Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-24
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

Without any preliminary business the
He use of Representatives today went into
committee of the whole, and resumed con-
sideration of the sundry civil appropria ton
bill.
Mr.. Sayers CTex) criticised the item in
the bill placing only the unexpended cpl
demic funds of past years at the disposal
of the quarantine service. He thought
$2oO,OOO additional should be appropriated.
MIR. Cannon said that the largest amount
expended in a previous year was s2S7.O(U
in 1894. Last year but $134, 900 was spent.
February l. 1888, there was an unexpended
balance of $4,000. In his opinion that
was sufficient.
MIR. Bailey CTex) declared his belief that
the matter of quarantine regulations should
be left to the states. He was opposed to
not only the additional appropriation pro-
posed py his colleague, but to the use of
the unexpended balance provided for in the
bill.
Mr.. Sayers pointed out that in the event
of recurrence Of the yellow fever cpl
demic this summer after Congress adj
journs. $34O.OOO might not be sufficient to
cope with 1t. He said he did not want to
be held responsible for the failure of funds
at the disposal of the President in the
event of an epidemic.
The discussion soon drifted into the ad-
quarantine law.
Mr.. Carmack CTenn.) advocated such a
law He said forty-five different systems
in as many different states created chaos.
Mr. Williams (Miss.) thought 1t unfortu-
nate that this great question of national
quarantine had been precfpitated In con-
nection with this appropriation The people
of his state and the board of health of his
state believed the United States should
have exclusive jurisdiction of maritime
and coastwise quarantine and were willing
to give the federal authorities exclusive
and paramount control. But once an cpl
demic got foothold inside the state he
insisted that the state should control.
He said the Hepburn bill was not salts
factory.
Mr.. Underwood opposed exclusive con-
troll by the federal government.
Mr. Bailey moved to strike out the words
''or otherwise" in the clause empowering
the President to expend the appropriation
Gin aid of state and local boards or other
wise" These words. he said. would give
the money to the marine hospital service.
Mr.. Sayers moved to increase the ap-
preparation $4,000.
Mr. Love (Miss) advocated both amend
ments. The additional appropriation. he
said would be absolutely necessary If there
should be a renewal of the yellow fever
epidemic in the south this year.
The following proviso was ruled out on
point Of order raised by Chairman Lacey
of the public lands committee that 1t was
new legislation:
That hereafter no public moneys shall
be expended for the survey Of any portion
Of the public domain embraced within any
forest reserve of the United States except
for such surveys as may be necessary to
designate the exterior boundaries of such
reserves. and of such lands within said re-
serves as may be embraced within or COW
cred by legal claims initiated prior to the
date of the proclamation of reservation"
Mr.. Smith (Ariz.) offered an amendment
appropriating 5000 for the geological sur
vey of Yuma county, Arix. He said 1t was
important that this county should be sur
veyed. 1t contained. he declared, as much
gold to the square mile as the Klondike.
and yet had attracted little attention.
The amendment was ruled out on point
Of order.