National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-03-18


ereise Of the power was not prohibited by the
states but by original want Of authority. Mr.. |
rendition thought the safe policy was one OF STREET
constitutional construction As to the illustrations
cited by Mr.. Garland q few days ago, TO support |
the theory OF constitutional authority Tor tne |
measure in hand, Mr. PendetOn would rather see |
those instances remain on the statute books as
unauthorized concessions 10 human sympathy
10 the overwhelming suherings OF our ielloW
mcmillan to see in them legal md proper con.
struction of the constitution. The absorption OF
the functions Of the state In the federal govern
ment would, Mr.. Pendleton said, in conclusion,
be the death knell of the republic.
Mr. Cullom, while not fayoring every measure
proposing Intervention In state affairs ~ the gem
eral government, said he thought there were
measures in which that intervention was justiha-
Bile and necessary. These contagious aud Comnu-
nicahle diseases among cattle could not pe e1uL.
paed by tine action of separate states with stock
constantly moving FROM one state To another.
Hence the action OF the national government was
WAS of greater i'm portance than agriculture The
total value Of horses, sheep, cnttle and hogs in
this country amounted to the enormous sum OF
So 500 600 600, and the United States government
would be most dorect in its duty ii II did not In
tervene to protect SO large and widespread an IN,
S saTSI Al entirely FROM What state existed
years ago We had 100 00J miles of railroad con.
stantly carrying cattle about the country We had
thirty eght states and uine or ton territories each
Acting Tor Itself. one acting perhaps to-day nnd
another tomorrow or next month, and mean
while the, properly Of the country was being de;
stroyed. If this disease overspread, or threatened
to ovespreNd the country, how could the states
acting separately cope with IL 2 Illinois was not
hero asking anything; but look at Chicago. to
which almost ali the cattle OF tho country como
on their way from the west 10 the east He sub
mitted to those opposing this appropriation
whether one state had n constitutional right to
stop trains that formed part of the interstate COM
merCe of tho country. lie inquired wheIher
we were not hero splitting hairs while the
property of the country was going 10
desiruction2 He wanted the United States gov
eminent to throttle these diseases at once, or 1t
may have a great deal more to do. later The
wi anreadiup md If DTOfnDt measures
were taken II could be got rid of, and II would
then be the duty of congress TO take precautions
against the Importation OF these diseases. IT
measures were taken now before the cattle went
on the grass 1t could be stamped out at slight ex-
pense. If not, 1t might hereafter take many
Reierring to the remarks OF Mr. Pendleton as to
state rights, Mr.. Garland said that he too was n
state rights man. but the view taksn by IN, me
"a condition OF governmental constipation and
bind up the constitution too closely.
Mr.. Hawley said he did not propose to rehearse
all that had been said or could be said with re-
gard to the rights of the general government or
of the states respectively. he would and did
read the statutory provisions of Connecticut re-
lating to the protection of animals to show that
that state had nude ample provision for protect-
ing animals within its borders. In reply to an
inquiry of Mr. Cullom as TO what tho senate
would do If II did not pass this measure Mr.. Haw-
ley replied that we could let each take for itself
the course taken by the state Of Connecticut, and
then the measures before the senate could be
passed with one clause omitted.
Mr. Plumb said there could be no umbilical
cord connecting diseases in different states. The
difficulty here was one great spread OF disease all
over all enormous region OF country. We were
told that Connecticut had stamped out diseases
ing among the cattle Of this country were not con-
fined 10 one state Cattle in Connecticut were not
driven about the country, aud they were compare
lively few. A man with fifty head Of cattle there
was noted man. The conditions were altogether
different in the cattle sections of the west IL q
few thousand dollars were not expended now, q
large expense would probably be necessary here
amer There was no dangerous power given
to the commissioner OF agriculture; and as
to tho fear OF further expense TO be in
CURED, he mfr. Plumb would propose
an amendment providing thntthe general govern.
ment should not be held responsible for anything
beyond the appropriation. He would not have
congress enter upon dangerous ground, but IN
view of the precedents and of the provision OF the
resolutions requiring that the general government
should have the concurrence of the state govern
ment, he could not see anything consistent with
fair Interpretation of the constitution that ought to
| Interfere with the appropriation. There was a
disposition among the owners of the diseased cat
tie to represent the difficulty as of less serious
character than had been generally believed. They
were anxious TO sell their stock, and did not wish
to have 1t understood that any serious disease ex-
| listed among them. There was great danger, Mr.
Plumb believed, that If something were not
| promptly done, we should find American meat
| excluded not merely from tho countries which IL
had been heretofore excluded, but from all the
| countries OF the civilized world.
Mr.. Harris eXpre,Sed the conviction that the
senate had no constitutional power or right TO
| undertake The WORK cont tmnlhtsu by the measure
under consideration, and, therefore, pressed hi.
motion TO indefinitely postpone.
| vote being taken on Mr.. HarriSs motion 4
| was not agreed to-yeas Is, nays 30.
| The question recurring on Mr.. Hoar's motion Il
postpone until next Friday that gentleman with
| drew his motion.
| Mr. Sherman was not at all troubled by the con
sttutional question raised by gentlemen on the
| other side OF the chamber. His objection to thu
| resolution was that 1t was altogether Insufficient
to deal with the great difficulty now pressing upor
| the cattle interest. The pleuro-pneumonia bill
| passed by the house being upon the table OF the
| senate and being much broader aud more COM
prehensiye measure, Mr.. Sherman hoped that tho
gentleman from Kansas Mr.. Plumb would permit
this matter TO come up under the consideration o.
that bill. But Oh the practical question of the eci
ency, even for Temporary purposes, OF the present
measure Mr.. Sherman said the commissioner OF
agriculture could not, without proper provision o.
| law seize n mans cattle and kill them. Although
| tne quarantine had been established by Mr.. Sher'
mans own order, he doubted whether quaranttn
| ing would cover the present difficulty, BECAUSE
the quarantine did not permit the slaughterinG O.
cattle And, If 1t did, how far would $50 900 go II
relieving the situation? He thought, therefore,
| the senate was wasting time in considering th
me assure, because IT did not come up to the neces
sites of the case. The foot and mouth disease wal
| much less dangerous or lata than pleurO- pneu
monla, and this resolution did NOT, provide fo
dealing with that. Nj Sherman was In favor OF 0
much stronger measure.
Mr.. Plum said there was no probability that
the pleuro- pneumonia bill referred TO By Mr.
| Sherman would become u law for two or three
weeks. and possibly it might not become law a
all. There had been distinct intimation giyeI
of long debate on 1t, and IT the house bill shoult
| pass the senate its provisions We're such that Il
| would probably be next fall before work could b.
| done under II, rs rules would have TO be drawn
up, submitted TO the states, and receive their up
Mr. Morgan said he had no doubt that the word
| of the constitution were purposely left in suci
form that some freedom of action could be in
| dulged in under them. But the question now be
| tore the senate was whether this resolution die
not exceed anything contemplated ,,
| any Interpretation of the constitution. II
however it could be made to az
this money, and was unable to help itself IN 70
sprct to these cattle diseases, then Mr.. Morgan
| would vote for Il suOyention Ior that state to all
il, because, AS he UNDERSTOOD his duty under tn
| constitution, he could not vote such money unlcs
| such II state OF facts was shown. Such n slate o
| facts had not been shown, and 1t WINS not proposes
| To snow IT.. lie was opposed to calamity" legls
| lation; u people running 10 congress whenever
hurricane occurred or lr!chlnosiS was ioun
In moving m amendment to add the words $50 n
to preycn the spread Of said disease to other state
or territories (Which amendment was arreute
congress had any constitutional right to apprO
pirate the money, except for the purpose indicate
| By that amendment
Mr.. Plumb then moved to increase the amour
| Appropriated By the RESOLUTION IRON e2O,UJO
| $4,000.
Ihe amendment was agreed to.
| Mr.. Bayurd moved an amendment stating IN
| object OF the appropriation to be 10 obtain an
| disseminate information In relation TO The treat
| mcnt cure, aud prevention OF the diseases. NJ
| Bayurd said he had no objection 10 the appropria
| ton Of the money for such purposes.
Mr.. Bayard's amendment was not agreed to.
| Mr.. Plumb then moved M amendment, whicl
| was agreed to, adding prOyisO that no action o
| the commissioner Of agriculture under tue Joii
| resolution, should commit the government beyOn
thcamount therein appropriated. Thej9int resolr