NATIONAL CONTROL OF INSECT PESTS. 105 



Mr. Webster said that as one of the original promoters of the 

 horticultural gathering in Washington in 1897 — he having drawn up 

 the call for this meeting, as secretary of the executive committee — 

 and with others joint author of the quarantine and inspection bill 

 afterwards presented in Congress, and after two conferences with 

 Senate and House committees, he had a pretty good opportunity to 

 become acquainted with these matters. The failure of this measure 

 was not the fault of Congress, as that body was ready to do what was 

 necessary, but there was a lack of unanimity among the people as to 

 just what ought to be done, and Congress had wisely decided not to 

 do anything under such conditions of public opinion. The fact 

 seemed to be overlooked that there was vast difference between an 

 element that threatened human health and life, and one that only 

 threatened certain products of the soil. Neither the boll weevil nor 

 San Jose scale threatened human life or health, and therefore was 

 not to be considered in the same light as Texas fever or yellow fever, 

 and it was doubtful in his mind whether the Government could pro- 

 ceed in the same way to quarantine against or control the spread of the 

 same. Certainly Congress had no authority to legislate regarding 

 insect pests and plant diseases within the boundaries of any State, ex- 

 cept as articles of interstate commerce. Congress might order a man' 

 to inspect certain premises in any State, but without legislative per- 

 mission from that State he could not legally obey his instructions, 

 except upon Government reservations. He was not opposed to any 

 measure the object of which was the control of insect pests, but had 

 learned from experience that not all reasonable or seeming neces- 

 sary projects of this sort could be carried out. He always had and 

 still believed that national legislation should come first and State 

 legislation in uniformity therewith follow afterwards. 



Mr. Marlatt said that he was in accord with most of the suggestions 

 presented in Mr. Sanderson's paper and that he believed there was a 

 distinct tendency on the part of the Federal Government to under- 

 take legislation for the direct protection of people, both in the line of 

 food products and in the protection from insect and other natural 

 enemies, but that this would undoubtedly first be in the direction 

 of protection or quarantine from foreign countries, and later looking 

 to interstate control. Personally, however, he doubted the advisa- 

 bility of Congress spending large sums of money for the local con- 

 trol, or particularly attempts at extermination, of such well-estab- 

 lished pests as the San Jose scale, the boll weevil, or the gypsy and 

 brown-tail moths. It is perfectly legitimate, however, to provide 

 for the checking or prevention of the spread of such pests, at least 

 wherever there is a chance of accomplishing something in a practical 

 way, and to attempt to stamp out any newly introduced enemy before 



