1891.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 201 



Mr. Chamberlain. It appears to me that, if we are to 

 have a certificate of the soundness of the sire, we should also 

 have a certificate of the soundness of the dam. These 

 imperfections are transmitted perhaps more generally through 

 the dam than through the sire ; and why should we not have 

 a certificate of the soundness of the dam, as well as of 

 the sire? 



Secretary Sessions. The law of last winter reads as fol- 

 lows : " The owner or keeper of any stallion for breeding pur- 

 poses shall, before advertising by written or printed notices 

 the service thereof, file a certificate with the clerk of that city 

 or town in the county in which said stallion is owned or kept, 

 stating the name, color, age and size of the same, together 

 with the pedigree of said stallion as fully as obtainable, and 

 the name of the person by whom he was bred. And it shall 

 be the duty of such clerk to record such certificate in a book 

 kept for that purpose. Copies of such certificate duly 

 certified by such clerk may be used in evidence the same as 

 the original in any court in the Commonwealth. The fee of 

 the clerk for recording each certificate shall be twenty-five 

 cents. Whoever neglects to make and file such certificate 

 shall recover no compensation for the services of his said 

 stallion, and if he knowingly and wilfully makes and files 

 a false certificate of the statements aforesaid he shall for each 

 and every offence be subject to a penalty of one hundred 

 dollars." 



The Chairman. The question is now whether this Com- 

 mittee shall be instructed to bring this matter before the 

 Legislature, and request legislation upon it. 



The question was then put, and resulted in a vote of fifteen 

 in the affirmative to eight in the negative. 



Mr. Appleton. I suppose the members of the Board 

 only have a right to vote. 



Mr. Dudley. It seems to me it ought to be understood 

 whether any but those who are members of the Board have 

 a right to voi;e. I did not vote, because I am not a member 

 of the Board. 



The Chairman. We would be very glad to have a full 

 expression from all those who are in favor of, and all those 

 who are opposed to, the resolution. We are here in conven- 



