Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-02-14
SENATE COMMITTEE DEMANDS
VERiFlCATlON.
CHARGES ALL INFORMAL
Hearing on Confirmation of Dr. {. p.
Roberts Waits for Filing of For
NAL Representations and Affioav-
its-Question of Who Applied Gov
eminent Label. "
Madison, Feb. 10.

firmation of the executive appoint,
ment of DR.. David Roberts of Wau-
kesha as state veterinarian had a
hearing this afternoon before the
sepate committee on agriculture 10
which committee the appointment
was referred. II. P. Clute of Mil
waukee, formerly state veterinarian
was present, together with Siman
Beattie of Madison and S. H. Hart
wig Of WATERFOWL All the charges
against DR.. Roberts were made oral
| ly and none were verified On ac-
count of the exceedingly informal
character of the charges, it was de-
manded both by DR.. Roberts and the
members of the committee that they
! be placed in writing and be signed
so as to make some person Or persons
responsible for them, and it was also
demanded by Senator Hagemeister
that affidayits be furnished so as to
establish the material facts alleged
as to the conduct of the state veter-
| marian.
The opponents of Dr. Roberts de-
clared their intentions or furnishing
affidavits to prove that DR.. Roberts
sold from his labratory, or allowed
some one in charge there to sell, q
case containing bottle of govern
ment tuberculin" together with in
structions for use in applying the
| tuberculn test to cattle. 1t is al
Ileged that the label government
tuberculin," was dishonest and that
the fluid in the bottle. was not gov
eminent tuberculin, but was from Dr.
Roberts laboratory. DR.. Roberts
demands proof that the case present
ed by Mr.. Clute before the committee
is the same as secured from the
laboratory by the man hired to do so
| by the accusers, and will ascertain
what representations were made by
the agent of the accusers to get the
bottle If it had that label on it when
taken from the laboratory.
DR.. Roberts denies absolutely that
he is purveying his own tuberculin as
government tuberculin. He has gov
eminent tuberculm in his laboratory
and has sometimes allowed it to go
out, but declares that 1t was invari-
ably with the agreement that the re-
quired report of the test should be
made to the United States depart
ment of agriculture. The govern
ment furnishes tuberculin free but re-
quires a report of the test
Appointment Much Needed.
There appeared in the hearing some
grounds for suspicion that the oppo-
sitiCn was not free from the faint of
disappointed office seekers, as some
of those who appeared against the con
firmation of DR.. Roberts were aggres,
siye and prominently mentioned"
candidates for the appointment Gov
ernor Davidson made the appointment
to fill the uneXpired term of the late
DR. r. d. Roberts Of GAINESVILLE, which
ton in the state was somewhat
emergent, the business in the Office
of the veterinarian had piled up
after the death of DR.. e. D. Roberts,
and on top Of this situation came a
report to the state livestock sanitary
board to the effect that anthrax had
broken out in La Crosse county
among some cattle there. A meet
ing of the board was held to consid
or the emergency and it was deter
mined that it would be necessary to
fill the office of veterinarian without
delay. The board therefore went to
Governor Davidson and urged him to
make the appointment accompanying
the request with the suggestion that
the appointment of DR. David Roberts
would be pleasing to the board. The
appointment followed and immediate
ly some of the disappointed candi-
dates became hostile.
The appointment came from the
governor to the senate week ago
Monday and ON motion of Senator
Pearson was referred to the commit
tee on agriculture, because of le-
quests from other veterinarians to be-
heard on the matter The commit
tee reached no determination at the
hearing, on account of the unsatisfac-
tory shape in which the remonstrance
was presented If the protestants
place their material in sufficiently
substantial form, properly verified,
the committee will hold a supplement.
tary hearing; otherwise the appoint
ment will be reported to the senate
in favor of confirmation.