The San Francisco call., 1897-01-31
AN UNPOPULAR MEASURE.
Opposition to the Bill Relating to Dairy
Insnecti0n aud Diseased AmimGts.

Opposition to the Bill Relating to Dairy
Inspection and Diseased Amimats.
SACRAMENTO, CAL, Jan. 30.-One OF
the most discussed measures among the
Senators between sessions and one that
promises to give rise to much excited de-
bate on the floor, when it comes up Tor
reading, is the bill introduced by Senator
Dickinson relating to the inspection of
dairies, the health of dairy animals and
the prevention OF contagious and infec'
tious diseases among such animals.
This is a measure that has more popu-
lar interest than anything before the
Legislature at the present time While
it directly affects the dairymen OF the
State, it indirectly, but not less import
antIy, comes home to every consumer of
the lacteal fluid and its products. While
the objects of the bill, the extermination
of all disc ased dairy animals and the as
surance thereby of pure milk, butter and
cheese meet with tIe hearty and unani-
nous approval of all the legislators, the
methods by means of which these highly
desira bic ends are to be attained are far
from having the confidence or support of
the members.
Senator Morehouse of Santa Clara is
one of these who ere outspoken In their
opposition TO the measure as favorably re-
nance. The bill makes it the duty of the
agent or assistants of the State Dairy
Bureau to inspect all dairies and cream
cries in the State at least once year,
more particularly to discover the exist
ence of animals affected with bovine
! tuberculosis and to provide for their ex-
| tirpation. 1t provides for the appoint
ment by the Dairy Bureau of Veterinary
Surgeons who are to finally pass upon the
condition of all suspected animals and
gives the dairy bureau also the power to
appoint as many assistant agents as in its
Judgment may be necessary to carry out
the provisions of the act.
The compensation of such veterinary
surgeons and assistant agents is left en-
tirely to the discretion of the bureau. 1t
also provides that all assistant agents shall
have had practical experience in the manu-
facture of dairy products.
That section which provides for the COM
pensation to the owners for cattle con-
demned to be killed owing to their dis
eased condition, is the bette noir of the
mem bers. For this purpose and the other
expenses ard salaries created by the bill,
an appropriation of 800, 600 was originally
asked. In the bill reported by the finance
Committee the amount is reduced to
$40, 900.
81 see no reason" said Senator More
house in speaking of the measure to-day,
''why the State should be called upon to
pay for stock ordered to be killed on ac-
count of their diseased condition. If
were the owner of diseased cattle that
would be my fault or misfortune, and if it
becomes necessary for the State to kill my
diseased stock l see no reason why the
people of the State should pay me for it
any more than if the cattle should die. l
don't think l would have any, right to
complain of the operations of the act,
even if it did not provide for indemnity
for the cattle killed."
There is no limit" he continued, ''to
the compensation to be made for the ami
mails killed. and there is no telling what
they might do under the cover of the act.
1t provides that the agents shall fix the
value of the animals killed. | hold that
if cow Is diseased so as 10 unfit her for
the use of dairyman, she has no value.
The value of anything is what it can be
sold for, and no one would be willing to
buy a condemned animal. l think that
this is a very expensive experimental
proposition and one Will ID, if consistently
carried out, would require an appropria-
ton of about 81 900, 600. The cattle inter
ests OF California, according to the last re-
port of the State Board of Equalization,
are placed at $40, 000 900.
"a conservative estima IS that 10 per
cent OF these will have to be condemned
and If the State is to make compensation
for them it will take 81, ,000, ,000sto pay for
the stock killed alone. leaving out of con-
sideration the salaries and expenses of a
corps of veterinary surgeons and assistan
agents.
while 1t may be necessary for the
proper sanitary condition of the people to
have cattle killed, l do not believe the
people should be taxed to pay for such
cattle. 1t would be just as fair to ask
them to compensate the fruIt-grower who
has poor crop of prunes. or to pay man
for his house which has been destroyed
by fire or to indemnify him for any other
kind of business misfortune that chanced
to overtake him. These are the reasons
why 1 shall oppose the passage of the
hill -