The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-10-09
SPEAR
DEFENDS HIS COLLEAGUES
Says That If ANY Mistakes" Were
Made They Were Unintentional--
Defends Character Of DR.. Rich
and Com Stephens.

The first public statement by mem
ber Of the Vermont state cattle COM
mission, which has been 50 severely
censured Of hate for the sale OF tuber-
culous cattle, was made today bys Victor
l. Spear of Randolph, one OF the com
mission. In il he declares that ii any
mistakes were made ii was not through
intention. Mr. Spear defends both III.
A. Rich Of Burlington and @. H. Steph-
ems OF Hartford, his colleagues, the for
mer 0f whom was removed from Office
by Governor Bell. Mr.. Spears letter
is as follows;
In the report Of Attorney General
Fits on cattle commission matters, the
report states that | sold to NJ. G. Rowell
POI head of cattle condemned on the
tuberculin test from the herd of Messrs.
White and Whitcomb, and that l must
have known that some OF these animals
would be used for food purposes.
~The facts in regard to this transae-
tion and as stated hy me before the
grand. jury Of Chittenden county. are
that sold TO Mr.. Rowell lbs cattle,
being the cattle condemned from the
herd Of Mr., Whiteomb, and that the sale
was made with the express agreement
between Mr.. RoweIl and myself that
the animals should all be slaughtered
under United States inspection in the
same manner as other cattle that had
been shipped 10 Massachusetts for
slaughter BY the commission Neither
air Rowell nor myself had any means
Of knowing whether u not any Of these
animals would pars inspection. This Lot
Of cattle WAS the only one belonging
to the state sold by me during my ser-
vice on the commission.
The shipment OF cattle reaeting 10
the tlibercrlin test to the New England
dressed meat and wool company fer
slaughter under United States inspee-
tion, was always done openly and no
effort was made to deceive aa1gone in
regard to the mamnr Of Disposal
"The commission did not fhink Il
necessary 20 send anyeHe With these
shipments to oversee the work of the
United States Inspectors, and the re-
ports Of the drovers gave no ground for
suspeeting their honesty These cattle
were paid for in checks from the par
ties handling them and full list of
these checks was kept showing date
and maker Of same, and the checks so
received were forwarded direct to the
state treasurer. As these checks were
from only few sources ii would not
be difficult 10 ascertain If any check had
been given for condemned cattle that
has not received the endorsement Of the
state treasurer, or not been included in
the list kept by the cattle commits
sion.
I'm my association for three years
with Drs. Rich and Stephens ii this
work can say that / have never been
associated with men that consider
more absolutely honest both profession.
ally and financially and il they have
made any mistake, believe it has beer
one OF Judgment rather than intention.
1T has not always been possible 20
execute legislative acts as enacted as
impossibilities are sometimes required
This was tho case in act s5, 1902. which
required the commission personally and
without assistance TO test cattle for ev.
eryone in the state who applied. The
commission has intended to execute the
law as they understood t. Quite likely
errors have been made, but / have
known Of no instance where wrong has
ev. I. spear.v