The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-08
1HE RnssIlN rHIsrLF.
Secretary prorto- - the Proposal 20 Hsvs
the aoxsrnnent EHtsrrinats IT.

| Nne toVeFnrment EEterwNnnte It
WASHINGTON. Jan.7.-A big box arrived b
freight At the Department OF Agriculture
few days ago and was opersd by the ofhcial
with some curiosity. The box vas about tn
size Of q grand piano and contained a speci
men Of that noxious weed known as the Rus
slan thistle. which at present IL spreading
itself over the Western states at an alarminl
rate. and bliGhting every foot OF ground =
touches This ine exhibit Of n Russian thisti,
in full bloom was sent to Washington e
demonstrate what q proper thing IL would be
for Congress to pass the bill intro
duced by Senator Hansbrough OF North
Dakota, authorizing the Secretary Of ARri-
culture to employ large army OF males and fe
males. adults. and children. at maximum
compensation Of 50 per diem and n minimum
compensation OF 81 per diem. to destroy and
eIterminate the thistle wherever found upon
the highways and cultivated fields. upon
abandoned lands or upon tho public lands. OF
upon railroad or other land grants. and to pre-
vent Its spreading to adjacent States or Terri
tories or communities. According to the
terms OF the bill. agents are to be employed at
n compensation Of So per diem to oversee the
work OF tho less literally paid members OF the
wedding army and the sum OF 81 OOO. 600 is
appropriated. to be Immediately available. for
at once beginning the work OF exterminatinR
the destructive thistles
This remarka Bile bill Is now pending in the
Senate Committee on Agriculture. tho Chair
man OF which is Senator George OF Mississippi l..
who is one of the strictest Constitution con-
structlonists ever sent TO Congress from tho
South. which Is saying good deal The Sena-
tor has not yet expressed an opinion upon the
constitutionality. practicabiity. or necessity
OF tho passage Of Mr. Hansbrough's bill. but
!, H,, La fesxv, h. of
Agriculture. J. Sterling Morton. which shows
that there is ut least one m ember OF President
Clevelands Cabinet who does not believe that
Congress has the power. or the Government
the right, TO spend the money Of the people for
the purpose OF pulling weeds out Of the gardens
OF private citizens and public corporations. Mr..
George short time ago enclosed copy OF the
Hansbrough bill to Secretary Morton. asking
him to give II HE consideration and to furnish
the committee with his opinion OF 1t. and to
forward any INFORMATION he may have upon
the subject OF the Russian thistle and Its work
OF destruction. The Secretary carefully con-
then he went out into the Agricultural Depart.
ment museum. opened the big box, and Razed
at the beautiful specimen Of Russian thistle.
and about four feet in height which had
been forwarded to Washington at considerable
expense to Senator HnDsbrouRh or somebody
else. After rejecting for moment the Secrs-
tary returne cd to his Office and dictated letter
10 the discussion OF the subject OF
the paternal powers OF the Government The
letter Is az follows.
DEPARTMENT o. AcsleulrvHs,
NASniSGIoN D. G.. Jan. =. 1894
The Hon. j. eer-g: C1dp"a" tonmiuss Agr'e@tTs and
sln; Your letter Of the 10th of December 1898 re-.
ana Se%Pss u S.'S
o. the Department Of Asreuliure entitled The Rps
y heat Region q Minns.o,. and south Dakota" This
its modes OF button the area covered by
.hs Rus. an thistle IN Iss? and e.tln... the damage
a y. the Russian s. ,ese es 'srys, and sTss.
on page 70 Of ths bulletin prsnsmed. are especially
Ths issss,oa groGS,sd BY ,hi. bin would be utterly
nlsss the sys.mstie sodpsrnGn Of the eemmSni.ss
threatened re WITH the Russian PEE, or already Invaded
owner. OF land and the railroad corporations, holding
psied ands2 psns.t by the states 20 s1isTmnats
ss g;ssn thistle on their respective domains The
Itself would ,. utterly g1ws,s.. TO s.
operation on the part OF The respective states
In my Judgment NO legislation on the part ot the
Mules %ih which tsi. new diversity threatens ssT
Can consTass contes tSr Uo%ss ot department, o.,
mis- G9yernment % invade the premises q a pfi1ass
- y: Ss.sS1s a de.
n'a states and the
ktiH remhtnh ana " 10 the That
thoroughly the law may be nstered as to
ute but small part OF the infested area the rule be-
n2 that 10 10 only after the sod has been broken and
,ou2hed that the thistle thrives,. its execution
olives the largest expenditure OF money upon private
ands under cultivation anu upon railroad rights Of
way.
Win the owners OF these lands imousy consent
o their Invasion at any and all times and seasons by
VIII land owners and railroads submit TO Federal
at Washington, thousands OF miles away. in
aiding their real property and interfering with its
illaRe'
The successful sxtirpstion OF this thistle depends
pon the virtual connscAtion or AL infested crops
pon the abandonment Of the lands which bear these
rops during the process OF determination
DO you believe that the Federal Government can
sgaiIe the Department OF Agriculture through its
gents TO enter upon private lands for the purposes
10 It the business OF the Government OF the United
tateE TO make appropriations out OF which men.
and boys TO be hired and wages nxed by law
more than IL Is the business OF that Govern TO
rescrbe the manner OF planting ploughing and Guilt
atInR cereals. cotton, and tobacco and limit the
ages to be paid to cultiyAtorsr
hope you will pardon me for having nswsred
nestions to whether the bill transmitted meets
he emergency which appears to exist" by asking a
ew questions Except with the cooperation OF tho |
atsd forced to declare that the bill would bs
nutie, except as bad precedent for pAlcrnAl
lwmaklnE Respectfully yours
J. sTsELIS0 MoRToS. Secretary.
Senator George will lay this interesting let
ar before the committee when il meets to |
onsider the Hansbrough bill.