Page:Senate Reports 1892–’93.djvu/781

{| and has a future before it of great development. Its commerce with the United States must continually increase, and the interests of the American people will become more closely connected with the health and prosperity of the people of the island.
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In this view the conditions of intercourse with Cuba and the other West India islands, whether by immigration or other relations of business, are of the greatest concern to the people of the United States.

The question is growing more and more in importance because of the certainty of the opening of one or more transits by waterways across the States of Central America from the Pacific Ocean to the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, which will provide convenient and cheap transit for the commerce of the peoples of the Eastern Hemisphere with those of the West. Cuba and the State of Florida lying across the necessary pathway of this commerce will offer the convenient places for the landing of the ships which shall carry its immigrants, visitors, and products.

Whatever restrictions or conditions it may be determined by Congress to impose upon immigration or commerce, either from Europe or oriental nations, for the exclusion of contagious and infectious disease and the promotion of maritime sanitation, must be applied strictly and enforced vigorously as between Cuba, the West India islands, and the United States.

The committee found that the sanitary and quarantine measures adopted by the State of Florida, with the aid of the system of inspection, examination, and certification of the Marine-Hospital Service at Havana, under the supervision of Dr. Daniel M. Burgess, of that service, have been adequate, so far, to prevent entirely the communication of epidemic or contagious diseases from the island of Cuba to the United States through the ports of Florida. The quarantine system has been maintained at the expense of the people of Florida, which, as the subject is one of national importance, should be borne by the national Government, and, in view of the threatened epidemic of cholera, the service should be increased in its efficiency and paid for out of the national Treasury. The committee also found that epidemic disease of a fatal character has been imported into the United States from the West Indies through the South Atlantic ports of Florida and of other Southern States, and recommend that an efficient system of maritime sanitation and quarantine be maintained in them by liberal appropriations to be used in coöperation with the State board of health in the absence of a national system of quarantine and sanitation, to be applied to the entire coast of South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas.

The duties of the committee require them to examine into the conditions of immigration between Mexico and the United States, and from Canada and by sea into the Pacific States; but they have not so far had opportunity to fully make this investigation. Chinese immigration has already received consideration by Congress, but the subject of persons coming from countries in the Pacific Ocean, either for temporary or permanent residence, in connection with the importation of disease, is a branch inquiry to which the committee should give future and careful investigation in connection with the Committee on Immigration and Naturalization of the House and the Senate Committee on Epidemic Diseases.

The testimony accompanying the committee's report will be found to contain valuable information, which will aid Congress in formulating such legislation as will create adequate restrictions on immigration and