The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-06-25
BRIGHAM COMES BACK
AT VETERINARY CRITICS
Says Bellows Falls Cattle Dealer Was
Given Fair Treatment-Quotes
Letter From Washinoton

Montpelier, June 24-Complete
denial that any unusual or unwaIrant
ed conditions were imposed upon
Lew Lowell, of Bellows Falls,
dealer in registered cattle, in the
matter of administering tubreculin
tests to his herd, as minated in
news dispatch appearing in The Mes.
enger, and other state papers, was
made today by state Commissioner
OF Agriculture Ebert S. Brigham,
when interviewed 10y "a Messenger re-
porter concerning what appeared TO
be in all the circumstances an un.
warranted display Of bureaucratic ty
ranny.
The facts have not been truthfully
presented to the newspaper reading
public" said Mr. Brigham and when
the people are spending nearly
quarter Of a million of Their tax
money annually in a definite move
ment, they are entitled to have the
truth concerning it, Instead of max,
ing any attempt to prevent Mr.. Lowell
from shipping his cattle out of the
state, everything possible under the
laws was done to assist him in max
ing such shipment. Test charts for.
Warded TO the agricultural office at
Montpelier by any veterinarian on
the approved list of the commissioner
would have been stamped with the
certificate of the commissioner stat
ing his belief in the honesty and com
potency o. the veterinarian making
the test, and such certified chart
would permit the interstate ship
ment of any cattle and admit them
to any state
The law further provides that an
owner may have state test of his
stock, but specifically commands the
commissioner to prescribe as a con.
dition of such test, the observance on
the part Of the owner of such meas.
ues as shall be demmed necessary
by the commissioner to keep the
herd free from tuberculosis These
tests are made by veterinarians EN-.
poyed on salary, who are not allowed
to receive pay for any private prac-
ticC
"Mr. Lowell requested Doctor De
Fossett to ass gn Dr.. l.. II. Adams, a
veterinarian employed on salary by
the federal government and stationed
at Bellows Falls, to make test OF
his herd without his having to sign
an agreement as provided for by the
laws of Vermont, that he would, in
the future observe the measures
deemed necessary to keep the herd
free from tuberculosis, Mr.. Lowell
evidently wanted the prestige of a
federal test because it would add
value to his cattle in the sale which
he has advertised, and then he want
ed to be perfectly free to do as he
pleased Doctor DeFossett, there
upon, wrote his superior officer, the
chief of the bureau of animal industry
at Washington, and asked if spec
ial ruling would be made in the case
of Mr. Lowell and received the follow
ing reply:
elm reply to your letter of the 2nt
instant relative to the request of Mr.
l.. c. Lowell to have a bureau inspec
tor detailed to tuberculin test his cal
tie so as to facilitate Their interstate
shipment. you are advised that it j!
not the policy of the bureau to assign
employees to test cattle for that pur
pose Unless Mr. Lowell signs al
agreement in accordance with the pc
icy of the state department of agri
culture. the bureau should not coop
crate for testing his herd
Respectfully,
A. Herman.
Chief, tuberculosis Eradication
Division
From this information it is clea
that Mr. Lowell received at the hand
of botn state and federal department
exactly the same treatment that an,