The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-16

Provisions of Representative Hatch's Meas
ure as Amended by the Committee.
WASHINGTON, March 15.-The House COM
mittee on agriculture to-day instructed Repre-
sentative Hatch to report favorably bill pre-
pared by him amendatory Of the act establish
ing Bureau of Animal Industry, and providing
means for the suppression Of contagious diseases
among cattle. The limit of twenty persons as
the number OF employees to be allowed In the
Bureau of Animal Industry is removed, and the
number is left discretionary with tho Commits
sioner OF Agriculture. The chief amendment to
the bill is in Section g. which relates to the sup
preston Of contagious and infectious diseases.
This section, as amended, is as follows:
Sec. 3. That it shall be the duty of the Commits
sonsr of Agriculture to prepare such rules and
n1ns as he may deem necessary for the speedy and
sectual suppression and extrpaton of said diseases
and TO certify such rules and regulations to the
nsiye authority Of each State and Territory and IN
enforcement Of this act. Whenever the plans aud
methods OF the Commissioners of Agriculture shall be
accepted BY any State or Territory IN which plsuro
municable disease is declared to exist and whenever
tbs Governor of State other properly constituted
authorities signify their readiness to cooperate for
the extinction of any contagious, infectious COM
unicable disease, in conformity with the provisions
of this act the Of Agriculture is hereby
authorized to expend 30 much OF the money appro-
rsted by this act may be necessary IN such inves
Egatons in paying for the animals it is deemed
sary to slaughter. hereinafter provided, and in
such disinfecton and other means of protection as
may be necessary to extirpate the disease. provided
hhat the Commissioner of Agriculture shall cause
special investigations to be made the existence
IF peuro-pneumonis, foot and mouth and rinderpest
sease in any part of the United States whore he may
have to suspect their existence and upon the
discovery of any of THESE diseases, the Commissioner
of Agriculture, with the consent, approval and CO.
operation Oh the Governor or other properly const
tuted authority of the State wherein such disease may
DO found shall the appraisal of the animal or
animals affected with, that have been exposed to-
such DISEASE and under the laws of the State provd
shah cause the same to be DESTROYED and pay the
ownernot TO exceed threefourths of such amount as
s appraisers may determine to have been the value
this purpose provided further that he shall not pay
more than $3.50 for any animal with pedigree record
cd in the herd books of the breed TO which 1t may
belong, nor more than $50 for an animal not ped
greed: and that in shall compensation be al
lowed for any animal slaughtered under the provisions
of tAs act that have contracted or have been ex
posed to such disease In foreign country, nor shall
compensation be allowed to the owner OF an animal
when. by reasonable diligence. he could have pre-
any section OF which contagious or infectious dis
ease exiets which the Commissioner of Agriculture
has declared to be dangerous to the animal indus
tries of the Nation fails to make provisions for its
extirpation to cooperate with the plans of the
Commissioners of Agriculture for the extrpation of
the presentation OF the facts by the Commissioner of
Agriculture shall be authorised 10 declare In quaran
State or Territory he may deem dangerous to the
animal industries Of the country. and to regulate
prohibit the transportation of cattle out OF said State
Territory or district.
The act is amended so as to transfer the duty
Of guarding against these diseases in the District
of Columbia from the District Commissioners to
the Commissioner Of Agriculture. It is further
amended so as to allow q due time to inspection
Columbia, and to punish by fine and imprison-
1nent any person who endeavors to prevent such
inspection, and a similar penalty is fixed for any
person who knowingly conceals the existence of
any such disease on his premises The bill
makes an appropriation of $3.50, 600 to carry it's
provisions into effect