The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1922-04-06
TnE DANGER FROM MILK

hoNtidl peIhOHb nave uleu OF septic
sore throats. The cause of the
strange malady has, II is believed,
been traced to infection from milk.
While this is the first manifesto
tion of this disease from this source,
In view of the fact that milk is one
of the chief foods of a large portion
Of the population, II would indicate
that the public should guard well its
milk supply.
And this gives rise to some other
observations. How is the public
protected here in Ontario7 Is II
protected at all7 Whose duty is Il
to guard the public health, or
should II be gyarded7
Right now hore is no protection.
Milk is being sold In Ontario from
cows that have not been tested with
in the statutory limit OF one year.
Cows are being sold at public auc-
tion which have not been tested,
though the law specifically declares
that this shall not bo done.
Recently the Argus learned that
man who was to have a sale had re-
fused. whom the law was called TO
his attention, 10 have the COWS he
was TO sell tested. Il would have
cost him $40. but rathor than pay
that sum, rather than learn, perhaps.
that one or moro OF the animals
could not bo offered for sale. he
elected 10 disoboy the law.
The attention OF several OF the
county officials was called to this
case, and likewise that OF the yotor-
marian, Dr. A. q. Moore. Tho lat
tor took the position that were he to
enforce this law; since he Is tho on
ly veterinarian In tho county; the
people would think that ho did 30
soloy TO secure the testing foo. lie
In turn reads the act to bo an inJunc-
tion upon all tho peace officers OF
tho county TO enforce. Tho sheriff
directed the Argus TO the District
Attorney, and the district Attorney
directed tho Argus to the yetorinar-
ian. There you have the story OF
an effort 10 sec whose duty II Is to
enforce a specific statute which is
designed TO protect the health OF the
public. Now, whose duty was II
to stop that sale. and perhaps pro-
tect some innocent purchaser from
the danger OF having his herd infect
ed; OF protecting some child from
drinking milk that might contain
germs which would cause later that
dread disease. tuberculosis
The sheriff passed Il up to the
district attorney. the district attor-
ney passed Il TO the veterinarian.
and the latter declined TO act because
OF his position.
The Argus is not printing this for
the purpose OF blaming any OF these
men. They may all be right; but
what we want TO show is that some
where there Is a screw loose In our
machinery OF law enforcement. II
Ia one OF the causes OF high taxes
and in the high cost OF government.
We have special officers for the
enforcement OF game laws; special
officers for the enforcement OF the
traffic laws; we have special officers
for the enforcement of laws relating
to children; We have special officers
to enforce the weights and meas
ures; the workmen's compensation
laws; special factory inspectors;
special fire hazard inspectors and so
on ad infinitum.
What Oregon needs Is a solon TO |
come along and so readjust the ma
chinery OF law enforcement that this
duplication viii be done away with
and that positive responsibility will
rest somewhere. Either that or the
laws will have TO be made self exc
cutionary. Can that be done2
Unless something like this is
done the system such as We have
win continue. The present Off
oials are not to be blamed They
are doing what their predecessors
have always done, Each set of Of
ficers take a particular interest In
particular set OF laws TO enforce;
other laws they expect other officers
to look after. It is all the result OF
a gradual growth. A revision is
necessary.