The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-10-20
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FRANK B. HOWE, Editor and Publisher
The Cattle Test.

The Cattle Test.
B. ~ Brock of Burlington has sent
the following letter to several Of the
state papers:
To the Editor :--Much is being said
at present in criticism of the existing
laws dealing with the control of boz
vine tuberculosis and there seems to
be a strong sentiment toward chang
ing the present method of handling
the matter.
Il is a many sided subject, but
neither in the various editorials nor
In the cattle commissioners report
has the key note been struck
1t has been asserted, and with good
reason, that owners have been able
to dispose Of their refuse stock at
good profit to themselves by resorting
to the test; nothing has been said of
the rotten system and careless APP
praisal on the part OF the state agent
which permits this graft.
There has been much dissatisfac
ton with the great amount of money
wasted in the past two years; there
has been nothing said about the asin-
Unity of refusing to realize the value
of the cattle which the state acquires,
either as food or offal as the extent of
the LESSONS warrant.
II the present law is to be changed
let us begin at the root of the evil,
the inefficient handling of the situa-
ton by the present authorities.
/. Abolish the sinecure office OF
cattle commissioner which is at best
not much more than a figure head.
Abolish the petty graft of the two by
four veterinarians in whose hands the
test has given such unsatisfactory re-
suit, and whose appraisals have been
the laughing stock of the state
In their places hire a competent
veterinarian, connect the office with
the State Board OF Health or the Agri-
cultural Commission, pay him enough
so that he can devote his entire time
to the work and have the testing done
by him OF under his personal super
vision.
2. Make testing compulsory. Other
wise no measure will ever control the
disease and It will be foolish to spend
any money at all.
3. Recognize the fact that there
are instances where the value of the
animals reacting and the probability
OF restrictive measures being COM
piled with warrants the segregation
of these animals instead Of a compul-
sorry slaughter, and to that end auth
OriZe the discretionary use of the
Bang system.
4. Recognize the fact that the sup
preston OF this disease is public
health measure, ana that while no
man should be allowed TO make 1t a
means OF enTiching himself, the state
must bear the heft of the burden.
5. Because of the above fact, and
that the state may minimize the eX-
penditure let the cattle slaughtered
/ be killed under competent veterinary
supervision and II found fit for food
disposed OF as such, II not let them be
sold for fertilizer material, in either
case thereby securing legitimate re-
turn 10 the state on what is now being
| buried and wasted. Let the hide also
revert to the state, for II It pays a fair
value for the cattle condemned II has
done its full duty and the owner
should not expect this little additional
graft IL is safe to say that by TAX
| ing advantage OF the monetary value
that every carcass represents I'D mat
ter how badly diseased, the expendi-
lures of the past two years could have
been reduced more than fifty per cent,
and II is on this point that your at
tontion should be concentrated. that
the state may benefit not by the shift
ing of the burden onto the shoulders
of the farmer, but by the conseryat
ion Of what II Is now permitting to be
wasted.
There Is talk OF abolshing all
measures for he control OF the dis
ease. Such action would be a dis
grace 10 the state and a mistake
Abolish the present system, yes, root
and branch. but substitute therefore
a sane. systematic, united effort to
eradicate the disease from the state
Substitute a system above petty graft
and political incompetence and fair to
all, one that will not permit the state
TO be robbed nor the owner oppressed
and then Il will be but a question OF
a few years when we will be free from
the curse OF bovine tuberculosis.
u. n. Brock
We do not know who b. n Brock Is
and so cannot say whether his opinion
Is worth much, but We are not at al
convinced by his assertions. We dom
believe the state board OF healtl
should have anything to do with IN,
cattle business That board has
enough to do In dealing with human
beings. Then too. Mr.. Brock does no
} know what he is talking about In hii
criticism OF the present cattle com
missioner He is an active, hare
working and conscientious man an'
has labored as hard for the Interests
Of the state as any man could Will
his experience and well known rugge,
honesty and fearlessness he is tn,
2 best man in the state to have charg
of the business for the coming tw,
/, years, however the law may be amend
ed.
The commissioner should be giyel
more power In many directions ant
the state should get as much as pos
sible out OF the carcasses Of cattl
killed. There Is no reason for belie'
ing either that the appraisal OF stoc
killed during the past two years In