Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1920-07-27
WILL NOT LIFT
QUARANTINE
GOV. STEWART OF MONTANA, SAYS
THAT IDAHO REGULATIONS RE-
SUITED IN EMBARGO
TO CONSIDER RETALIATION PLAN
Poor Excuse Given for Injustice To
Northern Idaho Farmers.

The Montana quarantine on Idaho
farm products, fruit, etc, will not be
raised according to the letter received
this week by d. M. Palmer. secretary
of the Kootenai Valley Commercial
Club, from Governor S. V. Stewart, Of
Montana. in reply to the protest
against the embal go established re-
Gently. Similar protests were sent
from various northern Idaho CONNER
cial clubs.
Governor Stewards letter reads as
follows:
Helena, Mont, July %, 1920
"Bonners Ferry Commercial Club,
Boomers Ferry, Idaho.
Gentlemen On July 10 you wrote
me relative to the alfalfa weevil propo-
sition, and protested against the en-
barge levied upon hay, fruit, vege-
tables and other products from Idaho
THE alfalfa weevil proposition has
been somewhat of menace for sew
eral years. AS far back as 1913 a
quarantine was placed by the governor
of the state of Montana against the
whole of the state of Utah. and GER
tain counties in Idaho, Wyoming and
Colorado. Within the last year the
state of Idaho removed quarantines
that had existed Heretofore in favor
of the free parts of the state as against
the alfalfa infected districts. That
meant that the whole of the state was
either abandoned to the weevil or else
that quarantine was deemed unneces-
sary by one part of the state against
the other parts. 1t also meant that
products raised in the sections of the
state under Montana quarantine could
be billed into the parts not quaran-
tined and shipped into this state. AS
a result our quarantine was remodeled
and made effective against the whole
of the state of Idaho. | could now
limit it to certain sections of the state,
but in the absence of regulations with
in your state nothing would be gained
In other words if / should remove it as
to the Panhandle of Idaho, there would
be nothing to prevent the shipment of
products from the other parts of Ida
no to the Panhandle and then have
them rebilled on into Montana. For
that reason and until such time as
conditions are altered | do not feel
that a modification would be justified.
"I am sorry that it has been neces-
sary to issue this quarantine, but un-
der the circumstances il cannot be
helped Very truly yours,
S. V. STEWART, Governor"
AS was pointed out in the letter
from the local commercial club, the
embargo established by Montana is
unjust to local farmers and fruit
growers. The contention of Governor
Stewart as above seems to be far
fetched and without proper grounds.
The northern Idaho commercial clubs
will be asked to consider this matter
thoroughly and if possible to take ac-
tion that will bring the Montana au-
thorities to time. Idaho stands in
shape to retaliate in drastic manner if
| it is necessary and it is about time
that Montana be taught lesson.
Governor Stewards contention that
produce from weevil infected districts
could be shipped to this district and
be re-billed to Montana is not well
taken. The expense would be prohibi-
tive. If this could be done then it is
yet possible for the produce to be
shipped to Washington and billed into
Montana as the Montana embargo does
not effect Washington hay, fruit or
vegetables.