Page:Senate Reports 1892–’93.djvu/785

{| At the meeting of the Committee on Immigration on Tuesday, December 20, the following resolution was adopted:
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“Resolved, That a subcommittee be appointed by the chairman to visit Florida and inquire into the extent and character of the immigration, whether temporary or permanent, from the West Indies into Florida and the other States, and into the danger of importing infectious or epidemic diseases through such immigration, and that the subcommittee shall be authorized to visit such places as may be necessary, in their opinion, to become thoroughly informed on the subject, and to report to the full committee.”

Senators Proctor, Dubois, and Call were duly appointed the aforesaid subcommittee.

Chairman.

Senator. Senator Squire has been added to that committee and Senator Gibson is here as a member of the Committee on Epidemic Diseases. The House committee is here by authority of a similar resolution.

Representative. We are here under a resolution of the Fifty-second Congress, at the last session, which is similar to the one just read, and which constitutes this body a joint committee of the House and Senate.

Senator. It will be remembered that we had a meeting of the joint committee and agreed upon this action.

Representative. The members of the House committee are Mr. Covert of New York, Mr. Wright of Pennsylvania, Mr. Coburn of Wisconsin, and its chairman, Mr. Stump of Maryland.

Senator. I propose that we ask the consul-general to give his testimony as to such facts as are within his knowledge as to the condition of the public health here and the danger of disease being transmitted into the United States.



STATEMENT OF RAMON O. WILLIAMS, CONSUL-GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES AT HAVANA.

Senator. Will you please give the committee, in your own way, any information you can in regard to the subject-matter of this inquiry as you have heard it stated in the resolutions.

Mr. . With respect to epidemic and contagious diseases and the danger of their introduction into the United States I would prefer that Dr. Burgess should give his testimony. There is scarcely anything I could say upon the subject that would be in addition to what he can tell you.

Senator. How long have you held this position as consul-general?

Mr. . I was appointed by President Arthur, in 1884.

Senator. Before that you had been vice-consul for how long a time?

Mr. . Nine and a half years.

Senator. Before that time?

Mr. . I was here twenty-seven years engaged in American commerce with Cuba before I ever went into the consular service. My work has been connected, however, with the United States all the time.

