The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1894-04-03

emf opera on of the state law for sheep
inspection md suggesting more radical
action in relation TO scabby focks. The
motion prevailed and the committee was
! given time in which to formulate the
resolutions.
The matter Of scabby fiocks and their
treatment under the law as now con-
strued, then came up, and occupied the
attention of the convention for the re-
mainder of the afternoon. The discus
sion was participated in by nearly all
present, ard the status understood to be
that the inspector being informed of a
diseased sheep, would, under the pres
ent law visit them, and il he found
them diseased. order them q~uarantined
and dipped, but-and here is where the
trouble comes in-the state will not pay
him a per diem or expenses while en-.
forcing his order for quarantining and
dipping. hence-as this is an operation
that consumes a number Of days the
inspector is forced TO leave the execu-
tion OF his orders to the owner Of the
sheep. who may or may not comply with
them, and if he does. may do it so care
lessly as to do no good. Should he fail
TO obey the inspectors orders. or do so
IN an improper manne he may be re-
ported by a neighbor. and the inspector
may visit him again. and has the power
to place his sheep under the control OF
another person. who will see to the dip
ping and quarantining. but unless the
owner pays this man there is no provis-
ion for him to get his pay. except that
e may have a first lien on the sheep for
the amount Of his charges. This is a
very unsatisfactory feature Of the law as
now construed. The state allows pay To
the inspector for his several trips to the
locality Of the diseased sheep. but leaves
him powerless TO enforce his orders in
regard TO the subsequent treatment Of
the diseased sheep. The sheep men Of
state contribu e per capita Of sheep to
the sheep inspection fund ia the state
treasury. The sole and only purpose of
the fund is TO secure as far as human
foresight and action can secure. immu-
nifty from disease in sheep, and yet the
most important things to be done, the
~quarantining and dipping Of diseased
sheep. is left TO one. who through pow
erty. Incidence. indifference or any other
cause. may be disinclined to do these
things, and being removed from official
supervision. and in most cases from any
other kind. refuses to quarantine or dip.
and thus the money expended in the in
spectors trips. is absolutely wasted
These features OF the case were all con-
sidered and debated pro and con. and
the desire finally found shape in a prop
osition for the woolgrowers OF this coun-
try TO tax themselves per capita OF
sheep. TO raise a fund for immediate use
in prosecuting a campaign against
the scab, and Tom Barry moved that an
assessment OF one half a cent per head
be made 10 raise a FUND for this special
purpose. The convention. however, was
not quite ready for such a step, and
voted il down. Barry was not disposed
to give II up. though, and insisted on
reasons, from those who voted no, and
most of those opposed gave their reasons.
II then appearing that the main obiec-
ton was that such an assessment could
not be collected. il was next tried In the
nature Of a subscription paper, wherein
the signers pledged themselves TO con
fr,I..ta ~ tIa r,t. "a l.lF .., l..l
to the special fnnd. to be placed in the
hands of the treasurer of.the association
and to be expended by direction OF the
executive committee. through the duly
appointed sheep inspector. This pledge
was not fayorably received by all until
an addition was made to it, declaring the
pledge void as against the sisners. unless
it was signed 10y a wo-thirds representa-
ton of ali the sheep in the county,
when it received the signatures Of all
the active sheepmen present. and will be
held by Secretary G. l.. Cartur in the
First National bank, for the signatures
Of such others as may desire to sign.
On the representation of Mr.. Smell that
this county was too large to be efficient
ly looked after by one inspector, it was
decided to ask for the appointment of
two, and f. T.. Hatch was named for the
second one. A motion then prevailed to
divide the county into two districts as
follows:
District No. All east Of Tongue
river and south Of the Yellowstone. G..
G. kalfell, inspector.
District No. 2-All west OF Tongue
river rnd north Of the Yellowstone. Z. E. |
Hatch, inspector.
The next meeting Of the association
was fixed for Sept. 1. 1894, at which time
1t was expected good reports from the
scab campaign would be had.
On motion an executive committee