The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-16
Mr.. VESTS AMENDMENT
a SAFE GUARD TO PROTECT
RIGHTS OF STATES.
MR.. SEWELL FEARS FEDERAL ELEMENT
Mr.. Frye Thought It Should be Based on
Basis Of PiIOtage, and Mr.. Vest Said
II Was Measure Of Ma
tional Defense.

Washington, ID. c., March 15.-Aftcr
the passage today of numerous bills
from the general calendar, the Senate
began the consideration of the measure
providing for national system of
qarantine. Little beyond the reading OF
the bill was accomplished. Some desnl-
tory discussion occurred on IN amend
mcnt offered by the committee, but no
progress was made on the general bin.
Among the bills passed were the fol-
lowing:
To authorize the Pensacola, Alabama
and Tennessee Railway Company to
erect bridge across the Alabama river.
in Wilcox county, Alabama; to establish
Il light house at the pitch of Cape Fear
river, near Wilmington. y. c., at a
cost not to exceed $4,000; to extend the
uses of the mail service, the plan being
to adopt the return pOstah card Of the
United States Economic Company.
The National quarantine bill-the un-
finished businesS-was laid before the
Senate and read ut length.
Mr.. Vest. (MisSouri), in charge of the
bill offered the following new para
graph as Il committee amendment:
Nothing in this act shall be construed
to intsrferc with the right Of any
State 10 protect it's citizens from infec-
tious or contagious diseases by snch
rules and regulations rs the authorities
Of said State may deem necessary; and
which 10 NOT conflict with tlle Tulesaisd
.1.as l.. II.
the Treasury, as herein before provided
to 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 Columbia into
another State. Territory or the Dis
trict of Columbia"
Mr.. SewelI. (New Jersey. opposed the
bill on the ground that il put too much
power into the hands of the surgeon
of the Marine Hospital Service. He alsC
regarded it as an interference with the
rights of various States.
Mr. Calfery, HOuisiana), opposed the
position taken by Mr.. Sewell. He held
that IL uniform system in fighting an
epidqmic or plague was absolutely
necessary and that could be had only
through the national government.
In response TO The intimatiOn of Mr.
Sewell that the Southern States were
actuated by meTcenary motives in sup
porting the pending bill, Mr.. Vest sharp
ly pointed ont that the greatest oppOSi
ton TO the bill had come from the
Southern States.
Mr.. Frye. (AIaine), said that the alb
surdity of the present quarantine sys
TEN was well Illustrated at Philadelphia
where vessels after having been in
spected without charge by the Officialr
at the national quarantine station had Il
be sujccted to II further examination by
State officials for which fees were
charged.
We'll, what would you do about the
mattert" inquired Mr.. Sewell
IF | could have my way" replied Mr.
Frye, Il would place the entire subject
of quarantine under the control of the
national government just as pilOtagt
is placed.
Mr.. Vest. replying frther to Mr.. Sc
well, asked whether the United States
government should stand helpless An(
see its people slaughtered. and it's com
merce crippled or destroyed lest the re
served rights Of States might be invaded
or destroyed He maintained that thu
United States had sovereign power tC
act in the matter of quarantine. As {
further argument in favor of Il natiOa
quarantine Mr.. Vest said it had beer
openly charged that during the yellow
fever epidemic of last year the embargo
of Il quarantine had been placed by some
cities against Others purely for CONNER
cial reasons. Under national system
| of quarantine no such unfair advantage
could h2 taken.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Vests re
| marks the quarantine bill was laid aside
| and measure providing that United
States marshas and district attorney:
shOald continue to fill their respective
offices until the appointment and quail
tication Of their successors was passed.
On motion of Mr.. Fairbanks. Undi
anal. the Senate at 3:45 o'clock p. m.
went into executive session.
AT 5:2o o'clock p. m., the Senate ad
iourned.
ELOE COLLEGE NOTES.