The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-10-01
State Cattle Commissioner
DR.. F. A. Rich
HE DIDN'T DO HIS DUTY
Gov. Bell Thinks chittenden county
Grand Jury Will Deal With Others
Who Are Implicated in Dis
s eased Meat Scandal.

Walden, October las the result OF
the report Of Attorney General Fits
on the diseased meat scandal, With
which the state of Vermont has become
linked, Governor Bell has removed Cat
Tile Commissioner Dr II A. Rich III
Burlington from office for failure 70 do
his duty. Other people, including drov
era in East Berkshire, Randolph. Under
HILL, West Windsor and ST. lohnsbury
and the Burlington rendering plant and
the New England dressed meat and wool
company of Somerville, Mass. are now
in the hands Of the Chittenden county
grand jury, a partial report Of the
Investigation Of the cattle commission
ers' account Il To the effect that there +
practically nothing to show how much
money the state received from the sale
Of condemned cattle.
After reviewing the work Of the cattle
commission, Gov Bell says in his re-
port
Il have always been opposed to hav-
ing the state of Vermont a party TO
encourage in the least degree the pro-
duction 81 anything but pure article,
and doubt not this has been the inten.
tion Of the law maker. But in his I'M
terest. ~ help the unfortunate dairyman,
he has lost sight Of the fact that 50
per cent Of the value Of healthy animals
might lead some 10 continue to produce
only second class article, with d good
paymaster to pay 80 nearly The full
value where they wish 70 dispose Of
their herds.
1The cattle commission so far as IL
appears to me, has been dealing honestly
with the state, unless il were in 1905.
when the herds from Richmond were
sold to droyer for Sli per head. II
would appear by the shipments to the
slaughter house in Someryille Mass,
where they knew United States gov
ernment Inspector WAS employed, that
they were exercising good Judgment and
working for the interests of the state
eThe commission did not keep an ex-
act account OF each herd shipped. as
lit would have been impossible without
accompanying each iot u its deatina-
tion. | am thus led IN. believe that
they considered them as going for fer
tilizer purposes. They therefore kept
only 4 naeinorandlm Of the lots shipped
with the understanding tmut the dFoser
would return any surplus funds that
might be gained BY some animals selling
for food purposes, thereby saving some
expense and at the same time being
able TO look after the demands made
upon them in the state in the best way
possible
selling condemned cattle 20 the Bur
Iington rendering company in Burling-
ton, where there was tnited States
government inspector to inspect each AMI
NAL slaughtered. and having one OF the
commissioners inspect such animals after
slaughtered while hanging upon the
track in the slaughter house. was quite
another consideration, and would MOI IN,
der any condition aid in establishing tile
good reputation Of The cattle commits
sion
~To the one whose duty it was to
be present when the cattle were slaugh-
tered and at the proper time to examine
carefully to determine II the carcass was
1T for fod purposes OF fertilizer fell q
most responsible duty and one that
needed prompt attention at the proper
time. before the entfais were removed
that all parts might be carefully in
spccted
"It appears that this duty was per
formed hy Or. r. A. Rich of the com
mission. who after the slaughter Of The
condemned cattle sometimes came and
examined the beef, which was hanging
upon the track, at \ time when II was
too late for a thorough examination o.
to pronounce il tit or unfit for food
purposes.
Therefore | cnll for his resignation
and consider this position vacant for
my successor 10 GIL.