Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-05-24
FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS
Extra Session.
The Senate.
SUBSIDIARY COIN.

WASHINGTON, May 23.-The Senate took up
the bill making subsidiary coins exchangable
for lawful money Of the United States and to
make such coins legal tender in sums up to
800. The committee amendment to substitute
so for 800 was discussed.
The bill was supported by Senators Bayard,
Booth, Ferry and Herman, and opposed by Ed
munds and Thurman.
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
The morning hour having expired, the bill
went over without action and the Senate took
up the contagious diseases bill.
Senator Jones, of Florida, moved to substi-
tute the words ''any merchant ship or vessel
for the words ''any vessel engaged in transport
tation of goods or persons The desnltory
employment of some vessels trading with Flor
ida ports could hardly be called transportation
of goods or persons. Adopted.
Senator Morgan moved to amend 30 that the
act should not remain in full force for more than
four years from its passage. This legislation
was experimental and shouldn't take the form
of establishing permanent system which it
might be difficult to get rid of if it proved un-
satisfactory. Adopted.
Senator White moved to strike out the
clause Furnishing violation of the rules of
State heslth boards and rules of sanitary assoc
ciations.'' He should not support bill allow
ing such associations to make criminal laws.
Senator Harris moved an amendment which
tions made in pursuance of this act'' for rules
and regulations of the sanitary associations"
Adopted.
Senator White thereupon omitted reference
to sanitary appropriations in his amendments
and as thus modified it was rejected.
In Difference to the views of several Senators
Senator Harris moved to reduce the penalty
named in the bill from $5 600 to $1,000. he
thought that sum large enough to effect the
desired object. Adopted,
A motion by Senator Teller to strike out the
clause making the fine lien upon the vessel
was rejected.
Senator Edmunds opposed the bill on con-
stitutional grounds, and thought that Senators
on the other side who supported it were incon-
sistent in arguing lately in favor of keeping
the federal power from interfering with States
in certain matters, and voting now to put the
violation of State law within federal jurisdic-
ton in another natter. In this case he
thought the St,te law should be dominant, be-
cause he believed Congress had no
right to regulate health laws in the way pro-
posed by the bill. He did not think super
vision of health YVES one of the powers dele
gated by the States to the federal government.
discussion ensued between Senator La
mar, who cited the law of 1899 as precedent
for this bill, and Senator Edmunds, who de.
MED the analogy between the two.
Senator Blame thought the general govern:
ment was authorized to establish national
quarantine, and that it ought to exercise its
power and protect the general health.
Senator Edmunds said no such power had
been delegated to the governors. and if the
general government could interfere in health
regulations it could interfere with everything
else that goes on in State.
Senator Blaine said Congress has regulated
commerce between the States and even IN the
boundaries of individual States in the interests
of health.
Senator Edmunds replied that this bill hal
nothing to do with commerce except as pre-
text for its enactment. 1t proposed 10 regu
late health laws; per sc, under it a man nigh
be punished for its violation the moment h
reached port.
After furth;r remarks in support of the bill
by Senator Call it was reported back to tn
Senate and the amendments made in the com
mittee of 4 the whole agreed to. 1t was theI
read third time and passed--yeas "a, nays IL
"a follows: