The Washington times., 1910-10-06
Washington Dealers Will
Contest Cattle Test Order
Of Health Board.
DAIRYMAN CHARGES
MISUSE OF FUNDS
Says Treasury Head WrongfuIly
Reimburses Those Killing Cows
With tuberculosis.

Legal steps will be taken by Wash
ington milk dealers in conjunction
with Maryland and Virginia producers.
10 test the legality of the Health De-
partments new order requiring all
cows supplying milk shipped here TO
be tuberculin tested.
Whether this action will come
through the Milk Dealers and Milk
Producers Associations or through an
alliance Of individual dealers is not
yet known.
That such action viii be taken at
once was announced today by Corbin
Thompson. vice president Of The deal
ers' body, and one Of TIE largest milk
dealers in this city.
Dealers Determined.
Il am not authorized TO speak for
the dealers association" said Mr..
Thompson. TT IS possible that it
may test the legality Of Or. Wood
wards latest move But it is my be-
lief that if the association does not
take such steps at its next meeting.
dealers viii force some action on their
own account. The case is bound 10
reach the courts and as II seems 70
be an interstate matter IL is not be-
yond the range Of possibility that II
shall be argued before the Supreme
Court"
The Health Department exceeded its
preroEatives, the dealers claim. when It
attempted 10 force farmers Of Maryland
ana Virginia to submit their cattle 70 the
tuberCulin test The test is compulsory
in the District Of Columbia. but is not
in either Of these States.
Money Used Wrong?
That money not appropriated for that
purpose IS being used by the Secretary
Of the Treasury to reimburse District
dairymon who are ordered 10 kill COWS
as a result Of the tests. was another
charge made today ny Mr.. Thompson.
We are prepared to prove" he said.
and 1 believe there is no disposition 70
denv it, that money used 10 paw farmers
for loss OF cattle through tuberculosis
was not appropriated for that purpose,
but was set aside for payment for cat
tie infected with the hoOf and mouth
disease"
Another violation OF the law, accord
ing 20 Mr. Thompson. is the shipping OF
infected cattle across the State lines Of
Maryland and Virginia
Interstate Law Rigid.
while there is no law requiring the
tubercuMn test in neighboring States.
there IS a very plain and rigid inter
state act which prohibits the shipping Of
diseased and infected cattle from one
State TO another" he said. Evidence
has been brought to our attention that
COWS are being shipped In violation OF
this regulation into both Maryland and
Virginia"
The formality OF an inspection is not
even gone through ia many cases, the
dealer charged.
IF DIT. Woodward's action Of the past
week is considered legal Mr.. ThOmp-
] son said, Then we would like 70 ask
| why he did not prOmulgate a similar
order fifteen years ago.
''If there Is any lawful authorization
/ OF such an act the Health Department
I head has been criminally negligent for
/ years N not enforcing 1t. There is no
| more excuse for such a requirement
now than there has been in past years. Il"
Action May Be Delayed.
II is believed the Mix Dealers Asso-
/ ciation will suspend any steps at legal
I action until their petition for a public
/ hearing concerning the actions OF the
{ Health Department as regards the milk
! supply Of the District is passed upon.
1 The petition reached Commissioner
/ Johnston's desk today. Though such
a hearing has been twice refused, It is
/ thought that il may now be granted
/ as the result Of the new regulation af-
1 fectinE tubercular cattle in Maryland
and Virginia.
/ ''The Health Department welcomes a
/ hearing said Health Officer William
! G. Woodward today.
! I'VE have never had any objection
! 10 stating our status in this case. We
/ stand where we have always stood. for
/ the enforcement of the same reguIa-
/ tiOns upon the shippers Of milk from
( other States as We do of the producer
! who lives in the District.
I We believe modern science most CON
4 clusively has prevented the danger OF
CONTINUED on Seventh Page)