No. 4.] CATTLE COMMISSIONERS' REPORT. 445 



absence of some such system leads to the concealment and dispersion 

 of disease. In many cases the comparatively small expenditure for 

 indemnity distributed among many tax payers is truer economy than 

 the losses in life and money caused by animal diseases which have 

 been concealed. 



2. The indemnity system recognizes the rights of property. 



3. Since the public is benefited in being guarded against disease, 

 it should bear its share of the cost of that protection. 



On the other hand : — 



1. The indemnity system is apt to encourage disease. The stock 

 owner is less careful if he can rel}' on the State to purchase his in- 

 fected animals, even though at a low rate. 



2. Diseased animals are often collected at a low figure from other 

 owners and other States for the purpose of getting indemnity from 

 the State. 



3. It is liable to become a burden to the tax payer. 



4. The State essentially insures breeders and owners against their 

 mistakes and misfortunes. "While it is hard to lose property in any 

 form, a diseased animal is a nuisance. There should be no question 

 between a loss of dollars and the not improbable ruin of the health 

 of human beings. 



From the stand-point of disease eradication only, there is no ques- 

 tion that a liberal indemnity promptly paid is preferable to any other 

 course. 



Prof. James Law, of the New York Tuberculous Commis- 

 sion, in Bulletin 65, April, 1894, of the Cornell University, 

 Agricultural Experiment Station, Veterinary Division, gives 

 the following views : — 



Insufficient Indemnity a False EcoNOivrr. 



In conclusion, it is right to emphasize the importance of a due con- 

 sideration of property rights. Sanitary laws which in any way ignore 

 or disregard the rights of property have within themselves the seeds 

 of defeat. If within our municipal abattoir the butcher cannot con- 

 duct his business as well and economically as in his own establish- 

 ment, he or his competitors will evade the law in some way. If the 

 stock owner is not fairly reimbursed for his animals slaughtered and 

 for other losses sustained for the protection of the public health and 

 of the countrj^'s herds, unscrupulous men will find ample means of 

 trading off the as yet incipient and occult cases of tuberculosis, and 



