Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-03
NATION ALQU ARANTINE
HOUSE TAKES UP THE BILL UN-
DER A SPECIAL RULE.

The House Immediately after the approval
of the journal was treated to the unusual
spectacle of Mr.. Williams (Miss.) reporting
a rule from the committee on rules bringing
before the House the national quarantine
bin, provision being made by the rule that
four hours debate shall be had on the bill
and that a vote shall be taken at o'clock.
Mr. DalzeIi (Pa.) facetiously called the
attention of the House to the position as
sumed by the leader OF the minority re-
porting a rule to consider great constitu-
tional question which might with entire
propriety be considered for week or even
three weeks: that instead of the widest lat
itude being given the consideration OF the
bill the leader of the minority now pro-
posed TO gag" the House by limiting the
debate to four hours and compelling the
body to vote an hour afterward. This sally
brought round of applause. the leader Of
the minority participating In the humor OF
the situation.
Mr.. Williams Defense.
Mr. Williams. after the applause died out.
said that he would take occasion to express
his opinion. during the course Of the debate.
of a code of rules which required him. in
order to secure consideration OF a bill in
tended to protest the women and children
of a third of the country from the ravages
u
to resort to such procedure.
Mr. DalzeIl In defense of the system OF
rules, retorted that 1t was by such rule
that consideration was given at all to q
measure so vital to the interests Of the
south.
Mr.. Bartlett (Ga) said he was both op-
posed to the rule and the bill.
On the adoption of the rule the vote was
1o9 to 30.
Mr.. Wanger (Pa.). In charge OF the bill,
explained It's provisions, stating that the
introduction of yellow fever into the United
States was generally through ports located
upon the Gulf of Mexico or in Florida or
South Carolina. That experience has shown
that the national quarantine is far more
effective than state or municipal quaran-
tine The bill was designed to give larger
powers to the general government 10 resist
the invasion OF yellow fever
Mr.. Bartlett's Contention.
Mr. Bartlett (Gal. differing from some of
his democratic brethren. saw under the
Constitution the right of Congress to con-
troll. direct and manage all quarantine sta
tfons grounds and anchorages which 1t
might establish, and saw no invasion OF the
right of state, which has been the sheet
anchor of the party. He said that the ques-
ton presented under the bill was not one of
constitutional power. but one of policy, and
that policy made for humanity and the
health Of the whole people.
yellow fever Is as dread fos as an
armed host and should be treated as such"
he said. "The country demands quaran-
tine regulation by the general government
and this bill Is along the highest lines OF
humanity"
Mr. Henry (Tex.), In opposition to the
measure. had read a telegram from Jack
son, Miss, stating that the House appro-
priation committee had agreed to unfavor-
ably report the appropriation bill for the
state board of health. the only explanation
offered for the action being that Mississippi
does not care for any more quarantines
Mr.. Henry said that no one doubted the
right of Congress to control interstate COM
merce. but he commended that disease. pesti-
lence and contagion were not subjects OF
commerce. although sometimes among the