The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-18
is An OVERLOOKED LAW
Stock Inspection Act Not Gen
orally Observed.
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW OF IT
Is Unlawful to Take Horses Out of the
State Without Having Them De-
scribed in Certificate OF
Inspection.

Comparatively few people in the state
realize that it is unlawful to take
horses or mules out of Montana with
out first having them inspected. At
the last session of the legislature law
was passed to this effect. 1t was ap-
proved March and went into effect i'm
mediately.
Despite this fact there have been sew
eral violations of the law, it is be-
lieved, committed through ignorance.
Here is the law:
Senate bill No. Is, an act to protect
the owners of horses and to cause the
inspection of the same. Be it enacted
by the legislative assembly of the state
of Montana:
Section /. From and after the pass
age of this act it shall be the duty of
any and all persons removing or taking
from this state in any manner whatso
ever any horse, mule, mare, colt, foal
or filly, to cause the same to be in
spected by a stock inspector or the
sheriff of the county from which stock
is to be removed, as hereinafter pro-
vided.
Section 2. On receiving notice from
any person that he desires to remove
OF take from THIS state 10 De sou OF
used outside of this state any Of the
class of animals named in section 1, it
shall be the duty of any stock inspector
or sheriff of the county from which
such animals are taken Immediately to
inspect the same, by carefully noting
the brands upon such animals and 9TH
erwise describing such Of said animals
as have no brands, and to keep rec
ord of all such inspections in book, to
tn lnI fnp hot Inv In
county commissioners of each county.
Such description shall contain:
"Q) The brands of all animals
branded, and a description of animals
not branded.
"(2) The number of animals inspect
ed for removal.
"(3) The name of the owner or per-
son removing the same.
20 The date of such inspection, with
destination to which such animals are
to be taken.
IF in the opinion of the officer MAX
ing the inspection, the person propos
ing to remove such stock is right
fully in possession of the same he shall
grant such persons a certificate of in
spection containing the matters herein
provided, with the further statement
that permission is granted to such per-
son to remove such animals from the
state.
If however, the officers making such
inspection shall be of opinion that such
stock or any portion thereof is stolen,
or otherwise wrongfully in the posses
sion of the persons proposing to re-
move the same, he shall withhold such
certificate and permit to remove until
satisfactory assurance is given him of
the rightful possession of such prop-@
erty by the person proposing to remove
the same. Such certificate of inspection
shall be by the holder thereof exhibited
to any person demanding to see the
same.
Section 3. Any person removing, or
attempting to remove, any property of
the kind named in section l of this act
without first securing the inspection,
and any person refusing to exhibit his
certificate of inspection, or any per-
son in any other way violating any of
the provisions of this act, shall be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and
on conviction in any court of compe-
tent jurisdiction, shall be fined in any
sum not less than $50 nor more than
$780, and in default of payment of such
fine, and costs of prosecution, shall be
imprisoned in the county jail until such
fine and costs are discharged, at the
rate now provided by law for payment
of fine and costs of prosecution, and
such fine shall be paid into the county
fund of the county where said convic-
ton is had
Section 4. For the service of inspec-
ton herein provided for, the officer
making such inspection shall receive his
necessary expenses to be paid by the
person for whom the inspection is
made.
Section 5. This act shall take effect
and be in force from and after its pass
age"
The object of the measure is to pre-
vent stolen horses being rustled out of
the state. Blanks and the necessary
books for the operation of the law are
in the hands of Sheriff Conley, but no
entries have been made in them. All
inspections in this county will be made
by him, as the state stock inspector,
]. w. Collins, has been moved from
Butte to Billings.
ot old VT