Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-19
CATTLE COMMISSION.
General Appropriation Bill Considered by
Committee on Agriculture.

Boston, Feb. 1S.-The general appro-
priation bill for the work of the cattle
commission was considered by the COM
mittee on agriculture this morning
Chairman Peters of the state board of
cattle commissioners appeared before
the committee and advocated an appro-
priation of $4,000, which, with the
$4,000 emergency appropriation already
at the disposal of the commission, would
make $150,000 for the year sum $780,
! 900 smaller than the appropriation last
year. The bill also included section
for half compensation for condemned
cattle, the limit of full value for such
animals being fixed at $50. Dr. Peters
stated, in support of this section, that
the present policy Of the commission
was to test only those animals that
We're suspicious on physical examina-
ton. These were generally so far adj
vanced with the disease that a fair
value would not exceed $50, which was
the limit under half compensation. To
Mr.. Parker of Holden, DR. Peters reit-
Grated that the board did not intend to
quarantine animals unless they first
gave evidence of the disease on physi-
cal examination. Then tuberculin
would be used and if the animal react
ed, it would be killed. The great ma
jority of these cases We're CT doubtful
value anyway. DR.. Peters also adyoca-
ted the third and last section of the
bill which provided that slightly af-
fected cattle as the abattoirs should be
allowed for beef instead of being thrown
into the rendering tank. This was the
policy of the United States bureau of
animal industry.
To Mr.. j. L. Harrington of Lunen-
burg. DR.. Peters reiterated his state
ment to Mr.. Parker of the committee,
that the commission intended to quar-
antine only those cows, or cattle, that
gave evidence of the disease on physi-
cal examination
Representative Rowell of Lowell in
terposed several questions to DR.. Pet
ers, as to revenue received TOR carcasses
and as to the expenses of killing. but
his efforts were not successful. Mr.. Row.
ell then spoke against any appropria-
ton Of considerable size. He pointed
out to the committee that the tubercll-
losis agitation was based on the report
by DR.. Ernst on the infectiousness of
milk, which was printed about five
years ago. Mr.. Rowell had read this re-
port and had failed to- discover any
thing in it that would warrant the vast
expenditure of money that had since
obtained.
Mr.. Rowell emphasized the point that
more milk was brought into the state
than was produced within the limits of
the commonwealth, so that the work of
the commission was neutralized to- a
greater extent, If the alleged danger
really existed. He didn't believe that 1t
did. He was willing to have the milk
from an apparently healthy COW con-
sumed in his family. He didn't believe
that cows that looked well and ate well
should be tested for disease any more
than children who were well to all APP
pearances should be examined by a.
physician. To one of the committee Mr.
Rowell didn't believe in appropriating
another dollar for the work The com
mission had already received 500. 900 for
! the work, and this was enough. Mr.
Rowell was confident that the agitation
would cease as soon as the appropria-
tons were stopped.
To Secretary Sessions, Dr. Peters
stated that perhaps thousand of the
5000 animals taken last year were the
animals tested by private veterinarians.
at the request of owners who were anx-
ious to sell to the state all reacting am
mails. Since the amendment to the law.
| limiting tuberculin tests to the commits
sion or their agents. this practice had
been stopped.
DR.. Samuel Lawrence of Lowell adj
| hlOSScu lIle committee DIle0y IN ODDO-
| sition to further expenditure of money
for this work. The hearing was con-
I tinued
ADVERTISEMENT DISAGREEMENT
Boston, Feb. 1S.-The Judiciary com
mittee gave hearing on bill to pro-
tect parkways and boulevards from dis
| tigurement by advertisements, and
had many prominent people before it in
| favor of the measure.
! Representatives Haskins of Rockport
and Poor of Andover supported the bill.
as well as Charles A. Williams of Brook
line for that town, DR.. C. s. Minot, presi-
dent of the Boston Society Of Natural
History, Edwin d. Mead, Gen. F. H.
| Appleton, John Ritchie, Jr, j. ]. En-
neking. the artist; N. George Cox Of the
Cambridge park commission; Prof. w.
II. Niles of the Appalachian Club; John
] Woodbury., secretary of the -metropoli-
tan park commission.
In opposition to the bill, appeared
Senator Flynn of Lawrence and ex-