Evening star., 1894-04-05
The RUSSIAN THISTLE
1t Occupied a Good Deal of the Sen
ate's Attention.
ITS BANEfUL INFLUENCES SHOWN
A Little CoIIoquy as to Constitu-
tional Construction.
AN EXECUTIVE SESSION

In the Senate this morning Mr.. Hill of
New York gave notice that at o'clock
next Monday he would submit few re-
marks on the pending tariff bill. Mr.. Hills
position on the tariff has been an interest
ing question and his speech will be looked
forward to with some interest.
To Reduce Salaries.
Some amusement was created bv IN. in
PRODUCTION of the following remarka bIe reso-
luton by Mr.. George of Mississippi. Re
solved, that in view Of the present depress-
ed financial condition Of the people, the low
price OF agricultural and other products
the Indebtedness of the people and the in
creased value of money, the committee on
the judiciary be directed to prepare a bill
to reduce by 20 per cent all official incomes
not protected by the statutes of the United
States" The resolution was referred in sc-
cordance with its terms, while some of the
senators indulged in good natured badi-
mage at the expense of Mr. George Senator
Gray remarking sotto voce that 1t was
worse than an income tax.
The Russian Thistle Bill.
At the request of Senator Hansbrough of
North Dakota the Senate took up the bill
appropriating million dollars for the de-
suuctlon OF the Russian thistle or Russian
cactus, weed found in many of the north
"CStCAH SldleS. senator Mills OF Texas
spoke in opposition to 1t, basing his obiec-
ton upon the spreading tendency towards
paternalism in government; and as a dis
ctple of Thomas Jefferson he opposed any
thing looking toward the direction pri-
vate affairs from the central governn nt at
Washington. He had recently received a.
pamphlet advocating that all state bounda-
r1es should be eradicated and that Congress
should iegislate for all the states as is now
done by the various state legislatures. This
simply showed the tendency of the times
and he was opposed to anything tending in
that direction. If the Russian thistle made
Its appearance in the District of Columbia
1t would be the duty Of Congress- under the
Constitution, to take action to suppress it,
but outside Of the District Congress could
not go.
Mr.. Kyle Is. d. followed In support of the
bill He proposed an amendment providing
that the sum appropriated should be divided
pro rata among the states where the thistle
Is found according to the estimated cost of
exterminating 1t, and that If any part of
the appropriation should remain unexpended
after the destruction of as much of the
weed as possible it should be divided pro
rata among the states interested for the
purpose of preventing its return.
Mr.. Allen CNeb) supported the bill and
called attention to the fact that the weed
was not Indigenous. but had gained a foot
hold here under the laws of the nation-the
immigration laws.
should BE Exterminated.
Senator George (NIiss.) said he had given
some attention to this question of late and
had come to the conclusion that this weed
was q pest which should be exterminated
even though it was claimed by some that 1t
was valuable as pasturage, but the nature
of the thistle was such that no man could
exterminate 1t on his land If his neighbor
refused to do the same on his. He asserted,
however, that some change would have to
ha 1a6a in he 70 poal afin for
the government had no right to enter on
any mans lands without his consent and
cut up or plow up this weed. He suggested,
therefore, that the sum of 81 900 600 should
be appropriated directly to the states af-
fected and allow them to do the work. He
accordingly supported the amendment Of
Senator Kyle.
Senator Harris expressed some surprise
that the Senator from Mississippi CMr
George) should give voice to such urdem-
ocratic theories as that the general govern
ment should interfere with the state gov
ernments.
"I am not making the speech to make it
plausible to the Senator from Tennessee"
replied Mr.. George. "I know what his views
are; / know that they are not in accord
with the Constitution" Oaughter)
Il am very glad to have that oracular an
nouncement," replied Mr.. Harris, delber-
ately. as he left the chamber. Let it go
on record"
whether It Is oracular or not, 1t is true"
was the retort of Mr.. George.
Time for Tariff Talk.
At o'clock the tariff bill was laid before
the Senate as the unfinished business and
the Russian thistle bill went over without
action.
Mr.. PETER Kan.) was recognized, but
Mr.. Call asked the Senator to yield for a
motion to go into executive session, which
Mr.. PETER agreed to do on condition that
1t did not last too long and that he should
be entitled to the floor when the Senate
resumed its open sessions.
Mr.. Harris, however, who had asked
Mr. PETER not TO yield, as he did not wish
the tariff bill interfered with, objected to
the motion of Mr.. Call and demanded the
yeas and nays.
An Executive Session.
The roll was called and the motion pre-
vailed-91-19-and. at POS pm, the Senate
went into executive session.