442 BOARD OF AGEICULTUEE. [Pub. Doc. 



the farmer can receive from the State the full health value of 

 such animals, the law would defeat itself, because it would be 

 much more prolitable to do this than to keep his animals under 

 normal conditions, where, while they may last longer, the 

 owner can receive nothing for such animals on their death. 



They further assert that such payment will result in the im- 

 portation of diseased animals into the State for ti^e purpose of 

 selling them to the government, stating — what is uudoubtedly 

 true — that such animals may be bought for a few dollars, and 

 that if they can sell them to the State at $37.72 a head, or even 

 $18.86 a head, they would obtain such a large profit that it 

 would encourage this illicit trade, which it would be practically 

 impossible to prevent. 



In answer to this last argument, those who favor the propo- 

 sition assert that if, coupled with the law providing compensa- 

 tion, a minimum limit is imposed of residenceship of such 

 animals before the owner can receive compensation, the danger 

 of the loss of the total value of the animals if found and de- 

 stroyed within that limit of time would so discourage the intro- 

 duction of such animals that but few would be imported ; that, 

 by means of proper quarantine regulations such as have already 

 been established, all such animals can be stopped and examined 

 at the State line, and if found tuberculous will be destroyed; 

 and that, by a system of branding animals within the State 

 which have been found free from the disease, the introduction 

 of such animals into the State without the brand would imme- 

 diately expose the practice, and that thus as a result there 

 would be but little danger from this source. 



As between the half indenmity and the full indemnity, those 

 who favor the half indemnity assert that under the circum- 

 stances it is a more just and equitable distribution of the burden 

 and benefit ; that, while the farmer reaps the benefit with other 

 citizens resulting from the State's obtaining a pure food supply, 

 he reaps an additional benefit by having the State remove from 

 his herds, without expense to him, this source of contagion, 

 which is liable ultimately to destroy them ; and that therefore 

 he should bear a greater share of the expense than he would by 

 simply paying his proportion of the taxes ; and, further, that 

 by paying one-half indemnity there would not be suflicient in- 

 ducement to unscrupulous persons to practise fraud upon the 

 State for the purpose of obtaining this amount. 



