New Britain herald., 1921-04-22
HARRIS EXPLAINS
 MATTER OF CALVES
Says Massachusetts Weight Re
 .quirementS Are Less Rigid

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 Dr. J. R. Harris. health superin- tendent, today corresponded with the Herald to the following effect. The Herald's comment is printed also be- low:
 April 22, 1921. The Editor.
 New Britain Herald,
 Sir:
 Your editorial of yesterday in the matter of the veais of February indi- cates that you do not understand the situation.
 The suitability and wholesomeness of these calves was at no time in question by anyone. The whole ques- tion was that of the technical obedi- ence to the state statute as to weight, and the Massachusetts weight require ment in relation to the Interstate Commerce law. As to the latter and the bearing on the question you al- ready have Judge Kirkham's report.
 Dr. Witte. the meat inspector, has always judged veal as to acceptabil- ity on the standard set by the United States government, then the state re- quirements as to age and weight were also considered before permission was given for local use and sale of veal. In his report to me as to these calves on February 18th. his first statement was that the quality of the meat was excellent, next that they, being Guernsey calves, were a few pounds underweight.
 Upon the owners request I released these calves for shipment to a state where the weight requirements were 4S pounds, The owner having failed to fill out the proper Interstate Com merce certificate, the veal was re- turned to him.
 I enclose a certificate of Dr, witte's in this case.
 Very sincerely.
 . J. F. HARRIS, M. D..
 Superintendent of Haafth.
 April 22, 1921. Board of Health,
 New Britain. Conn.
 Gentlemen:
 I certify that on February IS. 1921, was called upon to examine four (4) calves in one lot, already killed and dressed for acceptability as veal These were passed, being of good quality and fulfilling all tests as to immaturity. I was informed at the time that they were Guernsey calves and also Of full age for slaughtering; this had already determined upon inspection.
 Upon weighing these calves. how ever. I found them a few pounds under Connecticut legal weight and for that reason refused to accept them for local use. All this I immediate Iy reported to the superintendent of
  the owner as he said he was going to ship them to Massachusetts where the weight limit is 45 pounds.
 Attest,
 CHAS. R. wITTE,
 Meat Inspector.
 GERTRUDE V. BOWEN. .-.. Office Clerk. The Editor fails to understand how meat that is below standard even technically" in Connecticut should be shipped to other states with the advice and consent of the Health De- partment. whatever the requirements of the other states. We can readily see how pr. witte refused to pass it. under Connecticut statutes. we are glad that we have force of men that is protecting our tables from the use of meat that is, to say the least, questionable in this state, but we can not conceive of the moral justice in allowing it to be shipped elsewhere even though Dr. Harris may have been inside tho law in giving permis- sion to ship if. We admit that there is a great deal that tends to confu- sion in the interpretation of the Con- necticut statute and the interstate law. The fact remains that meat which Connecticut law considers un- fit to eat was shipped out of the state with the consent, if not the advice as Alderman Paonessa claims, of the local Health authorities. To the or dinary layman tbis does not appear as things shodld be, whether the meat was sent back from Massachusetts or not. And, though this is by the way, we cannot help but wonder what be- came of the so-called bob" veal after 1t had made the trip to Massa- chusetts and back. Was it then con- demned, or did the owner receive it back again? JOHNNY JONES" REHEARSAL. rehearsal of ssI.itt1e Johnny