Year: 1875

INVESTIGATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COMMIT


TEE-DETAn.ED STATEMENT OF EXPENSES AT


QUARANTINE.


The legislative committee appointed to inquire into
Quarantine affairs resumed its session yesterday at Cas-
tie Garden.


General James McQusde called as a witness and
examined He stated that he present one of the
Commissioners OF Quarantine, and had hold that ap-
pointment since the 10th OF March last the Commits
sioncrs exercise general supervision Quarantine
affairs look after tho property in Of obec-
ton to decision of the Health Officer the Commission
ers act a Board OF Appeal; they also audit the
eys expended by the Health OGcer; the property in
charge OF the COMMISSIONER and belonging to the
State consists of buildings, steamboats, small boats
and includes the boarding station at Clifton; the
Hopkins is used for the general purposes of
Quarantnefor the transportation OF sick persons and
other business belonging to the commission she is
poyed about six months in the year the officers and men
engaged by the Health Officer and paid by the
year, tho captain and engineer paid to take charge
of her during the time she is laid up but she is always
held in readiness for any emergency. The witness
further stated that, in his opinion. two boats were
required for Quarantincone in addition to the Health
01icer's there were eghty-siX vessels boarded
day this week by the Health Officer; II required
boat to do that boarding. during the winter months
boat is TO all the boarding and all the odd jobs
required, but during the quarantine two boats
were roquired $50 are charged for landing mails and
passengers by the Quarantine boat the money is col
eccd and paid into tho treasury of the commlssion
other charge is made; witness did not think that
under the administration Of Dr. Vandcrpoc any charge
made in respect for the benefit of the Health
Officer he did not think that contract could be made
for the performance Of the work done by the Hopkins
at lower rate than it the State; the Health
Officer pays the expenses of his boat the Hopkins
held In readiness for exgoncics-such the break
ing out of fire any of the islands where patients
were conlned; the captain and engnoor received 800
a month each, and the deck hands $50 SO month and
$40 for ratons these men received this amount which
than the usually paid to deck hands, be-
cause they the risk of contagion by handling
cholera and yellow fever patients; under the crcum
stances he did not think the salaries too high; the
superintendent of Quarantine the keeper Of Hoffman
Island the captain, engineer and deck hands the boat
men the Illinois and at Dix Island, and the
and attendants in the hospital paid by the State
there four policemen attached TO Quarantine and
tho salary Of each is 81 900 year; their duties consist
OF keeping all persons Off the Quarantine boats without
permission Of the Commissioners and they also prevent
communication between those vessels and the shore
he understood that ugboats chartered for 80
hour but he thought they hired TO carry fever
patients they would charge much more under all the
circumstances he considered it much cheaper for the
State to maintain boats of its during the entire
year


The investigation here adjourned until hafpast
ten clock this morning