Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-09-27
HOUSE PASSES
BILL AGAINST
THE PINK PEST
MEASURE ADOPTED CARRIES APPR0-
PRIATION OF $4,000 TO FIGHT
SPREAD OF PINK BOIL WORN
IN TEXAS COTTON FIELDS.

An Au>tln ul~pdtch 10 tue pai'eeto"
New, Of Tuesday says:
The Tillotson- Davis pink boil worm bill
was finally passed by the house Of repre-
sentatives today. The final passage came
after the house had reconsidered it vote
by which it struck from the bill an appro-
%priation of $40. 600 and then defeated the
amendment striking this appropriation out.
Ii later, however. reduced the a%ppropria-
ton Ia $4,000. Mr.. Davis made a strong
speech in behalf of the bill before the
final vote was taken and told members Of
the house that the necessity for the enact
mcnt OF the law was urgent.
The bill has vet To 90 to the senate
for concurrence IN a number oi MINOR
amendments. most of which were approved
by Mr.. Tilloi>on.
Discussing the provisions of the bill, Mr..
Tilloison said:
"The bill providing for the establishment
of measures 10 protect the cotton industry
against the introduction Of the cotton pest.
the pink boil worm, from Mexico, ha> been
prepared after a careful study OF the dan
ger threatened. and a much Investigation
of the most advisable methods of proven
ton and eradication n has been possible
under all Of the circumstances. Provision
is made for the fullest measure of coopera-
ton of the Texas authorities with the fed
oral authorities in checking the advance of
the boil worm and destroying it should it,
presence be discovered in the state.
1T provides for n zone along the Rio
Grandc. in Texas, one county, in width. to
be used ~ n zone in which extraordinary
care should be cxerted 10 prevent the boil
worm from crossing. When the secretary
of agriculture of the United States. who.
with tho concurrence Of the Mexican gov
eminent. l. conducting Investigations in
Mexico with the purpose Of dcvisIng means
for minimizing the spread of the worm in
that country. reports to the government OF
this state the presence of the worm within
fifty miles of the Texas border. eXtraordi.
nary care shall BE- exercised over the zon,
in Texas nearest adjacent To the known
location of the pest in Mexico. When The
pest i officially reported To- be- within
twenty-five miles of the Texas border It'll
zone nearest adjacent a. such location o
the pest. and cotton products may not y
moved in interstate shipments from sue
TERRITORY except under conditions of in
>pcction. and ii necessary di~infcctior
Whenever the pink boil worm j. diScovere
in amy part Of the state il j. provided tina
the commissioner of agriculture shall max
a NJ careful inspection Of the degree Of in
fcstation. and IL in the judgment of cxpei
lentomologi~t~. concurred in by the commits
%>ioner Of agriculture. the governor shall.
he approves. establish \ special quarantin
around such infested field or fields or are
a. he may deem essential To the protcc
tion Of the cotton industry Of the state
and cotton and its products will be move
to other parts Ut the state only under sue
rules ~ may he deemed essential To pre-
vent the pest being distributed ~ rea~o
OF such shipments. If the presence of III
pet. IN the Judgment of The state official,
IN any locality creates such "A decree q
menace IL cotton growing a. wonld war
rant the dIscontinuancc of the planting q
cotton III the particular infested I~ocalit,
then no cotton may be planted in that re-
~tricted district for such period a. the dan
ger of infestation shall be deemed IL ext,
When The boil worm j. discovered in
field the authorities are empowered. If sue
act i necessary To- destroy such field q
fields of cotton. and ample provisions mad
for compensation TO the owners of sue
fields. The enforcement If the act !, place
IN the state department of agriculture. nm
the commissioner Of that department i al
thorized TO exercise whatever powers =,
Essential to accomplish the purpose Of II