The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-23
DEBATED IN THE SENATE
ABLE DEFENSE OF
THE PROF OSED MEASURE.
STATE QUARANTINE IS A FAILURE
Bill to Provide Civil Government for Alaska
The Credentials of Marcus A. Hanna,
as Senator from Ohio, Were
Read and Filed.

Washington. ID. c., March GA fea-
ture of the Senate proceedings to-day
was an extended speech by Mr.. CAT
fiery louisiana in support of the pend
ing national quarantine bill. In the
course of his argument Mr.. Caffery said
THAT he wanted the whole quarantine
power in the hands of the United States
government, the only authority which
could make a quarantine effective. and
he added that he was as StaunCh :.
States rights advocate as any man.
I'VE want" said he, "a central quaran-
time authority upon which responsibility
may rest We want uniformity of action
in this matter of quarantine regulations
backed by such financial and legal pow.
er as will enable THE authorities TO cope
with the dread diseases which are
likely to ravage the country"
Mr.. Bacon (Georgia) interrupted Mr.
iChffery to inquire whether he would
object ITO the following amendment to
the pending bill:
Nothing in this act shall be con-
strued to interfere with the right of
any State or municipality to protect its
citizens from infectious, contagious or
epidemic diseases by such rules and
as the authorities of saio,
State or municipality may deem neces
sary."
This amendment will be proposed by
Mr.. Bacon.
In reply to Mr. Bacon's inquiry. Mr..
Caffery said he saw no objection to- the
terms of the amendment. as he under.
stood it, If the State or municipal pow
err We're sufficient, he said. he would
not insist THAT the national authority
should be paramount. but it was evident
that State and municipal authorities
We're unable to properly cope with cpl
denies.
I'm conclusion, after speaking for
nearly three hours. Mr. Caffery said that
State quarantines were utterly ineffi-
cent. utterly powerless against am cpl
denric of yellow fever. Under this TN
efficient State quarantine system. he had
known the most brutal and savage acts
Ito be performed He had himself. he
said, been accosted by petty quarantine
officers with shot guns. For the exer
else of that kind of State police powe1
he lad no Use and no regard. He de-
sired that the whole question should be
handled scientifically, so that "a power
and authority should be provided tina;
would be adequate to cope with yellow
fever, cholera and other like diseases.
Mr. Carter (Mont), began n speech in
support of the bill to provide Il civil gov
ermment for the District of Alaska,
but had not concluded when the morn
ing hour expired.
Mr.. Gallinger (N. h. who recently
returned from IA "trip to Cuba, announced
that, yielding to the kind solicitation
of many Senators, he would tomorrow.
after the morning business
had been transacted, briefly address the
Senate upon his observations i'm Cuba
unless, meantime, something should oc
cur to prevent it.
Mr.. Foraker OHIO, presented the Gre
dentials of LIS colleague Mr.. Hanna,
for the term as United States Senator
covering six years from March f. 1899
The credentials were read and ordered
fled
At lao y. M. Un motion of Mr.. Chand-
Ter N. H.. the Senate went into exc
cutiye session and afterward adjourned