, 1884-03-15
xlvhI CONGRESS.
Senate.

Bowen introduced a bill to reduce the
postage on mailable matter of the
second class. Referred.
Plumb called up the Joint resolution
appropriating s25O,0O0 for the eradica-
tion of the foot and mouth disease.
Plumb said it Yves a very serious disease
and did not affacs The state of Kansas
merely but all states. He sent to the
clerks desk and had read a dispatch
from the Governor Kansas, urging the
Importance of immediate action.
Sherman moved to amend by striking
out the clause which provides that the
money shall be expended in cooperation
with the authorities of Kansas, as the
disease was apt to spread to other states
and affect other animals. The people
Of Illinois and other states were be-
coming alarmed at the spread of the
disease and the appropriation should
not be confined to Kansas.
Cullom thought the amount should
be made $50, 600 and a resolution passed
at once.
Williams thought it would be better
to take up the bill relating to contagi-
Gus diseases, cattle generally, which
had been already introduced in the
senate and so treat the subject as a
whole.
Plumb said he had onlyone objection,
that notice had been given of a pro-
tracted debate to come on the general
bill, and it was to avoid the inevitable
loss and damage which would result
from such delay that, in the face of the
pressing and urgent necessity for i'm
mediate action, he had introduced the
present measure. He had no objection
to the amendment offered by Sherman.
Coke moved an amendment striking
out the word "Kansas'' and inserting
the words with the consent of the
state authorities" 80 as to secure each
state some right 10 exercise its own
Jurisdiction in the matter if they pre-
ferred to do so.
Butler inquired why the governor Of
Kansas could not do something?
Plumb replied he could. but what
sort Of a spectacle would it be for the
governor of a state to establish a
quarantine against the entire commerce
of cattle. Unless a systematic action
Of the general government should be
promptly taken wherever these dis
eased cattle were marketed. there would
be incalculable and unavoidable loss.
The disease was spreading through
many Of the states, and any action of
the states singly would not reach the
evil.
Cullom, speaking for Illinois, said
the people of that state had dealt sue
cessfully with contagious diseases here
tofore but the diseases now raging were
spreading all over the country and in
volved largely the question of inter
state commerce.
He believed If the general govern
ment had taken prompt measures in
the early stages of the epizootic il
would have saved many millions OF
dollars.
Sherman hoped hat the senator from
Kansas( Plumb)would wait a short time
till the pleuro-pneumonia bill should bt
reported from the committee. Thu,
foot and mouth disease had come u
the United States from Europe ant
was an exceedingly serious disease, ant
much more destructive than pleuro
pneumonia and urged the total suspen
sion Of importing cattle for the present
If this is a veritable foot and moutl
disease that had destroyed 80 man!
cattle In Europe and 1t was the most
unfortunate thing that had occurred Il
the cattle interests of this country. l
was a national and not a local question
He thought 1t would be best to wal
until the senate should take up thu
Heterogeneous bill and act prompt.
on that.
! Maxey said the power to appropriate
|; S25, 900 to investigate into the diseas
in Kansas or elsewhere is one thing
! but the power to appropriate money TO
: killing cattle is another thing. Yol
: could not deprive citizens of states o
: their property without due process o
law.
Coke quoted from Cooley on consti
tutional Limitations, to show that th
. national government could not assurn
Q any supervision Of the police authorit
. OF state; and the power to be given t
the commissioners of agriculture G
dealing with the diseased cattle Of tn