Speech #520115645

The bill which we have now before us for consideration is not. in my opinion. as the Senator from Tennessee has stated. what it ought to be. There may not be time for the consideration of such a measure. The act. which should be permanent. should provide. according to the best authorities. a place within every State where immigrants and passengers from foreign countries might be required to land. I do not think that. under the constitutional provision upon this subject. we could limit the places where immigrants and passengers shall land from foreign countries to any one State. or that we could discriminate by any regulation of any kind as between the ports of the different States. forbidding the entering into them of passengers and freight. but the constitutional reu irement would be complied with by providing one port in each tate where all immigrants and all passengers. in a time of public danger. might be required to lapd. and at such place the proper system and methods of sanitation and disinfection might be had. In the State of Florida. which lays in close proximity to Cuba and the West India Islands. where the yellow fever has become perennial and where in its worst forms it is at any time and at all times liable to be imported into the United States through the almost daily intercourse which exists between portions of the State of Florida and Cuba and the West India Islands. the port of Tampa has. by reason of its railroad connections. become almost the exclusive port on the mainland at which these immigrants and these passengers and this freight arrive. Under the enlightened administration of the health board of that State by Dr. Porter. of Key West. president of the board and a former surgeon of the United States Army. and by Dr.