The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-15
THE KANSASCATTLEPLAGUE
A Proposal to Appropriate Money for
the Purpose Of SURPRISING 1t.
An Interesting Debate, in the Course Of
Which Mr.. Ingalls, INDUCES in
Some Very Sharp Thrusts.
THE SENATE.
Proposal to Appropriate Money for Suppress
ing the Cattle Disease.

matter of the second class. Referred.
Mr. Plumb called up the joint resolution APP
propriatng $25, 900 for the suppression Of the
foot and mouth disease. Mr. 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 urging the importance
Of immediate action.
Mr. Sherman moved to amend by striking out
The clause which provides that the money be ex-
pended in cooperation with the authorizes of
Kansas, as the disease was apt to spread to other
states and affect swine and other animals The
people of Illinois and other States were becom-
ing alarmed at the spread of the disease and the
appropriation should not be confined to Kansas
Mr. Cullom thought the amount should be
$4,000, and the resolution passed at once.
Mr. Williams thought it would be better to
take up the bill relating to contagious diseases of
cattle generally, which had been already intro
duced in the Senate and so treat the subject
whole.
Mr. Plumb said he had only one objection;
that notice had been given of a protracted de
bate 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
ton, he had introduced the present measure.
He had no objection to the amendment offered
by Mr.. Sherman.
Mr.. Coke moved an amendment striking out
the word KANSAS" and inserting the words
with the consent of the authorities so as to
secure each State some right to exercise its own
Jurisdiction in the matter. if they preferred to do
so. The original measure would confine the act
to Kansas alone. Mr.. Sherman's amendment
would give the Commissioner of Agriculture alb
solute authority to act, independently of the
State authorities and even in despite of them.
Mr.. Butler read telegram to show that the
Governor of a Western State had been asked to
establish quarantine against Kansas cattle, and
it was thought he would do 50.
Mr.. Butler inquired why the Governor of
Kansas could not do the same tlinc
Mr.. Plumb replied that he could. but what
sort of spectacle would it be for the Governor
of a State to establish quarantine against its
tire commerce! 1t was not question of quar-
antnMg against cattle coming to Kansas to re
main there, but to their passing through the
State. Unless systematical action of the general
government should be promptly taken wherever
these diseased cattle marketed there would
be incaculable and unavoidable loss. The dis
case was spreading through many States, and
cattle were Going into and out of MANY States,
and the action Of the States singly would not
reach the evil
Mr.. Cullom speaking Tor Illinois, said the
people of that State had dealt with contagious
diseases heretofore occurring within its borders
and had done so successfully. He was not, there
fore, asking anything specially for Illinois, but
the disease now raging among cattle spread
ing all over the country and involved largely
question of interstate commerce. He believed if
the general government had taken prompt meas
ures in the early stages OF the epZootic it would
have saved many millions of dollars and saved
an immense amount of Inconvenience and suffer
ing. Cattle were constantly passing in and out
OF the States affected and many States were be
coming rapidly affected.
Mr.. sherman hoped the Senator from Kansas
(Af. Plumb would wait a short time until 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 serious disease, and threat
ened to spread over the whole country. Mr..
Sherman read letter from excellent authority
on the subject to show this disease was much
mere destructive than pleuro pneumonia, and
urging total suspension of the importation of
cattle for the present. If this is the veritable
foot and mouth disease that had destroyed 50
many cattle in Europe, it was the most unfortu-
nate thing that had occurred for the cattle inter
ests of the country. This was national and
not local question. If it had
been he would not favor action of the general
government with regard to it. II was foreign
importation and should be dealt with broadly.
and hefa0ored national action, but he preferred
to wait until the regular Senate bill came up,
called the pleuro-p pneumonia BILL and act
promptly on that.
Mr.. Vest favored the passage of the measure.
which, while accomplishing the purpose in view
woald respect the wishes of the people of the
State.
Mr.. Garland defended the constitutionality of
the measure, and said whenever he was shown a
case in which the local power of aid was over
mastered he would vote for it with as clear
conscience as he had latter an instant's
pause taken glass of whisky. Laughter
He referred to the national aid extended in the
case of W. Chicago fire and to the distress
caused in number of other instances.
Mr.. Maxey said the power to appropriate
$4,000 to investigate the disease in Kansas, or
elsewhere, IS one thing, but the power to apprO
pirate money for killing cattle is another You
could not deprive the citizens of the States of
their property without due process of law Be
heving the resolution did not bring the question
within the proper constitutional limits, he would
vote against it.
Mr.. Coke quoted from Cody on Constitutional
Limitations to show that the national government
could not assume any supervision or police au-
thorlty over the State, and the power proposed to
be given the Commissioner of Agriculture of
dealing with diseased cattle in the Safe of Kan
sas was one wholly and entirely residing in the
authorities of the State. There was no other
view to be taken Of it, unless it 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 common
schools i'll every State in the country
questions of divorce and marriage and other
questions exclusively belonging to the people of
separate States. He wanted to see an admins
tration providing for the cooperation Of the au-
thorities of the State of Kansas so that the rights
IF the people of the State should be preserved.
Mr.. ingalls, was afraid that eventually the Sem
ate would be called upon to make Il large appro-
priation to eXtirpate the foot and mouth disease
from the Democratic party Laughter, for that
party never opened its mouth without putting
its foot in it. Renewed laughter. The doe
trine of State rights and State sovereignty" he
said, dies hard but think it is moribund and
IN the course of time will be buried If any Sen
ator on the opposite side of the chamber can tell
me what power the majority Of Congress cannot
exercise under the Constitution, under the
recent decision of the Supreme Court in the
legal tender cases. | shall be very much