The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-03-27
Texas is Stumbling Block That
 Hampers Measure
MOTIVE IS SELFISHNESS
Congress Is Greatly Interested In the Fight Under Way In That State. MT. Carmack Is Con-
 fident.

Washington March 6.-(Special)-With yellow fever in Panama and Honduras, and a well grounded suspicion that there are also cases of the dreaded disease now within the confines of the United States, the national quarantine bill which a great majority of the members of Congress from southern states believe would be of the greatest advantage to the people of the south in a fight against yellow fever this summer, is being held up in the House by the Texas delega- ton assisted by a few stickers on con stitutional law from other states Joined by a number of republican congressman who are naturally willing to see hght in the democratic ranks.
 The bill was carefully prepared by Representative John Sharp Williams and other southern members of the House. In the Senate, Senators Morgan, Mallory and spooner gave it their. best thought and 1t was favorably reported.
 Bill Reposes on Speakers Table.
 For nearly two weeks, the danger from yellow fever constantly becoming graver the bill has been on the speakers table in spite of the urgent appeals of Rep- resentative Williams to have date set for its consideration in the House. Today A petition signed by the Texas delega- ton and a few others, presented to the speaker requesting that he not allow the hill to come up. The reason given in this petition is that the bill interferes with
 ON -nfAf.i inf fQd by it should not come out of the na- tional treasury, but should be borne by the states.
 The opponest of the bill hope that this plea for saving half a million rol- lars will prove powerful economy argu- ment with the speaker. Members who are advocating the passage of the bill say the opposition of the state of Texas to the bill is entirely commercial. Texas has been very lucky with it's yellow fever, the result being that during an outbreak of yellow fever trade has been shut or from New Orleans, Mobile and other neighborlng ports and has gone to Gal weston, owing to lenient quarantine reg ulations. Naturally Texas would like the present state quarantines to remain in force. Under the proposed bill all the states would be treated alike. Several years ago in the case of Louisiana vs. Texas, before the United States supreme court, the allegations now being made with reference to Texas hostility to the quarantine subject were practically ad- mitted as being true by the Texas att torneys in their brief filed in the court. History of Texas Case.
 Louisiana had filed bill for an in- function against Texas to enjoin the en- forcement of the Texas quarantine laws. Louisiana alleged that the Texas regula- tions were established for the purpose of an embargo against Louisiana in favor of Texas, the actual effect being to de- crease the commerce of New Orleans and increase that of Galveston. Texas filed a demurrer which practically admitted the facts to be true but the court dis missed the case on the grounds of no jurisdiction. It is now claimed that the motive of the Texans in opposing the national quarantine bill is commercial.
 Representative Williams, regardless of the opposition. hopes to get the bill be- fore the House as soon as the postoffice appropriation bill is disposed of. which will probably be the latter part of next week.