Speech #660333726

On the question of typhus I have grown rather tired of newspaper comments placing the responsibility upon the Congress of the United States for the condition of wvhich they are now complaining with respect to that disease. I wish to call attention to the fact that there is a statute now upon the books. which reads as follows: That whenever it shall be shown to the satisfaction of the President that by reason of the existence of cholera or other infectious or contagious disease in a foreign country there is a serious danger of the introduction of the same into the United States and that notwithstanding the quarantine defense this danger is so increased by the introduction of persons or property from such country that a suspension of the right to introduce the samb is demanded in the interest of the public health. the President shall have the power to prohibit. in whole or in part. the introduction of persons and property from such countries or places as he shall designate and for such period of time as he may deem necessary. So that with the reports coming from the representatives of our Consular Service abroad. with the information possessed by the Public Health Service. with the information which comes from the Bureau of Labor. the whole responsibility is upon the President and the power is in his hands instantly to stop the immigration from the country where infectious diseases prevail