The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-03
CONGRESS AND THE FEVER
THE PROPOSITION MADE BY SENA-
TOR GALL YESTERDAY.
It Provokes a Spirited Discussion In
Which Senator Blair Figures as Usual
The Subject Also Pobs Up in the
Lower House.


WASHINGTON, Oct. 2.--[Senate. 1.-The
resolution offered by Mr.. Call on Septem-
ter q, insructing the committee on cpl
demic diseases TO consider and report be-
fore the adjournment OF this session addi
tional legislation to prevent the importa-
ton OF contagious or infectious diseases
from foreign countries on the coasts and
boundaries OF the United States, was taken
up, and Mr. Call spoke on it.
Mr.. Pascoe offered an amendment, di-
recting the committee to inquire further
into the introduction Of yellow fever into
Florida and other States during the pres
ent year.
In the course of his remarks Mr.. Call
read letter from Dr. Reed suggesting
spirits of ammonia rs method of cure and
prevention, and recommending that some
action bo taken to test that method
Mr.. Blar-llas the senator some prac
teal proposition TO make so as to bring
things TO focus?
Mr.. Call have introduced Joint res
olution asking the President OF the United
States to convene the academy OF sci
| cnces---
Mr.. Blair-What is the object OF conven-
| ing the academy of sciences?
Mr.. Call - And such other learned
men
Mr.. Blair--Learned men have worked
Tor ages on this business and have found
out nothing.
Mr.. Call don't know any better plan
than TO convene men OF the greatest in
tclligence and ask them TO adopt the
proper method OF investigation and follow
1t up in the most earnest and approved
method.
Mr.. Blair-lIow would it do to appoint
q committee of the Senate and let that
committee summon experts? ! never
knew an academy Of science 10 do any
thing yet
Mr.. Call differ with my friend on
that; would have such mcnas Prof. Hux-
ley, OF England, and the late Mr.. Proctor
Mr.. Blair-Thesc are not citizens OF the
United States. How could the President
convene thcm2
Mr. Call--lIe could only request them
to attend.
Mr.. Blair know u doctor in New
Hampshire who would find out more about
II than all Of them. You might summon
him before the Senate committee
Mr.. Call have no objection. | have
no doubt that lac is a very learned man,
but learning Is not confined TO any partcu.
lar limits. | acknowledge that there are
great men in New Hampshire, but there
are also some great men elsewhere, and
let MS have as many as We can get.
Mr.. Blair-Suppose that a specific for
yellow fever be discovered and that the
use OF that specific would interfere with
the doctrine OF States rights, how would
II be then?
MIR. Call-We will attend to that ques-
ton when II arises. never knew State
rights to interfere with good legislation.
Mr.. Blair-Ihe trouble is that Florida
furnishes the yellow fever and we are ex.
pectcd TO furnish the remedy.
The discussion was continued by Sen.
ators Call, BlaIr, Pascoe, Chandler aud
Berry. Ia the course OF II, Mr.. Chandler
resented what he called an implication on
the common epidemic diseases conveyed
in Mr.. Calls remarks. That committee,
Mr.. Chandler said, had shown a disposi.
ton 10 do everything that needed TO be
done and TO give all the time necessary 10
the consideration Of the subject. What
fault, ho asked, had the senator from
Florida 10 find with the committcc2
Mr.. Call have not found fault with
the committee. The senator from New
Hampshire is M fond OF fighting Windmill.
% Don Quixole was. lie sees things in
the air, spccters trouble bis imagination
Mr.. Morgan said that he had n PROPOSE
ton TO suggest which had recommended
itself 30 his mind from several years OBJ.
scryation 81 the trouble. There WIS q
great difficulty in tho United States gov,
eminent assuming 20 enforce quarantine
laws In the States. Tho city Of New York,
for instance, would never consent to hay,
Federal commission 20 there and
take charge OF such an epidemic q,
smallpox, cholera or yellow fever
There were eight states in IN,
south which had been heretofore subjected
10 the rayages Of yellow fever His prop.
; ostion was that each Of those States should
vote $4,000, making u fund of $500, 600,
! that the Governor Of each OF those State,
should appoint commissioner; that thai
board should elect president and form
. Joint commission composed 81 men solcc
tel for their reliability and skill and thai
! this commission should have access TO th,
fund, and 10 use any part OF IL wherever
! the yellow fever might appear. Their,
should he no difficulty, he said. in Con,
, grcs,, by virtue OF It's interests In th,
mails, Interstate commerce aud interna.
, tional commerce, voting a subyention q
, that commission.
After further discussion the resolution
and amendment were referred 70 the com.
mittcc ON epidemic diseases
, The conference report on the general de-
ficicncy bill was submitted, but tho Senate
insisted ON It's amendments.
The conference report ON the Joint reso.
: luton In aid OF the sufferers FROM yellow
icycr, was presented and agreed 10 after
some explanations by Mr.. Edmunds.
The House conicrccs insisted, he sad
} that the House would not agree TO the M,
} Of the phrase adopted in the Joint rcsolu
ton In direct aid 81 the sufferers ON the
! ground that " was beyond the cons,itu
tionnl authority Of Congress 30 do q thing
Of that kind, ~ particularly illuminated
aud set 10th in message from the Prcsi.
dent yctoing hill for the distribution o
, seeds la certain counties In Texas. And
-, In order 10 accommodate the soliciludC
Of the House, the conference committed
had agreed 10 paraphmsc which meant
precisely the same thing
Tho Senate conicrces thought they had
accomplished the end without woundius
the constitutional Scnsibility Of anybody
~ the House of Representative.
WASHINGTON, Oct 2.-On motion OF Mr.
Turner, Of Georgia, Mr. McCrcary, Of Ken.
lucky was elected speaker, pro tenn, "a