318 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



last year was, after running the gauntlet of committee investi- 

 gation, favorably reported and enacted into law. This un- 

 broken line of successes would seem to demonstrate that the 

 bills asked for were reasonable, and appealed to the good sense 

 and calm judgment of the Legislature. 



By the provisions of one of the year's enactments originat- 

 ing from this department, mange was included in the list of 

 contagious diseases recognized as such by the Commonwealth. 

 This was asked for because of the alarming prevalence of the 

 disease among cattle, a condition that was seemingly being 

 overlooked if not ignored. My own experience as a raiser 

 of cattle and a dairyman had taught me the importance of 

 opposing its spread with direct and prompt action. It can 

 be stated with absolute truth that since the new classification 

 of this disease the efforts made by the Cattle Bureau for its 

 suppression have been attended with gratifying results. 



Another law for which we asked and which we were 

 panted clothed the Chief of the Bureau with greater power 

 in the matter of the appointment of local inspectors by city 

 and town officials. This has resulted in maintaining the effi- 

 ciency of the department by retaining in office tried and 

 capable men who otherwise would have been forced out under 

 local political pressure. In some instances it has enabled us 

 to substitute more efficient men for nonefficients who held 

 their places in payment of political debts. In most cases 

 this has been accomplished without material friction, and in 

 all cases the amended law has made it possible for the depart- 

 ment to maintain its standard of local inspection work. It 

 seems hardly necessary to say to your honorable Board that 

 if desirable results are to be attained there must be harmony 

 between the officer of the State and the appointee of the city 

 or town, a condition now made possible under this statute. 



A third bill transferred to the State Board of Health 

 certain duties in connection with the supervision of slaughter- 

 houses formerly vested in this department, thus placing the 

 responsibility upon one board instead of dividing it between 

 two, and at the same time removing all cause for conflict 

 of authority. 



Still another bill, also in the line of intelligent classifica- 



