistant surgeon general
of the public health service. and the
station is soon to be transferred to
federal control.
Whitman Is for Change.
Gov. Whitman of New York, in a
message to the state legislature, has
recommended the transfer of control
from the state to the federal govern
ment, and the abolition of the state Of
fee of health officer of the port of New
York. He has sent to the state senate
for confirmation the appointment of
DIR. Golfer to be health officer of the
port of New York pending the accom-
plishment of legislation and the physi-
cal transfer of authority to the federal
government.
Gov. Whitman has taken the states
mans view of it,, commented Assistant
Secretary Byron r. Newton of the
Treasury Department. in charge of the
public health service. He has re-
sponded to the common veal of the ma
ton rather than submitted to the po-
litical exigencies of his Office
Terporarv Action Taken
There has been little correspondence
between Gov. Whitman and the Treas
ury Department on this subject. What
there has been was brief. and drove
right to the point The attitude of Gov
Whitman was made at once manifest,
and was followed by a request that
public health surgeon be sent to New
York to take charge of the quarantine
transfer to federal control. Assistant
Surgeon General Golfer was selected,
and is now in the saddle.
Assistant Secretary Newton. collab-
Grating with Surgeon, General Blue,
soon after taking office made it mani
fest that the Treasury Department be-
lieved in federal control of all quar-
antine stations. This resulted in the
taking over of the quarantine station
at Boston from state to federal control.
establishment of joint federal and state
control over the quarantine station of
Galveston, the designation of DIR. Golfer
to be health officer of the port of New
York and other extension of federal
control. so that the station at Balti-
more is now alone under state control
Gov Whitman. a republican. on TAX
ing office, about a year ago, indicated
to the federal authorities his accept
ance Of the theory that the quarantine
station of the port of New York and.
it's functions should be under federal
control. 1t is believed that the New
York legislature will consent to accept
his view of the matter and approve
the proposed transfer of control to the
national government.
Important to Nation.
The taking over of the quarantine
station of the port of New York is
likely to mean much to the whole ma
ton. 1t is the gateway from Europe,
and the stream of emigration which
pours through it branches and di-
vides, difrusing itself throughout every
section of the entire United States.
from coast to coast, and from the gulf
TO the great lakes. Unless Congress
puts up the bars to immigration, the
close of the war, it is predicted, will
bring high tide of immigration to
the United States. In the wake of the
war already is disease. Typhoid and
plague and other communicable ills
are spread in army ranks, prison camps
aHd hospitals-fnding the way into the
homes. The tide of immigration to
come. after the war, il is forecast by
the surgeons of the public health serv-
ice. will be inoculated with disease,
and If allowed Will disseminate il over