The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-10-19
CUT OUT THE GRAFT.
Substitute a System Above Petty
Graft.

To the Editor, Much is being said at
present In criticism of the existing laws
dealing with the control Of bovine tuoer-
culosis and there seems 70 be strong
sentiment toward changing the present
method OF handling the matter
II is q many sided subject, but neither
in the various editorials nor IN the cattle
commissioners report has the key note
been struck
II has been asserted, and with good
reason, that owners have been able 20
dispose Of their refuse stock at a good
profit TO themselves by rosorting 10 the
test; nothing has been said Of the rotten
system and careless appraisal ON the
part Of the state agent which permits
this graft
There has been much dissatisfaction
with the great amony OF money wasted
In the past two years; there has been
nothing said about the asininity OF re-
fusing 10 realize the value OF the cattle
which the state acquires, either as FOOD
or ohal as the extent OF the LESSONS war
rant.
II the present law is 10 be changed,
let us begin at the root of the evil,
the inefficient handling Of the situation
by the present authorities.
/. Abolish the sineeure Office OF cattle
commissioner, which is at best not much
more than figure head Abolish the
petty graft of the two by four yeteri-
narians In whose hands the test has
given such unsa tisfactory results, and
whose appraisals have been the laughing
stock Of the state.
In their places hire a competent Yeter-
marian, connect the Office with the state
Board OF Health or the Agricultural Com
mission, pay him enough so that he can.
devote his entire time TO the work and
have the testing done by him or under
his personal supervision.
2. Make testing compulsory. Other
wise no measure will ever control the
disease and it will be foolish TO spend
any money at all.
g. Recognize the fact that there are
instances where the value Of the animals
reaeting and the probability Of restric-
tive measures being complied with war
rants the segregation OF these animals
instead Of compulsory slaughter, and
to that end authorize the discretionary
use OF the Bang system.
4. Recognize the fact that the sup
preston of this disease is a public health
measure, and that while no man should
be allowed to make il means Of enricn-
heft Of the burden.
5. Because Of the above fact, and that
the state may minimize the expenditure
let the cattle slaughtered be killed under
competent veterinary supervision and If
found flt for foot disposed Of as such
il not let them be sold for fertilizer ma
terial, in either case thereby securing
a legitimate return to the state on what
is now being buried and wasted. Let
the hide also revert TO the state, for II
ii pays a fair value for the cattle con
demned, it has done its full duty and
the owner should not expect this little
additional graft. II is safe to say that
by taking advantage Of the monetary
values that every carcass represents. no
matter how badly diseased, the expendi-
lures Of the past two years could have
been reduced more than fifty per cent,
and it is on this point that your attcn-
ton should be concentrated. that the
state may benefit not by the shifting of |
the burden onto the shoulders of the
farmer. but By the conservation Of what
5 now permitted to be wasted
There Is talk of abolishing all meas
ares for the control of the disease. Such |
,ction would be disgrace to the state
Ind mistake. Abolish the present sys-
.em, yes, root and branch, but substitute |
therefor a sane, systematic, united eff
ort to eradicate the disease from the
tate. Substitute system above petty |
Taft and political Incompetence and |
air to all. one that viii not permit the
tate to be robbed nor the owner op-
PRESSED, and then it will but be ques,
ion Of few years when we win be I
rec from the curse Of bovine tubercu-
osis.
u W p-oaf-