The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-12-07

made by the secretary that the disease no
longer existed anywhere within the United
States. He is entirely satisfied after the
most searching enquiry that the statement
was justified and that by continuance OF
the inspection and quarantine now required
of cattle brought into this country the
disease can be prevented from again gettin
any foothold. The value to the cattle in
dustry of the United States of this
achievement can hardly be estimated
We cannot, perhaps, at once insist chat this
evidence shall be accepted as satisfactory by
other countries, but if the present exemption
| from the disease is maintained and the in
spection of our cattle arriving at foreign
| ports, in which our veterinarians participate,
confirms it, we may justly expect that the
requirement that our cattle shall be slaugh-
| tered at the docks will be revoked, as the
sanitary restrictions upon our pork pro-
| ducts have been. IF our cattle can be TAX
en- alive to the interior the trade will be
| enormously increased.
| Agricultural products constituted 1871 per
cent of our unprecedented exports for the
| fiscal year, which closed Juue 80, 1892, the
total exports being 81, 030, 27S,030, and the
| value of the agricultural products $795,7l7,-
676, which exceeds by more than $l50,0OO,-
600 the shipment of agricultural products
of any previous year.
| An interesting work for the benefit of the
American farmer has been begun through
| agents of the agricultural department in
| Europe and consists in efforts to introduce
| the various products Of Indian corn as
articles of human food. The high price of
| rye offers a favorable opportunity for the
experiment in Germany of combining corn
meal with rye to produce cheaper bread.
| fair degree Of success has been attained and
some mills for grinding corn for food have
| been introduced.
| The secretary is Of the opinion that this
new use of the products of corn has
already stimulated expectations and that If
diligently prosecuted large and important
markets can presently be opened for TINS
great American product. The suggestions
of the secretary for an enlargement OF the
works of the department are commended to
your favorable consideration. 1t may,
| think, be said without challenge, that in no
corresponding period has SO much been done
| as during the last four years for the benefit
Of American agriculture.
The Threatening Cholera.
The subject of quarantine regulations, in
spection and control was brought sudden
ly to my attention by the arrival at our
ports in August last, of a vessel infected
with cholera Quarantine regulations should
be uniform at all our ports. Under the
constitution they are plainly within the
exclusive federal jurisdiction when and SO
far as Congress shall legislate. In my opin-
ion the whole subject should be taken into
national control, and adequate power
given to the executive to pro-
tect our people against plague invasions.
On the LIST of September last I approved
regulations establishing twenty day quar-
antine for all vessels bringing immigrants
from foreign ports. This order will be con-
tinued in force Some loss and suffering has
resulted by passengers, but due care for
the homes our people justifes in such cases
the utmost precaution. There Is danger
that with the coming of spring, cholera will
again appear, and a liberal appropriation
should be made at this session to enable our
quarantine and port officers to ex-
clude the deadly plague. But
the most careful and stringent quarantine
regulations may not be sufficient abso-
luteIy to exclude the disease. The pro-
gress of medical and sanitary science has
tons are taken at once to put all our cities
and towns in the best sanitary condition.
and provision is made for isolating and spo-
radio cases and for thorough disinfection.
The epidemic can, I am sure be avoided.
This work appertains to the local authori-
ties and the responsibility and the penalty
will be appalling if it is neglected or un-
duly delayed.
/ Restrict Immigration.
We are peculiarly subject in our great
ports to the spread of infectious diseases by
reason of the fact that unrestricted immi-
grafton brings to us out of European cities
| in the overcrowded steerages of great steam
ships, large number of persons whose sur
roundings make them the easy victims of
the plague. This consideraui on as well as
those affecting the political, moral, and
industrial interests of our country lead me
to renew the suggestion that admission to our
country and to the high privileges of its cit
izenship should be more restricted and more
careful-we have, I think a right and owe a
duty to our own property, and especially to
our working people,not only to keep out the
vicious, the ignorant, the civil disturber, the
pauper and the contract laborer but to check
the too great flow of immigration now coming
| by further limitations.
| The Big Fair.
The report of the Worlds Fair Column
bian exposition has not yet been submitted.
That of the board of management of the gov
eminent exhibit is submitted. The
work of construction and prepara-
ton for the opening of the
Exposition in May next has progressed most
satisfactory and upon scale of liberality
and magnifcence that will worthily sustain
the honor of the United States.
Liquor in the District.
The District of Columbia is left by de-
cision of the supreme court of the district.
without any law regulating the liquor traf-
fic. An old statute of the legislature of the
district, relating to the licensing of various
vocations has hitherto been treated by the
commissioners as giving them power to
grant or refuse licenses to sell Intoxicating
liquors and as subjecting those who sold
without license to penalties, but in
May last the supreme court of the
district held against this view of the powers
t. =. u