1 First appropriated for maintenance, 2 Includes improvements to be made in addition to purchase price. Actual transfer of title not accomplished on Sept. 1, 1920, although in process. 4 Original establishment. Original appropriation for establishment provided $125,000 for Key West and Tampa (Mullet Key). 1 First appropriated for maintenance. 2 Includes improvements to be made in addition to purchase price. Original establishment. The CHAIRMAN. Please supply it for the record. Dr. CREEL. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. How many still remain in the control of the States? Dr. CREEL. There is none. The CHAIRMAN. How about Philadelphia? Dr. CREEL. No, sir. They own a quarantine station, but have abandoned their quarantine functions and the service operates it. The CHAIRMAN. We have taken over their station? Dr. CREEL. Yes sir. The CHAIRMAN. We are not required to buy it? Dr. CREEL. No; it would hardly be justifiable, because we have a station at Philadelphia and we simply use the State plant for inspection purposes. STATEMENT SHOWING VARIOUS FEES FOR SERVICE. Mr. BYRNS. Would it be possible for you to file with the record a statement showing the various fees which have been promulgated for this service? Dr. CREEL. Yes, sir. The fees for New York, I might say, were specifically continued in force by this act of Congress, the same fees that the State charged. RATES TO BE CHARGED FOR SERVICES PERFORMED AT NATIONAL QUARANTINE STATIONS, EXCLUSIVE OF NEW YORK. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, 1921. Department Circular No. 243. Public Health Service. To quarantine officers and others concerned: The act approved June 16, 1921, making appropriations to supply deficiencies in appropriations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1921, and prior fiscal years, and for other purposes, provides that “On and after July 1, 1921, the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed to promulgate such a schedule of fees to be charged vessels at each of the national quarantine stations as will be fair and reasonable for the services rendered by each station." Pursuant to this authority the following rates are hereby prescribed as supplementing the provisions of Department Circular No. 207, 1920, applying to charges for fumigation, etc. : Schedule of charges. 1. (a) For inspection of any vessel of less than 500 tons, registered gross tonnage_. 2. Medical inspection of passengers: (c) For inspection of any vessel after sunset (night boarding), additional to (a) and (b). (b) For inspection of any vessel in excess of 500 tons, registered gross tonnage....... $5.00 10.00 10.00 (a) For the first 100 or fraction thereof. 5.00 3.00 2.00 3.00 (b) For every additional 100 or fraction thereof_ 3. Detention services (including subsistence, housing, and treatment): Per diem charge for steerage passengers and members of crew. Per diem charge for cabin passengers When less than two meals are furnished, one-half per diem rate shall be applied, and one-half rate shall also apply to children of less than 6 years of age. 4. Vaccination per individual____. .25 These rates shall be effective on July 1, 1921, and thereafter until changed. Quarantine officers, upon completion of services rendered, shall compute the total cost thereof and send a statement to the collector of customs at the port where the vessel enters. Collectors upon receipt of such statement will require payment of said charges by the master or agent of the vessel and will account for the amounts collected under the item “Quarantine fees.” A. W. MELLON, Secretary of the Treasury. RATES TO BE CHARGED FOR THE FUMIGATION AND DISINFECTION OF VESSELS FROM FOREIGN PORTS AT NATIONAL QUARANTINE STATIONS. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, 1920. Department Circular No. 207. Public Health Service. To quarantine officers and others concerned: The act approved April 17, 1917, making appropriations to supply deficiencies in the appropriations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1917, and for prior fiscal years, and for other purposes, provides that "hereafter the cost of fumigation and disinfection shall be charged vessels from foreign ports at rates to be fixed by the Secretary of the Treasury." Pursuant to said provisions the following rates are hereby prescribed for the fumigation and disinfection of vessels from foreign ports at national quarantine stations: Transportation of material shall be charged for at the actual cost to the Government when transportation is made overland. When made on Government station launch or vessel, charges will vary according to the distance traversed and based upon daily operating cost of such vessel. Charges made for loss of or injury to equipment will depend upon the character of equipment and the amount of loss or extent of damage, and shall be based on the market value of such item. These rates shall be effective on December 1, 1920, and thereafter until changed. Quarantine officers, upon completion of each fumigation, shall com pute the total cost thereof and send a statement to the collector of customs at the port where the vessel enters. Collectors, upon the receipt of a statement showing the cost of the fumigation and disinfection of vessels in accordance with the foregoing, will require payment of said charges by the master of the vessel and will account for the amounts collected under the item “The Fumigation and Disinfection of Vessels." D. F. HOUSTON, Secretary of the Treasury Medical Officers in Charge, TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Washington, November 10, 1920. United States Quarantine Stations, and others concerned. SIRS: In interpretation of department circular No. 207, you are advised as follows: The charge for supervis on" applies only to supervision by a medica! officer, and other services, representing laborers (attendants) or inspectors shall be calculated at the rate of $1 per hour per man. In estimating the actual cost for transportation officers in charge of stations shall first determine the average daily cost of the tug. launch, automobile, or other vehicles utilized, based on the monthly cost of maintenance, and this shall include salaries paid to the operating personnel, fuel, and miscellaneous supplies, but will not include repairs. The average daily cost shall apply to the period from sunrise to sunset, and charge shall be made for the number of hours which the launch or automobile is absent from the station. The time consumed in transporting the material from station to the ship and return to the station shall include delays caused by agents or masters. Charges for loss or injury to equipment will necessarily depend upon the character of such damage or loss, based upon the replacement value at the time of rendering bill. Respectfully, Mr. BYRNS. For how long? Dr. CREEL. Indefinitely. H. S. CUMMING, Surgeon General. Mr. KELLEY. Was that a condition of the sale? Dr. CREEL. A condition in the act making the appropriation. Mr. SISSON. While there is no objection, at the same time we had no experience except to take what the local authorities said the income would be. I think maybe some one was extravagant as to what the income would be when we took them over and that the fees should be increased. Everything else is increased-the salaries of the men doing the work are increased. At the time we took them over things were very much cheaper than now. Dr. CREEL. The first four months of operating the New York station the revenue exceeded the expenditures by $100,000. Mr. SISSON. When you first took it over? Dr. CREEL. The first four months-March, April, May, and Junelast spring. We only took it over last March. Mr. BYRNS. This provision provides that the Secretary of the Treasury shall promulgate fees which are fair and reasonable for the service. The CHAIRMAN. In each case. Mr. BYRNS. In each case. If the expenses should increase, for instance, you would not construe the action which was taken at the time the New York station was taken over, which said, in effect, that the fees should be continuing, as binding on the Government or upon the bureau and prevent them from increasing the fees? Dr. CREEL. We would consider that provision as preventing us from either increasing or changing them in any respect, but not if some amendment were made so as to give the Secretary of the Treas ury the same discretion which he has with respect to other stations. Mr. BYRNS. Suppose it should develop that those fees were not fair and reasonable for the service rendered? Dr. CREEL. I do not see how we can make any change so far as New York is concerned. The CHAIRMAN. I think that law was simply to apply for the time. Here is what that law said: On and after July 1, 1921, the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed to promulgate such a schedule of fees to be charged vessels at eich of the national quarantine stations as will be fair and reasonable for the services rendered by each station: Provided. That this authority shall not be applicable to any quarantine station where the fees are now fixed by law. That is for New York? Dr. CREEL. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. That is not binding forever. The only purpose of that, as I understand, was to see that New York was not made a free quarantine port. |