The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-07-26
Mr.. BOLTON
EXPLAINS
HIS PART
Owner of the Herd Couldn't
Locate the Line.
WILLING TO Do RIGHT
President Bolton Has Never
Claimed Undue Authority

Guthrie. o. T. July 25.-A few days ago
1t was reported here that r. B. Plttehser
had been arrested in Woodward county
for violating the quarantine laws IN NOV
ing a herd of cattle through Blaine
county and other counties. the destination
nj the cattle being Beaver county. In
this connection it was stated that Presi-
dent w. L. Bolton of the Oklahoma
Live Stock Sanitary commission, had ap-
nointed a deputy inspector for the pur-
pose of inspecting the cattle, and that
they were finally released by this man.
Pittenger was arrested by the federal
inspector for violating the federal law
and evidence was secured against nm
in Blaine AMI Caddo counties
President Bolton, in letter, explains
his part of the matter as follows:
ION July 1st, 1 found herd OF ABOUT
400 head Of stock cattle passing through
Woodward county, owned by X. y. Ut
tenger, VINO was with the herd l asked
him if the cattle had ever been insp cted'
and he told me that they had not; that
he had written Governor Ferguson TOR
information concerning the quarantine
and the matter was referred 10 the Live
Stock board and this, secretary had sent
him the regulations concerning the mat
ter. but he was unable to tell from the
Same Just where the quarantine line was;
dhat his cattle We're from north of the
river. IN Blaine county, but that his post
office was at Hydro, which is across the
line. south Of the river, in Blaine county;
that he Was on his way to Beaver county
and was perfectly willing to submit to
any rules or regulations provided by the
Sanitary Board and was not seeking to
escape inspection. I then told him had
no authority to examine the cattle, but
said that / would wire Col. Dean, at Ar
kansas City, and if he was willing1 would
appoint Mr.. Coombes. who is a competent
cattle man, and is now undersheriff of
Woodward county, to examine the cat
tie. and If they were free from disease
would give him permit which would
serve until the regular inspector could
pass upon the question. This action was
taken and Mr.. Coombes found the cattle
perfectly free and so reported. whereupon
permission was given Mr.. Pittenger to
proceed to Beaver county \ copy of the
permit given by Mr.. Coombes, as special
Inspector, together with a letter from my
self. was forwarded to Secretary Morris.
III the lNEdiA4lllf III <AtttAA NciAAt NliANt3lA
Woodward. returning from tour of in
Vestigation of reported mango in Wood
ward ana Beaver counties, and I ac-
Quainted him with the action in the case;
am not sure whether or not he looked
at the cattle, but he approved Of the
ection taken in the matter and said he
would so on into Blaine county and look
up the origin Of the herd. This he did,
and then returned to Woodward and
stated to the writer that this man Pitten-
ger had heen guilty of violating the quar-
antine law last March. and swore out a
warrant FOR his arrest, together with
Mr.. Mansler. part owner of the cattle.
The arrest was made and the charge is
now PENDING. The warrant as sworn out
charges Pittcnger with violation of the
law in March. and the sheriff was direct
Ed TO hold the cattle until trial of the
Ease.
These are the facts in the case. The
president of the oklahoma board never
has claimed to have authority to appoint
Inspectors, and has never made an in
Epection Of any cattle himself although
frequently asked q do 50; he has previ-
pusly on one or two occasions, by direc-
ZION OF the secretary. had cattle examined
for infection for other parties and made
the report, but has never in any instance
made a charge for the service or allowed
the deputy TO make a charge; and this
IS true in the Piuenger case The man
was here on expense the cattle were free
from disease and the only action which
could have been taken by the regular in
spector would have been to quarantine
the cattle by reason of Pittenser having
left Blaine county without permit, or
70 have returned the cattle 10 Blaine
county. thereby causing much unneces-
sary trouble ana expense. Believing that
with a fun knowledge of ths case, the
presidents action would be sanctioned by
the government authorities as well As by
Governor Ferguson and the Oklahoma
board. the special examination was made
rs stated "