The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-03-18
QUARANTINE BILL.
The Senate Considers HI. Vests
Measure for a National System
Afterthe Post once BIN II 0st OF the way
the Maine Victims I'm wa Re Coa-
sidcred In the Houss-Eaay
Adiournmene.

WASHINGTON. March t6--The depEor-
able death Of Mrs. Thurston, the wife
OF the junior senator from Nebraslza.
John II. Thurston, was made the s8b-
jet of touching reference by the blind
chaplain in his invocation at the open
ing Of the session OF the senate yester-
day. Upon the motion Of Senator
Allen, Senator Thurston's colleague
from Nebraska, the prayer was or
dered printed in the Record.
Among the bills passed was one Tor
the relief Of the Catholic church at
Macon City, BIO, which was occupied
by the federal troops during the civil
war. After the passage of numerous
other bills from the general calendar,
the senate began the consideration Of
the measure providing for a national
system OF quarantine. Little beyond
the reading of the bill was accom-
plished- Senator Vest, Of Missouri, in
charge Of the bin, offered the follow
ing new paragraph as a committee
amendment.
Nothing In this act shall be construed TO in
terfere with the right OF any state 20 protect
its citizens from infectious or contagious
diseases By such rules ana regulations as the
authorities Of said state may deem necessary,
and which DO not conflict with the rules and
regulations made by the secretary Of the treas
ury, as hereinbefore provided 70 prevent the
Introduction OF infectious or contagious
diseases into the United States from foreign
countries, or the spread OF such diseases from
one state territory or the District Of Coluu-
bia. into another state, territory OF the Dis
trict Of Columbia
Senator Sewell, of New Jersey, OPP
posed the bill, maintaining that it
placed too much power in the hands Of
one mantle surgeon OF the marine
hospital service.
Senator Vest, replying further to Sem
ator Sewen, asked whether the United
States government should stand help
less and see its people slaughtered and
its commerce crippled or destroyed
lest the reserved rights of states might
be invaded or destroyed. He main
tanned that the United States had SOW
ereign power to act in the matter Of
quarantine. As a further argument in
favor Of a national quarantine, Sena-
tor Vest said It had been openly
charged that during the yellow fever
epidemic OF last year the embargo Of a
quarantine had been placed by some
cities against others purely for com
mercial reasons Under a national
system Of quarantine no such unfair
advantages could be taken.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Vests re-
marks the quarantine bill was laid
aside and the senate shortl went in
to executive session, the nomination
Of T. Y. Powderly, to be commissioner
of immigration, which was adversely
reported, being considered. The noml-
nation was not disposed Of, and the eff
fort to secure confirmation will be re-
s1med to-day
THE HOUSE
WASHINGTON, March 16.-The house
agreed yesterday to consider the bill
for the relief of the legal heirs Of the
victims and survivors Of the Maine dis
aster as soon as the post Office apprO-
priatiOn bill, which was taken up in
the house, Is out Of the way During
the general debate on the post Office
bill, members eagerly took advantage
Of the latitude allowed in committee
OF the whole on the state Of the union
to discuss various political questions
and the debate accordingly covered q
wide range. Messrs. Griggs, democrat,
Of Georgia, and Walker, republican, of
Massachusetts, discussed the eondi-
tons Of the cotton industry. and Mr..
Tawney, repu blican, Of Minnesota, 3
member Of the ways and means com
mittee, replied to the speech OF Mr..
johnson, republican, Of Indiana, made
some time ago against the advisability
Of annexing the Hawaiian islands
WORKING FOR EARLY ADJOURNMENT.
WASHINGTON. March 16--The repub-
Hean leaders in the house are pressing
for an early adjournment and it IS said
that their course meets the full ap-
provaI Of the president. All save three
Of the appropriation bills have gone to
the senate. The post Office bill was
taken up in the house yesterday
and the appropriations and navy
committees are working daily 20
get the last two bills, the gen
eral deficiency and naval, into
the house. The action Of the appro-
priations committee in preparing the
general deficiency bill at this time Is the
best evidence OF the intention Of the
leaders TO secure an early adjourn
ment This bill is always held back
until the last, as It contains all the
odds and ends, and usually IS not re-
ported until a more or less definite m
Outstanding as to final adjournment
has been reached May / has been
fixed by several prominent house re-
pubIicansa as the date beyond which the
session probably will not be prolonged.
The democrats Of the house generally
favor an early adjournment. although
there IS not unanimity among them on
this point Neither is there complete
hsrmony on the republican side Of the
house as to an early ad5Ourumsnt-
Many Of the republicans believe that
congress should remain in session M
81 the Cuban question IS finally ard
efeetualIy cleared mp but they would
hardly 60 TO the extent q opposing
the wishes Of the leaders and the ad-
ministration-
Wfu Bs Transported Free
49, 2