Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-10-05
Yours truly,
&c. II. TERRlLL, Secretary.


sc. II, TERRlLL, Secretary
Al statements accompanying remittances
have been substantially Of that character II
appears that in all instances the drOyers have
turned over TO the commissioners the state
ment received from the COnsignee, and the
rendering company at Burlington, has fur
nishcd IN most instances an ltemized state
mcnt but these have not been kept ON fle in
order and but few Of them can now be found.
| suggest that it would be vol to employ
at once an expert accountant 10 go over the
accounts Of the cattle commissioners and in
yestigate and audit all the items Of their
transactions in the condemnation and DISPOSE
ton of cattle, IL can be done much better
now than later and will clear up all question
as To the detail Of each transaction, so far as
the same can be disclosed by the papers in
the hands of the state commission and from
the books Of the drovers and companies to
whom the cattle had been consigned.
The manager Of the rendering company tes'
titles that the books, accounts and memo
rluda Of his company, covering the deal with
the state and the cattle commissioners pre-
yiOus to July | last, are at the home ONCE Of
the company at Boston. Mass, Demand has
been made for their production. That mat
ter is with the grand jury and will be dealt
with as best it can under the law
Section j073, V. 5, provides that "a per
son who knowingly sells diseased, corrupted
or unwholeSUme provisions for food or drink
shall be imprisoned not more than six
months or fined not more than $500. Sub
soqucut 10 the adoption Of the Vermont
statutes there was passed act No. 50 Of 1902,
as before stated, section Of which reads as
follows;
"If any person shall sell or offer to sell
any cattle or other domestic animals known
by him TO be infected with bovine Wbercu-
losis or any other contagious disease, or any
disease dangerous To public health, or shall
sell or offer to sell any parton parts Of such
cattle or other domestic animals, except their
e.. L.. Ia E,,nA
or be imprisoned not more than one year, or
both.
I he above penal section was not changed
by the amendments Of 1904, so il is in force
today. But section of the same act No
IS. Of 1902, provides ''all prosecutions for
violation OF the provisions Of this act shall be
within six months from the com
mission thereof and not after. And section
10 Of the same act repeals all acts and parts
1f acts inconsistent with it, which leaves ii
bit doubtful as 10 just what could he done in
the way of prosecuting for selling diseased
meat for any offence which occurred more
than six months ago.
| suggest to your cXccllency that among
1thcr amendments obviously necessary 10 the
law is one repeating the six months hmta,
lion on prosecutions under this act. There
would seem to be no reason why the crime of
selling diseased meat should not be treated
as other offences and the statute of limita-
ions be the same 10 wit three years.
The grand jury have the matter in hand for
such action as shall seem proper to them
within their province. but the evidence hav-
ng disclosed such gross negligence on the
part Of the cattle commission. in failing 10
safeguard the interests Of the state, that |
lcem it my duty to submit this report to
.our excellency for such action as may seem
proper within the scope Of the executive
The investigation Of this matter has dis
loscd a condition of affairs relative to the
railc in calves less than four weeks old
which calls for immediate and serious con /
liberation; but il in no way concerns the /
attic cumm ssion, 50 the detail is not here /
discussed Respectfully submitted
CLARKE c, Fits, Attorney General.