Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-03-06

us not drift into hair plitting or spend our
energies in metaphysics. My letter stated
that tho commissioners assumed" this no
matter about their mental reservations"
and their actions subs tantiated this claim.
The question is was there so little doubt
about the diseased condition of the Willis
ton and Essex cows as to warrant the
commission in their wholesale slaughter.
j. H. Hutchinson of jericho writes me
that when his cows were killed In South
Burlington in December, an inspector of
meat from burlington indicated Is dead
cows from the Hutchinson herd, whose
meat he would rass as sound ard whole
some. | think it was from the same kill
ing that specimen was taken by Mr.
Hutchinson to the State laboratory In
Burlington and pronounced free from tu-
bercul bacilc--the Identical samples tho
expert" pronounced diseased. Was there
anything In this to stagger the public con-
f'dencc In the commissioners "tubcrctlin
test?' Was there anything in this to put
conservative. careful commission on
their guard? 1t would seem that way. So
long as the commissioners could not point
to q single case of death or sickness trace
able to tho milk of these Williston or Ter
icho cows was 1t anything but an astnund-
ing assumption on their part to condemn
nearly thousand cattle to the rifle and
butcher knife?
Mr.. Hutchinson writes under date Of
bans, acting for the cattle commissioners.
came to his place December last used the
tutc"cultn test, took the tcmpcraturr etc.
ana condemned 13 COWS With possibly two
more. making IL in all The same day Jr
f1tchcock of the board arrived and thov
proceeded to condemn Il more. What tho
people would like to know IS who was
right in the premses-or were they both
wrong? Mr.. Hutchinson says he asked to
nave Miller, but Mr.. Hitchcock said he
couldn't have him Those cattle were
k'iled in South burlington, and 1t sclairlcl
were left on the ground from 20 to 80 days,
Living, they We're Il menace to publ (,
health YOU see. The cattle commis-io ion
are defended on the ground Of "exccutinr
the law" But what is the law under viii n
theS act? 1t says they may quarantine
they may examine, they may use the
tthcrculin test" urder certain rrgula-
TONS. II leaves world of discretion to
thrm. 1t docs not say trcY must reject
and igncre thc experience of other Statrs
or the judgment OF men competent ls
themselves In forming an opinion. Bur act
No. 80 of tho session laws of 1900 saws one
tn'ns that the public has creat interest in
knowing. 1t says "a pest mortem eXam-
nation shall be made. and If the anirn 4
be found affected with bovine tuberculosis
or any disease dangerous to public health
the cwncr of the animal shall receive one
half the appraised value" In case no dis
ease is found the owner receives the fulI
value and the slarghtercd animal IT
secTs from the statement of Mr.. Douglas
OF Nilliston and Mr.. Richardson of jericho
mat Mr. Bliss and Mrs. Lcreins had eat
tie hilled by order of the commisSio,
that afterwards laid in their barn, and
yards Tor weeks without an examination.
W no was to say whether the cattle should
be paid for at full or half valuation? Is
thlS the Wordirg or the into of the Jaw ?
ont t,,.
mat this Wiliston-Jcricho cattle killing
mas been mere hurley hurley of "assun -
ucn. The cattle CCmrlis Sioners had tho
power unfortunately. and they used II.
ana thousands of dollars have been lost.
ana the state IL no nearer staining ont
tuberculosis than when they commenced
Eut as to the reliability" of this .tuh.r-
'u'in test and 'mspecticn' business
Mr. Philip Farrell Of Urderhill. writes me
uHuer iate of February 1G that Irnon
f1Ahy OF Estheryilc Iowa raccntl.
bought about 20 calves rr the Western
arket-that they were l,esturcd on Ian
VI moses chase and the Farrell estate in
tnderhill. BiXby found the calves must
DE inspected before Icing. shipped and
an expert" from BurlingtCN wort tn ,-n-
d'rhllI took Il COX over tho fence ar fine
calves never laid hand CT q single calf.
l'"k look at $40 bill. laid hands on the
same, ana the calves had q clean bill, Of
hta''h, as They no doubt Deserve. PROB
AMY this expert" had more confidence IN
his eyes and the the physical appcaranco
OF the calves than in the little squirt gun
loaded with tuberculin. which was very
sensible in the expert" But for hoin.-
such serious matter with tho Willicto T.
J'rlcho and tnderhill daitymen-abuur
$4,000 worth--therc orc many furny thi,,,.,
connected with "tubcrc ulin tcSt' ana .ir-
'ttion,' especially Mt the outset Of tn.
slaughter when the commits sioners "l;illr 3