National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-05-23
FORTY-SIxTH CONGRESS.
Another Days Work on the Warner
Silver Bill.
Mr.. Harris Public Health Bill In the Senate
Formidable Opposition TO the Measure
The House Morning Hour--"Cioid-
cn silence" of the Minority
Further Amendments
to the silver Bill.
SENATE.
THURSDAY, May %.

Mr.. MCDONALD introduced the bill regulating the
use of the army of which no gave notice yesterday
and gave notice that he would call II up on Mon
day and SPEAK thereon.
Mr.. SLATER introduced q bill to regulate inter
course with citizens of the Chinese Empire visiting
or residing In the United States, and for other pur-
poses. Ordered to lie on the table and be printed.
The morning hour having expired. Mr.. Harris
called up Senate bill to prevent the introduction
aud spread of contagious or infectious diseases and
moved To ignore the original bill and consider the
substitute reported from the committee on May o,
which embodied what appeared to be The views of
the majority of the Senate though not so satisfac-
tory to the committee as was the first bill.
Mr.. CoSKLNG thought the diseases desired TO be
reached by the bill should be specified by name.
Mr.. HARRIS would consent TO such an amend
ment though he thought II unimportnnt Plague,
cholera, yellow fever, smallpox, and typhoid fever
seemed 10 be the only diseases recognized by med
ical authorities MS contagious or infectious.
Mr.. LOGAN thought the purposes contemplated by
The bill might be lust as well accomplished by an
amendment to the law of 1873. He was opposed to
giving such large powers TO national board OF
health. Experience teaches us that no bureau ere
aed in this Government ever finishes Its work and
comes permanent lie did not see what use was 70
be made of Che 100000 appropriated. He would
prefer the national board Of health to be mn advis'
DRY board OF experts, not an executive board.
MIR. HARRIS said in case Of repetition of last
yenrs epidemic $4,000 would not be too great an
amount for necessary expenditure fno epidemic
occurred the money would not DO used.
The late Surgeon General of the Marine Hospital
Service tDr. Woodworth) had expressed TO Mr.. Har-
Ts his approval Of the plan 10 transfer the question
ofprotection against contagious diseases from the
Marine Hospital Service TO national board. Mr.
Harris mentioned this IN view Of Mr.. Logans opil-
ion that the national board should be merely adj
visory.
Mr.. HoAR moved to amend by striking out the
words amy contagious or infectious diseases" and
substituting the words "cholcra, yellow fever,
plague, smallpox, and ship fever" He thought
%as dafr IN rc syS Woo gea
with commerce. The amendment was rejected
yens, 20; nays 20. .
Mr. HoAR moved TO amend by striking out all o
section down to line o. Rejected.
Mr. LOGAN moved to amend 50 that the mono!
appropriated instead of being dsbursed under n,
the direction Of the Secretary OF the Treasury upor
quarterly estimates by the bonTd, accompanied by
statements of Its operations and expenditures un
der the net Adopted.
Mr.. EATON wished to vote for the bill, and hopet
the appropriation wonld be reduced TO s2jO,OoO II,
thought this sum too large, but yielded something
10 the opinions of others.
Mr.. DAWES said it now appears that for $4,000 {
ship could be constructed that would serve all th
purposes intended TO be covered by the vessel TO
which s2oCOOl was recently appropriated on rec
ommendation of the board. He thought 1t doubt
nl policy to appropriate all That is asked for BY TN
board.
Mr.. Eaton's amendment was reiected-yeas, 10
Mr.. CoNKIISG asked Mr. Harris what had becom
of the disinfectng ship experiment. aud whethe
Professor Gamgce's plan. which was first propose,
w
stricken out, was still under consideration.
Mr. HARRIS said plans agreed upon by the boar
had been submitted to n board of naval engineer
and constructors for their advice No contract ha'
yet been concluded.
Mr. CoNKLING said he asked because he had goo
information that the board have now rejected n
impracticable the Gamgec plan, which they wcr
heretofore so well satisfied with to advise the Sen
ate to adopt Internationally. He thought this pert
nent TO the present question, MS showing the fall
bility of the board and the proprieiy OF CAREFUL
considering its recommendations. Mr.. Conklin
then pointed out what he thought faults In the bill
against State laws punishable IN Federal courts
Another is that such ofenscs are left also in tn
Jurisdiction OF state courts so the bill violates III
principle that no man snail be twice punished 10
The same oiense. Another objection is that the fin
imposed Us penalty falls not upon the real ohende
hut upon the innocent owners OF the vessel Thi
bill tried imperfccty TO do by castiron and o.
prevailing system what should, to be practical, !
done locally and in particular spots. He shout
vote against the bill, and did not feel any oblgt
tiOn TO offer anything in its place, as he believe
the subject did not belong to national, but TO loci
legislation.
Mr.. HARRIS said past experience showed loci
legislation to be insufficient Under 1t terrible ep
denies have ravnged the country Az 70 the otht
objections of the Senator from New York, the nc
ofl199 and 1878 contain the same provisions us
Jurisdiction, and all previous quarantine laws hay
proceeded on the same plan. Regarding the metho
Of the fine, the bill only imposes a line withol
regulating the manner of its collection.
After further remarks by Mr.. Conkling Mr.. IL
munds expressed a wish to examine the bill mol
nt length and, OH his motion, at 1855 p IN, the Sci
ate adjourned until tomorrow