Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-11
Compensation Assured for
Milk Cows Condemned.
FOLLOWING A RIGID TEST
Decision by Solicitor of Department
of Agriculture.
RULING APPLIED TO DISTRICT
Regulation for Rigid Inspection Of
Cattle Under Consideration-Law
to Be Enforced.

In an effort to improve the milk sup
ply Of the District and reduce trherculo-
sis. the District Commissioners are short
IL to consider regulations providing tor
application OF the tuberculin test tn all
COWS in the National Capital. the slaugh-
ter of those found TO he infected with
tuberculosis. and the compensation Of
the owners for tine animals killed oct o.
funds OF the Department of Agriculture.
This follows decision Of the solicitor
Of the Department OF Agriculture, George
p. McC'abe, that the department can pro
vide for the compensation of cattle OWL
ers within the District Of Columbia "a hose
cattle may be destroyed as q result of
the application of the tubeTcvlin tes'.
There arc no District funds available for
the purpose and this has been considered
bar to the passage OF regulations re-
curing the tuberculin testing 81 herds.
A commission of milk experts, appoint
ed by the Commissioners upon the s1g-
gestion OF Commissioner Mcfarland. rec
commended that the tubcrculin test be ap-
piled in order TO stop the III effects OF
bovine tuberculosis upon the milk sup
ply OF the District of Columbia. but OBJ
lection made because there was n"
apparent provision for compensation 70
the owners of the cattle found BY the
test to be infected with tuberculosis.
Confer on Cooperation Method.
Conferences have recently been held at
Commissioner Macfarland's request be-
tween the District health officer, ". {.
Woodward, and representatives Of the
Department Of Agriculture, with view
to establishing such cooperation between
the District government and the Depart
ment of Agriculture would prov DE
fn,- In he mi
cate within the District. with compen-
sat.on to the owners of those animals
which had to be destroyed.
Dr.. Woodw ard has just reported to the
Commissioner the decision OF the solicit
tor of the Department of Agriculture re-
garding the compensation Of cattle. own
ers within the District of Columbia
whose cattle may he destroyed as the re-
suit of the application of the tuherculin
test. 1t therefore results that the Com
miss 'oners have full power to require the
cattle within the District of Columbia TO
be so tested.
This would not apply to cattle brought
into the District for immediate slaughter
nor cattle under six months old fo-
purposes other than immediate slaughter,
provided the latter had come from pr m
Uses where there had been no tuberculosis
during the six months Immediately pre-
ceding
Draft Of Regulations.
DR.. 4. =. Melvin. chief OF the bureau
of animal industry. Department of Agr.-
culture. and DIR. Woodward have prepared
a draft of the proposed regulations which
has been approved by Mr. McC:abe. az
solicitor of the Department of Agricul-
ture. and which Commissioner Macfar-
land will ask the Commissioners TO con-
slider. first referring IL TO the corporation
counsel for his advice.
lis proposed regulations are drafted
under section s Of the act of 1854. al-
thorizing the Commissioners 10 make reg
ulaticns for the suppression of bovine
tuberculosis and other animal diseases
within the District of Columbia. the same
act authorizing the Secretary Of Agr1-
culture to expeEd such moneys as may
be appropriated tor the purpose Of the
eradication of diseases I'm cattle when he
shall approve means and methods de-
yised therefor by the respective states
and territories.
Under this latter provision the Secre-
tary of Agriculture upon his approval
of the action OF the District Commits
| sioners could and would order that the
animals condemned for slaughter be paid
for out of the appropriations under the
control of the Department OF Agriculture.