Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-03-05
DRAPER ISSUES
A STATEMENT
"SIjghtIy Infected" Beef Need
Not Be Marked For Sale
NOT CONSIDERED DANGEROUS

For an lnvestigation-lts Author
Says State Laws Strictly Forbid
Sale of Meat of a Diseased Animal
Surprised That Governor Had
Failed to Take Action
Boston, March AT about the
same time that an order was intro
duced in the state senate calling for
an investigation of the manner of
disposal of cattle affected with tuber-
culosis or other diseases in Massa-
chusetts, a lengthy statement OF the
conditions governing such disposal
was issued by Governor Draper, who
says:
There is no occasion for excite
ment about existing conditions. Sub
stantially all the beef that is sold and
consumed in the commonwealth is
killed under government conditions,
which are the best known in this
or any other country. The very small
quantity not under government in
spection is u2der the inspection OF
local officers appointed by the local
boards of health.
With reference to demands which
have been published recently in local
papers that the state should require
that the meat of slightly infected
cattle be so marked when offered for
sale, the governor says:
THE United States government
| does not require the marking for sale
of slightly infected beef No state
in the union. as | am informed, at
| the present time marks meat offered
for sale as slightly infected 1t is
Of course understood that this meat
referred to as slightly infected is
not considered by the United States
authorities as dangerous to the peo-
Pile"
The resolution introduced in the
senate was offered by Senator Parker
Of Boston and was referred to the
committee on rules. 1t calls for an
investigation by the committee on
public health, with instructions to re-
port to the legislature as early as
practicable.
Following the governors statement
came very short report from Senator
Parker, who has an order before the
legislature for the investigation of
the entire system of handling meat in
this commonwealth.
Senator Parker declared that Gov
ernor Draper had put his statement
that the tainted meat being sold was
government inspected against the
laws of tia commonwealth, which ex-
plicitly state that neither diseased
meat nor the meat of a diseased ami
NAL shall be sold, under a fine and
Jail penalty.
That Parker's statement means war
between the senator and the govern
or over the tuberculosis meat ques-
ton is admitted by the most con
sentative who read the sharp reply
of the senator. The latter introduced
his order by saying that he had wait
ed for Draper to take action, and
was surprised that the governor haC
failed to do so.
Never has there been an issue be-
fore the legislature that has created
greater interest. The sentiment is
that the matter ought to be inquired
into, considering the charge of Chic
Melvin of the United States bureau
of animal inspection that there are
hundreds of cattle being slaughtered
every year without any inspection a
all.
How far the contention of DR.
Peters that he has discretionary
powers in such matters has affected
the entire system of administration
and demoralized it, is a very pressing
question for inquiry
1t is covered by the Parker ordel
for a probing of the transportation
quarantining. inspection and sale O
the meat of tuberculosis cows.
that order is passed the people of the
state will be given an opportunity Il
} know just how very important par
: of it's food supply is being admins
tered.
Billion Dollar Congress Outclas