The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-04-01
FARMERS OBJECT
TO TEST OF COWS
ASSEMBLY KILLS BILLS MAKING
TUBERCULIN TEST COMPUL-
sorry IN STATE.
INVOLVE BIG MONEY LOSS.
Present Law Reimburses Owners of
Slaughtered Cattle Only on
Valuation of $50.
NEW LAW is NOW PROPOSED.

MADISON, Wis, March 2T.-TSpe-
cial. lis the joke on the farmers? 1t
appears so. Protests are coming in by
already introduced which have as their
object more stringent laws-disastrous to
farmers financial Notwithstanding
the tuberculin test for cows.
Assembly Kills Bills.
Farmers throughout the state became
aware of the bills when they were first
introduced. One of them was by Assem-
blyman Otto Onstad of Dane county
This bill provided for the compulsory
testing of all cattle in Wisconsin, a Her
culean task. The payment for the cattle
found infected and slaughtered was to be
about the same as under the present law.
Under the present law it is optional
with the farmer owner whether his cat
tie shall be tested.
When cattle are found to be infected
With tuberculosis their value is appraised
~ local board and the state pays the
farmer fraction of what they are
worth. The state pays Sc per cent. of
the value of each slaughtered COW, but
in no case will it accept a valuation
of more than $50 head. Therefore, if
Farmer Brown has a $3.50 milch COW
tested and it is found to be infected,
alton of 500. This makes Farmer
Brown mad. There are many Farmer
Browns and they have risen up in in
dignation over the bill that makes it
compulsory that all cows shall be ex-
amined and the infected cces slaugh
tered.
New Law Proposed.
Now it comes about that an the pro-
testing and petitioning of the Legislature
is useless and this is where the joke IS
on the farmer. Here is the truth. The
Onstad and other bills of the same pur-
port were killed early this week. They
We're recommended for death by the AS
sembly committee on agriculture and the
Assembly dealt the blow.
New Law Proposed.
Under present plans the committee on
agriculture will report a bill of its own
making regarding the tuberculin test by
the state sanitary and livestock board.
This bill will provide not for optional
or compulsory tests but for tests in all
cases where cattle are offered for sale
Or change hands If Farmer Brown de-
cideS to sell his Jersey herd he must
have each head examined and tested. If
they prove healthy the sale goes through.
If they don't, then he must submit to a
decree of death for the infected Jerseys
and accept the pittance paid by the state
for diseased cattle.
Il believe that such a bill will meet
with the appNyal of farmers throughout
the state" said Assemblyman Axel John
son of Turtle Lake, who is Il member of
the committee on agriculture. If this
law We're TO be enforced we would soon
see an end to tuberculosis among cat
tie.
Farmers Want Hearing.
Demands by darymeG and farmers in
general have been so insistent for a hear
ing before the committee on agriculture
that that committee will meet them next
Tuesday. although in the light of the in
definite postponement of the obnoxious
bills, there is no need for such hearing.
Says one who is interested in the cause
of the farmers and dairymen:
"The farmers and dairymen will be on
hand next week to refute the claims of
the professional farmers and dairymen,
men who work the real producers
Thousands of petitions have been signed
throughout Calumet, Waukesha, Wal
worth and other counties. The bill that
sought to compel the testing of all cat
tie is absurd. There are approximately
ing would involve months of time and
cost at least S1,5OO.OOO and probably
much more. not to mention the immense
cost to farmers. There is widespread
belief among farmers and dairymen that
the tuberculin test is a fake, pure and
simple. At any rate, experts do not
agree as to whether bovine tuberculosis
can be taken by humans and so long as
there is an element of doubt it seems
ridiculous to continue the slaughter of
the innOCentS.'