452 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



replied : ' ' We deemed it wise not to offer an}^ of the amend- 

 ments. The Legislature seemed bound not to make any 

 changes whatever except where the change was necessary on 

 account of some provision of law which would be made in- 

 operative unless the change was made." 



These errors are three. Section 42, relative to complaints 

 to be instituted by inspectors of milk, omits allusion to the 

 renovated butter law. Section 61, which imposes a penalty 

 for milk inspectors conniving at or assisting in a violation 

 of the provisions of several sections, includes in the list 

 section 70, which relates to the inspection of meat and pro- 

 visions. Section 64 orders milk inspectors to make com- 

 plaints on information as to the violation of several laws, 

 and includes those requiring the Hatch experiment station 

 to inspect Babcock testers and the glassware connected 

 therewith. 



The codification has improved the phraseology of the laws 

 in several respects, particularly in a general definition of 

 butter and oleomargarine, which saves several verbose repe- 

 titions. The commission and the committee saw several 

 places where the laws could be still further improved, but 

 most of these changes seem to border on new legislation, 

 and were therefore debarred. One change seems to us to be 

 required. Some of the fines go to the Commonwealth, and 

 some go to the cities or towns where the offence is com- 

 mitted. There is no reason for such lack of uniformity, 

 which introduces an element of confusion, and sometimes 

 occasions trouble. It would be much better, both in theory 

 and practice, if all the fines arising under these laws were 

 disposed of uniformly. We recommend that all take the 

 same course, and go to the cities or towns where the offence 

 is committed, as is the case with the greater portion of the 

 fines for other offences. 



The codification makes a change in the spirit of and prac- 

 tice under one law. Chapter 1G9, Acts of 1899, directed an 

 officer who obtained a sample of milk for analysis to send, 

 within ten days of the " procurement thereof," the result of 

 the analysis to the person from whom the sample was taken. 

 In the opinion of the Attorney-General and the codification 



