Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-10-04

ST Johnsbury, Sept. 30--Gov. G. J. Bell,
10 whom Attorney General G. c. Fits has
submitted a report regarding the disposal
OF cattle responding TO the tuberculosis
test in Vermont. gave the report out to-
day for publication The report was sub
mtted to him September H. but, as the
matter was under considera ton by the
grand jury IN Chittenden county, he felt
that it would be improper to make it pub
lie until the jury had reported. The jury
has adjourned It's hearing until october
H. ard, as Governor Bell term of Office
expires October 4, he decided II was best
10 make the report public at this time.
The report follows
Brattleboro. VT, Sept, T. 1906.
The Hon. ChaS. j. Bell.
Governor of Vermont.
East Hardwick Vt.
Dear Sir:-ln my report to you Of Aug
ust q. 1906. relative to the charge that
the State of Vermont has been dealing
in diseased meat, l stated that the COM
plainants and all witnesses of whom the
State had any knowledge had been sum
moned to appear before the grand jury
OF Chittenden county at Burlington, for
Wednesday, September :. An invcstiga-
ton OF the matter has been going on
before the grand jury, and the develop
ments are such that / deem it my duty
TO make futher report to Your Excelency,
and l beg. therefore, to submit the follow
ing statement of the facts which appear.
beg to call attention again to the stat
ute covering the matter and its antece-
dents. 1t was originally provided by Sec
ton 4S15 OF the Vermont Statutes tina .
all cattle showing any response to the
tuberculin test should be condemned by
the commission and slaughtered and that
a post mortem examination should be
made. and II the animal was found to
ne affected with tuberculosis. the carcass
was to be destroyed, and the owner paid
one-half the appraised value. If not dis
eased, It was to be returned 10 the owner,
who should receive the full amount of
the appraised value. BY Act No. IS of
1902 the requirement was made that the
carcasses should be buried Act No. Jag
Of 1904 repeals this provision and provides
that 1.-The condemned animal shall be dis
posed Of as directed by the commissioner
in charge" The cattle commission have
construed the law of 1904 as giving them
authority 10 dispose of the condemn I'd
animal. either alive or dead. to whomso-
ever they saw fit, with the understands
ing in each case that the animal was
to be slaughtered and a post norton ex-
animation made. and the disposition Of
the carcas TO be governed by the result,
of the post mortem. They claim that ths
warrant for this construction Is the fac,
that tho law of 1904 doesn't require tbs
slaughter OF the animal before 1t Is dis
posed OF. 1t is to my mind doubtful ii
r,la he Ia ny
the cattle commissios, is warranted Sec
ton 4, OF Act No. IS. OF 1902, contem
plates the slaughter of animals that re
spond to the tuberculln test. 1t provides
in terms If the cattle commissioner:
deem necessary to a thorough invest
cation Of the case. they may apply tn,
tuberculin test, and IL the aCImals are
found TO have a contagious disease, shal
cause them to be killed forthwith" etc
The last clause OF the section says tina
tuberculosis shall not be construed a.
an epidemic disease" but II would seen
TO leave II classed as a Contagious dis
ease Act No. 146 of 1904 does not repea
Section 4 OF said Act of 1909. The chang
10, the law as to the disposition OF tn
animal II by amendment OF Section o
the Act of 1902 so Section of the latte
act Is still in force and therefore doub
the authority of the cattle commission
to dispose OF any condemned animal be
fore It Ia slaughtered.
The regulators Of the United State
government for the disposition of car
cases OF diseased cattle do not requir
absolutely the destruction of the carcas
of every animal which responds to tn
tuberculin test, nor OF every animal who
shows signs Of tuberculosis upon pos
mortem examination. The United State
regulations covering the matter are cor
tanned in Regulation 16. Paragraph X c
the regulations OF the department c
agriculture. issued under act OF Congress
approved Juno 80, 1906. and these reguls
tioess permit the sale for food purpose
of carcasses OF animals showing sligh
calsined or encapsulated LESSONS confine
to certain tissues which are specificall
namsd In the regulation. The regulation
NJ the United States government. are, h
tho law OF Massachusetts adopted fc
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