The Topeka state journal., 1899-10-24
Live Stock Sanitary Board Re-
wives an Old Order.
Cattle Inspectors Ordered to
Collect Three Cents Head.
WILL BE PROTESTS.
That Is What Made Trouble
For Gov. Leedy.
How Railroads Are Held Up to
Pay Inspectors.

The state live stock sanitary COM
mission has re-established the system
of inspection of cattle coming from
south of the federal quarantine line and
has promulgated an official proclama-
tion in which the inspectors are ordered
to collect three cents per head upon all
cattle coming into Kansas after No
vember /
This is the system of inspection
which has caused an annual protest
from the cattlemen of the state for
years. Representative of the state ad-
ministration long ago promised that
this system should not be made opera
tive under Governor Stanley's term but
the commission has adopted it and an
nounced that it will become effective
| November 1.
The cattle shipped from south of the
| quarantine lines and consigned to
Kansas City for immediate slaughter
! do not come within the provisions of
| this new rule adopted by the commits
| sion. Only such cattle as are being
| brought into the state for feeding will
! be required to pass under the inquiring
eye of the inspector at three cents per
| pass"
Kansas cattlemen buying southern
cattle for feeding will pay this fee.
! Southern cattIemen bringing their pro-
! perty into the state to consume feed
| will also pay the fee.
] The adoption of this new rule is made
| necessary by the fact that about No
! vember 1, the Kansas railroads Will
| stop paying inspectors which they have
| carried on their pay rolls all season
! These men are designated by the state
| commission and paid by the railroads,
| deal which the commission has al
| ways been very careful to keep from
| the public. The agreement with the
! railroads has always been made with
| the understanding that the legislature
| would reimburse the companies for
| this expense but the legislature never
! does so. Neither is the legislature ask
| ed to do So The railroads are held up
| for this money and the state commits
| sion poses as the regulator of the in
| SpectiOn system.
| The railroads pay inspectors good
! salaries for examining the native cattle
| coming into the state during the dan
| gerOuS parts of the season. Now that
| frost has come and cold weather is ap-
] preaching the inspection of these ma
| tive cattle will cease. With this cessa-
! ton ends the responsibility of the rail-
! road companies and the pay of the in
| spectOrs so far as those corporations
! are concerned ends.
| But the inspectors will be retained at
| work and the cattlemen will pay their
salaries by contributing three cents per
| head for all cattle which come from
| south of the quarantine lines.
| Former boards have not gone so far
| as the present board in this matter
| The board under Governor Morrill, fixed
| the fee at two cents per head. The cat
| tlemen protested and the iniquitOuS
! system was abolished. Then came the
| Populist board under Governor Leedy.
| Another effort was made and a row
! followed. Leedy then ordered the
abOliShment of the system and things
| have been running along in peace until
| this time. Now the Republican board
adopts the system. 1t is said the Pop
| uHst secretary of the board, Taylor
| Riddle urged the adoption of this plan
| as vindication of himself. He was as
! sailed vigorously by cattlemen in his
| own party and fight has been made
| on him several times in an effort to
| secure his removal But Riddle hangs
| on and since the Republican board has
| adopted the inspection fee and raised
| the price one cent he is probably of the
| opinion that his course in the past is
| not open to criticism.
The salaries which the railroads have
been paying run from $50 to $100 pei
| month, and these inspectors have beer
! on the pay roll since early last spring
| Consequently the outlay has been large
| and one of the Santa F'e officials is con-
| hdent the company will get the money
| back.
"The legislature will reimburse u.s.
| he said today.
The legislature has never reimbursed
the railroads in past years. replied {
Journal reporter.
rs that sO?'
mo effort has ever been made tt
have the state refund this money"
4 have been informed of a differ
ent condition Of things" said the Off
cial shaking his head.
Don't the commission pretend to ge
this money back?" he asked, medita
| lively.
There is no record in the legislature.
of the past three sessions of such al
| effort
'.WeII. well-I guess we are gettin
done up" said the officer.
| Another Santa Fe officer said: ''Thi
sanitary commission has been WOrHins
this system on US for several years
The commissions in past years havt
| done as this commission is now dOini
and the railroads never get a cent o
their money back"
A Rock Island officer, high in author
| ity, said: 1T seems to me that tn
Kansas railroads have been held III
! about as long as we can stand it AM
I am in favor of Withdrawing our sup
| port to this inspection system. o
| course the live stock commissions ge
back at US by saying that they'll Eeel
| all cattle out of the state by quaran
| tine, which would damage the freigh
business and we can't permit that [
| be done. So we contribute the salarie
of the inspectors for the freight bust
ness which we GET
The members of the commission a
this time claim that they have canvass
ed the situation thoroughly and tina
there will be no protests against tn
inspection system, which will be pu
into operation November l. at Whic
= time the railroad companies stop payin
the companies will be required to per
form in the same manner next yeal
but the commission believes in fai
1 play and will require the cattlemen t