152 Bulletin 65. 



found that the cost of estabhshing his claim amounted to more 

 than the claim was worth. Two appraisers mutually chosen for 

 State andstockowner, or still better, two honorable State appraisers 

 who shall make affidavit to each estimate of value will do evener 

 and more substantial justice to the owner of the stock, and the 

 appraisement will come up for liquidation without the suspicion 

 that attaches to such documents under the present system. If 

 these are judiciously selected for skill and integrity, their awards, 

 backed by the affidavits of the owner and inspector, will come to 

 the disbursing officer with the best possible guarantee of their 

 justice. 



D. Reference to the Court of Claims. 



By the present law every award for animals killed must be con- 

 sidered and allowed by the Court of Claims. The object is to 

 secure justice, but it is manifest that the precaution begins too 

 late. The Act leaves the owner to select his own appraisers, and 

 unscrupulous persons may conspire to secure an excessive award 

 in spite of the best efforts of the Court, who have never seen the 

 animals valued, and can only act on the evidence furnished. The 

 way is open therefore, for the unprincipled to prey on the State, 

 while the man of principle correspondingly suffers. The remedy 

 is to have appraisers, state officers and trustworthy men, in which 

 case their decision will be at once more intelligent, fair, and 

 equitable, than any revision that can possibly be made by a court 

 sitting at a distance, however able and honorable its judges may be. 



E. Delay in Paying Indemnities. 



As a necessary consequence of the reference to the Court of 

 Claims, much time is lost in preparing the case and in waiting the 

 turn of the particular entry on the list. As a rule hearings have 

 been had from nine to twelve months after the slaughter of the 

 animals. This is no real advantage to the State which is saddled 

 with the attendant Court expenses. It is often a serious matter to 

 the stockowner, who is thus kept out of his source of livlihood, or 

 has to borrow and pay interest on the money-value of the animals 

 killed. Knowing the consequences of such delay, and that in 



