St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-15
The Senate Devotes Itselfto the
Discussion of the Rights
of the Govern
ment
In the Matter of Interfering With
States Rights in the Sup
preston of Cattle
Diseases,
While the House in Spite of a SOphOmorical
Speech by Robinson Refuses to
Pension Jefferson's Grand
daughter.
The Senate.


ton, appropriating S25 1000 for the eradica-
ton of the foot and mouth disease. Plumb
said it was very serious disease, and did
not affect the state of Kansas merely, but all
the states. He sent to the desk and had read
dispatch from the governor of Kansas, urg-
ing the importance of immediate action.
Senator Sherman moved to amend by
striking out the clause which provides that
the money be expended in cooperation with
the authorities of Kansas, as the disease was
apt to spread to other states and
other animals. The people of Illinois and
other states were becoming alarmed at the
spread of the disease, and the appropriation
should not be confined to Kansas.
Senator Colon thought the amount should
Be $4,000, and the resolution passed at
oIice.I l.
Mr.. Williams thought it would be better to
take up the bill relating to contagious dis
eases of cattle generally, which had been
already introduced in the senate and so treat
the subject as whole.
Senator Plumb said he had only one OBJ
lection, that notice had been given of pro-
tracted debate to come on the general bill
and it was to avoid the inevitable loss and
damage which would result from delay, that
in the face of the pressing and urgent neces-
sity for immediate action, he had introduced
the present measure. He had no objection
to the amendment offered by Mr.. Sher-
man.
Senator Coke moved an amendment strik
ing out the word Kansas, p" and inserting
the words with the consent of the state au-
thorities,n so as to secure each state some
right to exercise jurisdiction in the matter
if they preferred to do so. The original
measure would confne aid to Kansas alone,
and Sherman's amendment would give the
commissioner of agriculture absolute author
ity to act independently of state authorities
and even in spite of them.
Senator Butler read telegram to show
that the governor of western state had been
asked to establish quarantine against Kansas
cattle, and it was thought he would do so.
Butler inquired why the governor Of Kansas
could not do the same thing and Mr.. Plumb
replied that he could, but what sort of spec
tacle would it be for the governor of state
to establish a quarantine against the entire
commerce in cattle. 1t was not question
of quarantining against cattle coming to
Kansas to remain there but to them passing
through the state. Unless systematic action
by the general government should be p: ompt-
ly taken whenever these diseased cattle sold
there would be incalculable loss. The disease
was speeding through many states and cat
tie were going in and out Of many states, and
action by the states singly could not reach
the evil.
Senator Cullom, speaking for Illinois, said
the people of that state had dealt with con-
tagious diseases heretofore occurring within
its own borders and had done so successfully.
He was not therefore asking anything
specially for Illinois, but the diseases now
raging among cattle were spreading all over
the county, and involved largely the ques-
ton of inter-stock commerce. He believed
if the general government had taken prompt
measures in the early stages of the epizootic,
it would have saved many millions of dol
lars, and saved an immense amount of in
convenience and suffering. Cattle were
constantly passing in and out of states
affected, and many states were becoming
rapidly affected.
Senator Sherman hoped the Senator from
Kansas, plumb, would wait a short time
till the pleuro-pneumonia bill should be
reported from the committee. This foot and
mouth disease had come to the United States
from Europe, and was an exceedingly seri-
! Gus disease and threatened to spread over
the whole country. Senator Sherman read
letter from an excellent authority on the
subject to show that this disease was
much more destructive than pleuro-pneu-
monia and urging the total suspension of
| the importation of cattle for the present.
| If this is the veritable foot and mouth dis
| ease that has destroyed so many cattle in Eu-
rope it was the most unfortunate thing that
had occurred to the cattle interests of this
| country. This was a national and not a To-
| cal question. If it had been the latter he
would not favor action by the general gov
| eminent with regard to it. 1t was foreign
| importation and should be dealt with favor
| ably, and he favored national action in re
| gard to it. He thought it would be best to
| wait until the senate should take up the
"pleure-pneumonia" bill and to act promptly
on that.
| Mr. Vest favored the passage of the meas
ure, which, while accomplishing the purposes
| in view would respect the wishes of the peo-
pie of the state.
Senator Garland defended the constitu-
| tionality Of the measure, and said that when
| ever he was shown q case in which the local
power of aid was Overmastered he would
vote for it with as clear conscience as he
had ever taken a glass of whisky. Laugh
| ter He referred to the national aid ex-
tended in the case of the Chicago fire, in the
case of distress caused by locusts, and a
number of other instances.
Senator Marcy said the power to appro-
pirate S25, 600 to investigate the disease in
Kansas or elsewhere, is one thing, but the
power to appropriate money for killing cattle
| is another thing You could not deprive citi-
zens of state of their property without due
process Of law. Believing that the resolution
did not bring the question within that proper
| constitutional limit, he would vote against it.
Senator Coke, quoted from Cooley on
| constitutional limitations, to show that the
national government could not assume any
supervision of the police authority of state,
and the power proposed to be given to the
! commissioner of agriculture of dealing with
| diseased cattle of the state of Kansas was one
wholly and exclusively residing in the au-
I thorities of the state. There was no other
| view to be taken of it unless it was right that
/ this government should extend its arms and
| enfold everything within its grasp. If the
proposed measure, without the amendment,
| be right, then the national government will
| soon be found regulating the common
schools in every state in the country, the
| questions of marriage and divorce, and other
| questions exclusively belonging to people
| of separate states. He wanted to see an
amendment providing for a cooperation
with the authorities of the state of Kansas, SO
that the rights of the people of that state
would be preserved.
Senator ingalls, was afraid that eventually
the senate would be called upon to make a
large appropriation to extirpate foot and
mouth disease from the Democratic party,
| Laughter for that party never opened its
mouth without putting its foot in it." IRE
newed laughter. 1.-THE doctrine of state
rights and state sovereignty" he said,
tides hard, but think it moribund and in
course of time it will be buried. If any
senator on the opposite side of the chamber
can tell we what power the majority of con-
gress cannot exercise under the constitu