Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-04-04
| 59th CONGRESS.
House Passes the Nat
iona| Quarantine Bill
To Prevent Introduction Of Vel.
low Fever Into United States.
Senator Long Of Kansas Makes Lengthy
Speech on Railroad Rate Bill.

Washington, April 3.-By a vote of
POP to 2G the House today passed the
national quarantine bill. The bill places
the control of all quarantine stations
grounds and anchorages under the sec
rrtary Of the treasury ana directs that
as soon as practicable after the ap-
prOVal of the act he shall designate
such suitable places for them and es-
tabliSh the same at such points on OF
near the sea coast Of the United States
and on the Mexican border which in
his judgment are best suited for the
same in order to prevent the introduce
ton Of yellow fever into the United
States. The bill further gives the sec
rotary of the treasury the right 10 cS-
tabliSh a quarantine station at the Dry
T1rtugaS Islands ana at such other
ports at or near the sea coast. not to
exceed four in the aggregate, as he
deems necessary.
The bill also provides that every
ccmmon carrier engaged in interstate
commerce shall receive and carry
through any state or territory passen-
gers, freight and baggage which may
have been discharged ana properly Ger
tifirI in accordance with the regula-
tons Of the public health and marine
hospital service and every person inter-
fering with or Obstructing such car
rier or any passenger or any inStru-
mentality of commerce in any such
carriage or journey SHAH be guilty of
a misdcmeanor and on conviction be
punished by fine not exceeding 5000
or be imprisoned for period not eX-
ceeding one year, or both, in the dis
cretiOn of the court. 1t is provided that
this section shall not be construed as
giving authority to any person to de-
bark or unload in any locality contra
ry to the lawful regulations.
Out Of the above provision grew q
Whole days debate, the opposition to
the Measure coming from divided del
egations in the Southern states. The
bill carries an appropriation of $500. 600
So much as Inay be, necessary to car
~ tie provision of the bill into effect.
Tie House was treated to the unusu-
al spectacle Of Williams, Miss, report
ing a rule from the committee on rules
bringing before the House the nation
al quarantine bill, provision being made
By the rule that four hours debate
snail be had on this bill and that vote
shall be taken at ) o'clock.
DalZell. Penn. facetiously called the
attention of the House to the position
assUmed by the leader of the minority
reporting Il rule to consider Il great
constitutional question which might
with entire propriety be considered for
d week or even three weeks. that in
stead Of the widest latitude being Civ
en-. the consideration of the bill, the
leadc: Of the minority now proposed to
gag" the House by limiting the debate
to four hours and compelling the body
to vote an hour afterWard. This sally
brought a round of applause. the lead
erS of the minority participating i'll
the humor of the situation.
Brantley, Ga, said that the question
presented under the bill was not one of
constitutional power. hut one of policy
and that policy made for humanity and
the health Of the whole people.
Heney, TEX. in opposition. said that
no one doubted the right of Congress
to control Interstate commerce. but he
contnnded that disease. pestilence ana
contagion were not subjects of com
mercn.
Williams said that he would express
his opinion. during the debate. Of a
code of rules which required him. in
order to secure consideration of a bill
intended to protect the women and
children Of Il third Of the country from
the ravagcs of a foe more deadly than
an armed host. to resort to such apro-
ccdurc
On the adoption of the rule the vote
was 100 To 229. Wanger. Penna., in
charge of the bill. explained its pro-
visions
Henry said he would resist with all
his might the aim of Congress to take
away from the people Of Texas the
right to make their own quarantine re-
gulations. the right he said. given TIL"
states by the constitution.
Bowers. Miss. IN favoring the bill.
said that where the police powers of
states differ the federal authority was
paramount.
Rurleson, Texas. thought there was
something more than commerce in
volved in the bill and he resisted the
idea that quarantine regulations be-
longeG to the federal authority when
the states were capable Of policing
their own boundaries.
Beall made the statement that Texas did
not want any interference with its quar-
antine laws. 1t wanted TO be let alone.
'"rhere is not thing in this bill said
Williams, Miss, its author, that any
more touches the sacred rights of the
states, reserved and not delegated. tha'
the ctTiuvia of n dead cat in the desert
Of Sanara could affect the atmosphere o.
Arctic Circle"
DeArmond. Mo. argued that the bill
would take away from the states all the
power of inspection to check the spread
Of yellow fever. He said that the pllf
had been defty planned in the interests
of the great railroads and would in n"
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