The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-14
CATTLE DISEASES.
Text of the Bill on the Subject, Prepared
and Endorsed by the Cattle Men.

cattle men appointed to prepare q bill for the
suppression and eXtirpation of pleuro pneumonia
and other contagious diseases in domestic ami
mails, has completed the proposed measure, and
it was submitted to the entire committee of cat
tie men appointed at the recent Chicago conven-
ton. The proposed legislation on the subject
and the accepted bill will be given to the House
committee on agriculture on Monday. 1t is as
follows:
A bill for the establishment of a Bureau Of Ami
NAL Industry for the suppression and eXtlrpa-
ton of pleurO pneumonia and other contagious
diseases in domestic animals.
Section l. The Commissioner of Agriculture
shall organize in his department a Bureau of
Animal industry, and appoint as chief a com
petent veterinary surgeon whose duty it shall be
to investigate and report the number, value, and
condition Of domestic animals Ill the United
States, their protection and use. and also inquire
into and report on the causes of contagious and
communicable diseases among them and the
means of prevention and cure of the same, and
collect such other information on these subjects
as shall be valuable to the agricultural and com
mercial interests of the country. The salary of
the chief the bureau shall be the same as other
chiefs of divisions of said department. The
Commissioner is also authorized to appoint a
clerk for said bureau, at a salary Of 81, 800 per
annum.
See. 2. The Commissioners of Agriculture is
authorized to appoint three competent agents,
who shall be practical Stock-raiSerS or expert
eneed business men familiar with questions per
tanning to commercial transactions in live stock,
and whose duty shall be, under the instructions
of the Commissioner of Agriculture, to examine
and report the best method for treating, trans
porting and caring for animals, the means to be
adopted for the suppression and extinction of the
contagiOn of pleuro-%p Pneumonia, and provide
against the spread of other contagious diseases;
the compensation of the agentsto be $40 perdieln,
and all necessary expenses while engaged i'll the
mediterranean n %lafu 1r,tryy ,V,1a.. 4la ant
Sec. 3. In order to promote the expectation
of live stock from the United States the Com
missioner of Agriculture shall make a special
investigation as to the existence of contagious
pleJro pneumonia or any contagious diseases
along the dividing line between the United
States and foreign countries, and along lines Of
transportation in all parts of the United States
to ports from which live stock are exported, and
make a report of the result of the investigation
to the Secretary of the Treasury, who shall es-
tablish sue h regulations concerning the eXporta-
ton and transportation of live stock as the re-
suits Of said Investigation may require.
Sec, i. That to prevent the expectation
from any port of the United States to any port
in a foreign country of live stock affected with
an infectious or contagious disease, especially
pleurio~- pneumonia, the Secretary of the Treas
ury be authorized to adopt such measures not
inconsistent with the provisions of this act as he
may deem necessary,
Sec. 5. That it shall be the duty of the Com
missioner OF Agriculture TO prepare such rules
and regulations as he shall deem necessary for
the speedy and effectual suppression and eXtlTpa-
ton of contagious pleuro pneumonia, and certify
such rules and regulations to the executive
authority of each State and Territory, and invite
said authorities to cooperate in the execution
and enforcement of the provisions OF tins act
Whenever the plans and methods of the Com
missioner of Agriculture be accepted by any
Stat in which pleuropneumonia or other in
fictitious contagious diseases are declared to eX-
list, and whenever a Governor of Il State or
other ppOuprlV POnSt1tT cod 9nthpr1tIoS SIgIlifV
their readiness to cooperate for the extinction
of any contagious or infectious disease, the Com
missioner of Agriculture is authorized to spend
as much of the appropriation as necessary in an
investigation of the facts as to the disease, in
paying for the animals it is deemed necessary to
slaughter and for such disinfection and other
means necessary to stamp out the disease; and
whenever a State, in any section in which a con
tagiouS disease exists which the Commissioned of
Agriculture has declared dangerous to the ami
NAL industries, failsto make provision for its eX-
tinction or cooperate with the plans of the Com
missioner of Agriculture for the extinction of
the disease, the President of the United States,
on presentation Of the facts by the Commissioner
of Agriculture, shall be authorized to declare
said State, or such part of said State as is dan
gerops to the animal interest of the country, in
quarantine. and prohibit the expectation of cat
tie out of said State or district
Sec. &. Provides for the ~effectual stamping out
of disease in the District of Columbia.
Sec Z. That no railroad company within the
Ollltu CIdltS NHOSt IOdQ lOIluS any pdtb vi a
line of road from any State or Territory to an
other, or the owners or masters of any steam,
sailing or other vessel, shall receive for transpor-
tation or transport from any State or Territory
to another any live cattle affected with any con
.agious or infectious disease, and especially the
disease known as contagious pleuro- pneumonia
or lung plague. Nor shall any person, or com
pany or corporation deliver for such Transports
ton to any railroad company, master or owner
Of any vessel any live cattle knowing them to be
affected with any contagious or infectious dis
ease, nor shall any person, company or corpora
ton drive on foot or transport i'll private convey
ance from one State or Territory to another any
cattle knowing them to be affected with any con-
tagiOus or infectious disease, especially contagi
gious pleuro-pneumonia or lung plague.
Sec. 8. 1t shall be the duty of the Commits
sioner of Agriculture to notify the proper officials
or agents of any railroad and steamboat or navi-
CATION company doing business in any infected
locality of the existence of said contagion, and
the person or persons operating such railroad, or
master or owner of any vessel, or owner, or Gus
tOdian, or person having control of such cattle or
live stock within the infected districts who shall
knowingly violate the provisions of section I Of
this act shall be guilty of a misdemeanOr. and.
upon conviction, punished by a fine of not less
than 81 900. nor more than S., 900, or iInprison-
ment not more than one year, or both fine and
Imprisonment: and if any such railroad. steam
boat, or Transportation company shall. after
having received such notice, violate the proVis-
sions of this act, such action will be prima facie
evidence of wlllful disregard of the provisions of
this act.
See. 9. That it shall be the duty of the several
United States District Attorneys to prosecute all
violations of the act brought to their notice by
amy person making complaint, and the same
shall be heard by any District or Circuit Court Of
the United States holden within the district in
which the violation of the act is committed or
the person or corporation resides or cdrries ON or
has a place of business.
Sec. 10. That the sum of 100000, or so much
thereof as is necessary, b, appropriated to carry
into effect the provisions 0f this act.
Sec. II. This act to take effect and be in force
from and after its passage.
Representative Wilson, of Iowa, exhibited at
the Capitol today the lungs of three head of cat
tie intended for the Washington market, and
slaughtered to-day. One showed early stages of