THE SHOCK OF SHOWYARD WAR 533 



One Hundred Dollar Tax on Imported Cattle. 

 At the annual meeting of the American Hereford 

 Breeders' Association in Chicago on Nov. 13, 

 1885, membership in the association was restricted 

 to American citizens, and a new rule was adopted 

 providing that all imported cattle thereafter offered 

 for entry in the American herd book should pay a 

 recording fee of $100. The object of this was ob- 

 vious the checking of free importations of the in- 

 ferior or low-grade cattle which were being bought 

 in England in the hope of reselling in America at 

 a profit. 



At this same meeting a rule was adopted provid- 

 ing that every animal imported before Nov. 13, 



1885, and every animal calved in America prior 

 to Jan. 1, 1886, should not be eligible to record 

 in the American herd book after July 1, 1886 ; that 

 application for entry must be made within six 

 months ; and that out of every ten bulls dropped as 

 the property of any member after Jan. 1, 1886, 

 only nine should be eligible to record, the object of 

 this being to insure the discarding of 10 per cent of 

 the bull calf crop. A resolution was also adopted 

 providing that cattle imported prior to March 1, 



1886, by breeders unaware of these new rules should 

 be admitted on submission of proper evidence to 

 that effect. This meeting was presided over by Dr. 

 0. Bush of Sheldon, 111., at that time president of 

 the association. Needless to say, the radical action 

 aroused some bitterness and provoked acrimonious 

 debate. 



