St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-18

eases among cattle could not be ext1rpated
by the action of separate states, with stock
constantly moving from one state to another,
hence the action of the national government
was in this case necessary. No interest of
| the country was of greater importance than
agriculture The total value of
cattle, sheep, horses and hogs in
this country amounted to the enormous
sum of two and half billions of dollars,
and the United States government would be
most derelict in duty, if it did not intervene
to protect so large and widespread an inter
| est. An entirely different state of affairs ex
| listed now from what existed years ago. We
had 1900 miles of railroad constantly
| carrying cattle about the country. We had
| thirty-six states and nine or ten territories,
| each acting for itself, one acting perhaps to-
| day and another tomorrow, or next month,
| and meanwhile the property of the country
| is being destroyed. If this disease should
overspread the country, how could states act
| ing separately cope with ita Illinois was not
here asking anything. But look
at Chicago, to which almost all cattle
of the country come, on their way from west
| to east. He submitted to those opposing
this appropriation, whether one state had the
constitutional right to stop trains thatformed
part OF the interstate commerce OF the coun-
try. He inquired whether we were not here
splitting hairs while the property of the coun-
try was going to destruction. He wanted the
United States government to throttle these
diseases at once, or it may have a great deal
more to do later. The disease was spreading
and if prompt measures are taken, it could
be gotten rid of, and it then will be the duty
of congress to take precautions against the
importation of these diseases. If measures
| al
it could be stamped out at a slight
expense, and if not, it might hereafter take
many millions of dollars to do it. Referring
to remarks of Pendleton as to state rights,
Garland said, he, too, was states rghtsman,
but the views taken by the opponents of the
present measure would establish a condition
of governmental constipation, and bind up
the constitution too closely Senator Plumb
said there could be no umbilical cord con-
Meeting the disease in different states. The
difficulty here was one, great spread of
the disease all over this enormous region
of country. There was no dangerous
power given the commissioners of agucI,~
ture, and as to the fear that further expense
would be incurred he, Plumb, would pro-
pose an amendment providing that the gen.
eral government should not be responsible
for anything beyond the appropriation. There
was great danger that if something is not
promptly done, we should find American
meat excluded, not merely from the coun-
tries from which it has been heretofore eX
Guided, but from all countries in the world.
Senator Harris expressed his conviction
that the senate had no constitutional power
or right to undertake the work contemplated
by the measure under consideration, and
therefore pressed his motion to indefinitely
postpone. A vote being taken on Harris
motion, it was rejected by yeas 10, nays 80
The question recurring on Horr's motion
to postpone until Friday. that gentleman
withdrew his motion.
Senator Sherman thought the senate was
wasting time considering this measure, be-
cause it will not come up to the necessities of
the case. The foot and mouth disease VISA
much less dangerous or fatal than pleuro-
pneumonia and this resolution did not pro-
vide for dealing with that. Sherman was in
favor of a much stronger measure.
Senator Plumb said there was no probable
ity that the pleuro-pneumonia bill would be-
come law for two or three weeks, and posi-
bly, might not become law at all, and moved
an amendment to add the words $50 as
to prevent the spread of satd disease to other
! states or territories which amendment was
| accepted by Plumb.
Senator Vest said he did not believe con-
gress had any constitutional right to appro-
pirate money, except for the purpose indicat-
| ed in the amendment.
| Senator Plumb then moved to increase the
amount appropriated by resolution from
S25, 900 to $50, 600; agreed to.
Senator Bayard moved an amendment
stating the object of the appropriation to be
} to obtain and disseminate information rcla-
tive to the treatment, cure and prevention of
diseases.
Senator Bayard said he had no objection to
the appropriation of money for such pur-
pose. Bayard's amendmendment was
agreed to.
Senator Plumb then moved an amend
ment, which was agreed to, adding proyi-
| so, that no action of the commissioner Of
agriculture, under the joint resolution, should
commit the government beyond the amount
therein appropriated. The joint resolution
then passed, yeas, 90; nays, H. AS passed
it appropriates $4,000 to be used by the
commissioner of agriculture, with the CO. OPP
Grafton of the authorities of the states in
which it may be used, for stamping out the
| foot and mouth disease. The government
will not be committed beyond the amount
| named.
Senator Williams presented the creden-
tials of the election of j. G.. S. Blackburne to
be senator from Kentucky, for the term be-
ginning March 4, 1884
A bill extending the term of the court of
Alabama claims until December, 1884,
passed. Adjourned.