The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-05-10
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
A FINAL MISCARRIAGE OF THE Ma
TIONAL QUARANTINE LAW.

where the DiHlcuIty Lies-PrOspects for
Commercial Treaty with Mexico
Zach ChandIers Latest screed.
Especial to the Democrat
/ WASHINGTON, May 9.-After eight months OF
painful labor to bring forth measure for the
protection Of the country from epidemic dis
| eases, Congress has had miscarriage, and
| the whole matter has relapsed into something
worse than the original chaos. Five different
bills have been reported from committees and
two of them have passed one house OF Con-
gress to be killed with amendments or talked
| to death in the other. At last, finding 1T I'M
possible to devise any bill that would meet
| the views of all sections, Senator Harris re-
auested recommittal Of the whole matter
| to the committee, and when this was done,
suggested that each member OF the commit
| tee draw bill In accordance with his own
peculiar views, the intention being to take the
| whole mass of views and theories thus pre-
sented and try to reduce them tola single
| measure, upon which the committee and a
| majority of the Senate can agree.
| Under these circumstances 1t is painfully
| plain that nothing OF any practical value will
| be accomplished byfCongress this session and
| the wise course for the communities interested
| to pursue Is to lose no time In cOncerting
some scheme for protection among themselves
| 1t is to be hoped that this news will not tend
| to alarm people residing in regions subject to
yellow fever, as there Is plenty Of time for the
| adoption of protective measures, provided i'm
mediate steps are taken. The trouble with
Congress is that 1t Is running into sort OF
.r c@; Ill tnnA
measure which does not In some way bear
upon the coming presidential contest stands
any show Of exhaustive consideration, much
less Of substantial action.
I repeat that the Southern people need not
wait for Congress to take any measures for
their protection against epidemic scourges,
and therefore they had better proceed in their
own way TO that end at once.
| The long mooteda question OF a commercial
treaty with Mexico has at last been officially
taken up here, mainly through the efforts
| Of Floyd King, and the subcommittee OF the
House Committee on Foreign Relations, OF
which King is a member, has been appointed
to investigate the subject and report by bill
or Joint resolution at the next session OF Con-
gress similar committee will be appointed
appointed by the House, and au-
thority to prosecute their labors dur
ing the recess will be given. This Is q
practical step and If properly carried out can
not fail Of results. The joint committee may
visit Mexico some time during the coming
fall, or If this is not done the Mexican gov
ernment Is expected to send similar COM
mittee to New Orleans or Galveston to confer
with lours during the month Of October. the
design being to frame treaty to be acted on
By the American and Mexican Congresses
simultaneous at next winters session.
| Mr. King deserves much credit for the
assiduity with which he has pressed this
scheme.
The row caused In the Senate to-day by
Zach Chandler's raid on the South Is not
formidable, as might appear from the regular
report Its only effect will be to injure Kel-
logg's cause, but old Zach is 50 generally re-
garded as common scold by sensible men
OF both parties that nothing he says can Gre
ate much real iiI~feeling. The tendency is to
regard him with sort OF good -humored con-
/ tempt and let him rave. A. g. B.
THE SUBSTITUTE FOR THE PENDING QUAEAN-
TINE Law.
|
| to the yellow fever bill reduces the apprOpria-
tion from $3.50 GOO to $500, 900, and strikes out
the sections which provide that all rules and
regulations for the prevention OF the intro
duction of disease shall be controlled by the
national board Of health, aud inserts that the
board shall cooperate with and aid State
4 boards and associations In the enforcem ent
1 Of sanitary laws. When suggestions made
by the national board are considered neces-
sary and objection Is made by State boards
then the matter shall be referred to the
President OF the United States, who shall If,
| In lis judgment 1t Is necessary, order said
recommendations OF the national board to be
| carrr d into effect, and he may detail an Offi-
Ger or appoint person for that purpose. The
national board shall make rules governing
vessels sailing from foreign ports, which, af-
ter being approved by the President and pub
lished, shall be forwarded to the proper con-
suIar officers, who shall see that they are
properly observed.
| WORK OF THE COMMITTEES.
The last army bill contained d restriction
with regard to promotions in the army, which
was not perfectly understood, and the Pres1-
ent sent to the Senate certain nominations,
which were first referred to the Military Com
mittee and then to the judiciary Committee.
A subcommittee was appointed to consider
the matter and after consultation with the
Judge advocate, Gen Dunnett, it Is authorita-
I lively stated that they will report that the
promotions cannot be made.
| N.The Senate Committee on Pensions, which
is meeting and settling claims daily has de-
cided not to report on any case until the last
day Of the session Is announced. All will be
then reported in a lump, with the recon-
mendation that they be placed on the calen-
dar, 50 as to be called up at an early date next
session
The House Committee on Appropriations
decided to-day to take up On Monday q bill
authorizing the furnishing Of rations to dis
tribute among colored emigrants in Kansas.
There is no doubt OF its passage, it is said,
doubt whether anylbill to appropriate money
for the support Of the immigrants would be
agreed te this session.
THE PRESIDENT AND THE ARMY BILL.
The Senate having passed the bill In rela-
tion to troops at the polls without amend
ment, it now only requires to be engrossed,
then be sent to the President, who held the