The record-union., 1898-04-22

During the special session of Congress
last summer a bill to regulate the i'm
portation of trees and plants from
foreign countries was introduced in the
Senate by the Hon. Stephen M. Whlte
of this State. This bill, with the eX-
ception of the clause relating to inter-
state regulations, was probably as near
what should be drafted as we could ex-
pect upon the first passage OF national
legislation The State Convention OF
Fruit Growers, at their sacramento
meeting, held last November, indorsed
this bill by adopting a resolution-With-
out a dissenting vote-faVoring the
passage of such a law. l was very
much surprised to see in the papers
q copy of an entirely different bill that
had been introduced in the House or
Representatives by the Hon. c. A Bar
low of this State on January 18th last.
AS the Sacramento Endorsement was
of the Senate bill, 1 deemed it my duty
TO publicly criticise through the press
the House bill, so that there would be
no misunderstanding regarding the res
olution favoring national quarantine.
These printed letters have sent TO our
representatives in the Senate and
House, also to others who are inter-
ested in this work. Several of the lat
ter have written to me stating that it
was a surprise to them to learn that
there was another bill presented, as
they had been supporting what they
considered was the only bill before
Congress.
The Senate bill was the result Of a
national convention Of horticulturists
held in Washington, D. c., on March
9th and 9th of last year, and called for
the inspection and disinfection of all
plants entering the United States, such
inspection to be performed at the port
of entry and in a manner prescribed by
the Secretary of Agriculture, the dis
infection to be done at the expense Of
the importer This is similar to the
regulations of our State Board Of Hor-
3iculture; but this method did not Gp-
pear to be acceptable to the nursery
men and tree importers, for at their
annual convention held in st. Louis in
June last they evidently were alarmed
at the possibility of the Senate bill be-
coming a law, so they also drafted a
bill and selected a Committee on Legis-
lation. But the special session of
Congress closed, so no action was taken.
A conference was agreed to by both the
Washington and the St. Louis commit
tees, which resulted in the formation
of a joint committee and the produc-
tion Of H. r. bill 1894.
This is evidently a compromise meas
ure, and is not claimed by the commit
tee to be perfect My experience in
quarantine work convinces me that the
tree importers have scored a decided
victory in blocking the passage of the
Senate bill and having this one sub
stituted. This bill provides that 1t
shall be unlawful for any transporta-
ton company, after October 1, 1898, to
offer for entry at any port in the
United States any trees, plants, shrubs,
etc, commonly known as nursery stock,
unless accompanied by a certificate Of
inspection by a Government official of
the Government from which the expor-
tation was made, which certificate shall
be made in the manner and form pre-
scribed by the Secretary Of Agriculture,
certifying that the contents have been
examined and found apparently free
from all insect and fungus diseases
dangerously injurious to nursery stock.
I'm case any nursery goods are Of
fered for entry without said certif-
cate it shall be the duty Of the Col
lector to refuse to accept them for en-
try, and shall not allow them to pass
within the jurisdiction Of the United
States And after the aforesaid date,
October l, 1898, all nursery stock i'm
ported in accordance with the afore-
said regulations shall be free from all
inspection, quarantine or restrictions
in interstate commerce"
There can be no question as to the in
tent Of such language. The bill clearly
states that the inspection must be done
by foreigner and if accompanied by
his certificate it can enter the United