The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-08-24
Fits DENIES REPORT
OF DISEASED MEAT
Says Nothing Has Appeared to Warrant
Statement That State Of Vermont
Was Party to any Deal
Of That Sort.

st. Johnshury, Aug 24. Attorney
General Fits has made report TO Gov.
Bell concerning the alleged sale Of dis
eased beef by the state Of Vermont for
food purposes. Attorney General Fits
quotes the law Of 1904, which gives
the cattle commissioners the right to
dispose Of the carcasses Of cattle killed
for Tuberculosis, and says there il no
evidence to show that the state sold
diseased meat,
Taking up the affidavit Of Hutchinson
Of Worcester, he states that the claim
Of Hutchinson does not cover his cattle,
which the state had killed. Hutchin-
son affirmed that one of the hindquar
ters was marked Paul German, Bur-
lington,7 and the states attorney. OF
Chittenden county has not been able to
find that person OF that name il now
living there or was living in Burlington
at the time Hutchinson says he could
not identity the cattle as his. Or. +. A,
Rick Of the cattle commission, Mr.
Brigham, manager Of the Burlington
rendering plant, and Mir Heath, the
butcher, all say that no diseased meat
had been sold for food purposes, but
was usfn iOfi Atflulzef.
Therefore, concludes Attorney Gener-
al Fits, there is no warrant for the
charge, based on the Hutchinson affisla-
Wit, that diseased meat was sold by
the state for food purposes. "A former
employee Of the rendering plant has
however, stated that the company has
sold meat which was condemned, but
the employee did not say that the state
was party TO it.
Attorney General Fits has ordered
the states attorney OF Chittenden conn-
ty TO investigate the matter thoroughly
and has fixed the first "Wednesday of
September as the date for hearing
at which time all compfainants, employ
ees and officers win be summoned. He
calls upon anyone who has information
to respond also.
The law Of Vermont makes it crime
To sell or offer for sale diseased meat
for food purposes. The matter com.
planned OF in the Hutchinson affidavit
transpired November last and was never
brought to the attention of the prose-
cutting officers until II was published
broadcast a few days ago. The matter
complained or by the former employee
If tile Burlington rendering company
above referred 10 was offered more than
year and half ago and has never
oeen brought to the attention of the
prosecuting officers. There cannot be
too severe censure of persons who claim
10 know Of evidence Of crime and fail
to report ii TO tho officers of the law
Ii Il the duty of citizens to disclose
evidence Of crime and il these parties
had such evidence it should have been
reported long ago.
l desire to make this suggestion to
your excellency, The people Of the
state have the right to demand that
meat found To be diseased shall be de-
stroved or put beyond all possible chance
for use for food purposes. | therefore
suggested that the cattle commissioners
be Instructed to see to it in every in.
stance that meat found to be diseased
be destroyed in their presence, so that
never by any possibility can the name
Of the state of Vermont become involved
IN such charge as is now being pub,
liely made