Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-02-19
CLEAN NURSERY STOCK
CONGRESSMAN Haugen Has Intro
duced a Bill to Provide for
Inspection.
Importers Of Nursery Stock
Must Show II Is Free
From Insects.
New Regulations Provided for
the Rural Route Carriers.
Hull's Contest.

Washington, Feb. 19.-Congressman
Haugen has introduced a bill into the
house OF particular interest to farmers
horticulturists and in fact every class
handling fruit trees or nursery stock.
The bill provides rules governing the
importation of, stock and establishes
rules for inspection.
Mr.. Haugen introduced bill similar
in general import at the last session,
far west to such an extent that Mr.
Haugen did not deem it expedient to
press the matter further at that time.
Later the supporting and opposing ele-
ments came to Washington: Mr.. Hau-
gen got them together in Il room and
told them that when they would get to-
gether upon a proposition touching this
question: of Importance to nearly every
farmer he would undertake the work of
securing, the passage of the bill The
discordant elements finally agreed
upon bill very similar to that origi-
nally offered. AS the new bill was be-
ing pushed there developed opposition
III another quarter ana the matter was
dropped.
1t appears that the disagreeing ele-
ments have finally reached common
ground and the conclusions are repre-
scented in the new bill of Mr.. Haugen
The desire of the advocates of the bill
is to prevent the Importation of nur-
sery stock that may be infected with
germs or insects. A farmer may have
spent years and large sums of money
in building up n fine orchard. He buys
few imported trees, places them in
his orchard, and the next year finds a
new insect that is destroying the en-
tire orchard. AS a result his labors of
years are undone in one season thru
lack of proper inspection at the time
the trees We're permitted to enter
American ports.
Mr.. Haugen's bill provides that be-
ginning with July /, 1902, 1t shall be
unlawful for any trans portation COM
pany to receive for entry at any port
in the United States any nursery stock
unless accompanied by certificate OF
inspection by qualified expert of the
country from which the expectation
was made, officially appointed by the
government thereof, certifying that the
contents of the package have been
carefully examined and found appar-
emily free from disease, insects, etc.
In case stock is offered without such
certificate the secretary of agriculture
may have the same inspected al the ex-
pense Of the consignor. AT his descre-
ton the secretary of agriculture may
also have the stock inspected. The
secretary shall have authority to quar-
antine any district In which it shall
appear that infection exists against
shipment of stock. The secretary may
appoint in each state and territory
qualified experts having authority to
examine all stock about to be shipped
from one state to another, issuing GER
tificates.
1t is suggested that the secretary
shall fix dates for such examination be-
tween June and September. When
certificate shall be granted this shall
release, stock for shipment.
The same regulations that apply to
companies shall also be
applicable to the postal system. except
for scientific purposes, by permission
Of the secretary.
Fifty thousand dollars is approp-
rated for the carrying into effect of
the provisions of the act. The pro-
visio@s of the act, however, shall not
apply in interstate commerce to flor
lists stock. bulbs, plants etc
AS the matter now stands Congress-
can Haugen is sanguine that there
will not be serious opposition to the
bill. The subject has been so thor
oughly agitated thruout the country
and opportunity given for suggestions
relative to alterations in the bill that
1t is not thought any considerable
number of influential parties will be
to oppose the measure.