Valley frontiersman., 1952-04-24

night, was now in trouble him self. A long-standing disagree ment between the veterinarian and his immediate superior, Com missioner of Agriculture Clyde Sherman, had eliminated in a letter diSmissing him from his job on May l5 unless he succeeded in answering charges contained in the letter.
 Dr. Graves came to the Valley as Territorial Veterinarian in December, l940. At first he was under the supervision of Loren T. Oldroyd of the University of Alaska Extension Service, but short time later he was placed under the direct supervision of the governors office. In 1945 the Territorial legislature authorized the setting up of the Alaska De- partment of Agriculture with George W. Gasser subsequently, appointed as its first commission CT. The position of Territorial veterinarian was then placed under the supervision of the De- partment of Agriculture. AL though there was some feeling that the department should be located in Palmer because of it's proximity to the largest concen- tration of agriculture in the Ter ritory, it was located in Fair banks-possibly because that was GasSer's home and the University of Alaska was located there. Clyde Sherman was assistant to Gasser when he was appointed by the governor to succeed Gasser when he retired January 1, 1850. Three Valley men were also con- sidered for the position: Eugene Kirsch, Neil Miller, and Dr. Graves.
 During the past year Sherman. in enthusiastic efforts to stimu- late the growth and improvement of the animal industry in Alaska, has formulated new regulations and programs toward that end. Chief among these are his regu- lations regarding slaughtering and his new campaign to eradicate Bangs disease from Alaskan dairy herds. Sherman explained his slaughtering regulations i1 Palmer at a meeting of the Dairy men's committee April 2 and at a meeting of the Breeders As sociation the following night,
 Charges against Graves includ- ed his failure to cooperate in the Alaska Department of Agrl- culture Livestock improvement program" his failure to assist in the preparation of the new Slaughterhouse and Meat Inspec- ton Regulations and be present at the meetings where they were explained, and his failure or un- willingness to cooperate with the new Bangs disease eradication program. Along with these char ges, which were included under two headings, went an additional charge that farmers were forced to come and get Dr. Graves and take him home in order to pro- cure his services. The third major charge involved what might be a difference of opinion over the interpretation of Section 33-l-2 ACLA 1949, which provides that the Commissioner shall promul- gate a uniform schedule of charg- es and credit arrangements for farmers and others for treatment of livestock and poultry, such fees to be collected and transmit ted to the Territorial Treasurer. This section is silent as to fees from small animals and pets.
 In a letter to Governor Gruen- ing, which was drafted by the moderator of the meeting, Ro- land Snodgrass, and approved with alterations and additions by those present, this charge was an- swered in part as follows:
 "With reference to Charge 3, such small animal practice as has ao,,,o fo him hac in no way in