320 
where it is now next to impossible to ''unload" any kind of live- 
stock, without it being reasonably certain that they are not bring- 
ing with them any infection or "germs" of any kind which might 
prove deleterious to the livestock interests of the Territory. That 
this end has not been gained without a rich harvest of opprobrium, 
enmity or ill-will goes without saying, but that the same has at 
times assumed such proportions as to cause Dr. Baker to seriously 
consider a request for relief from the duties of inspecting live- 
stock for the Islands is undoubtedly news to the members of the 
Board, though perhaps not to some of the local importers. Dr. 
Baker joined the force of the Federal Bureau of Animal In- 
dustry in 1891 when he was assigned as my assistant on the 
killing floor of Nelson, Morris & Co., in Chicago, and I am very 
much inclined to believe that had it not been foi" our old time 
friendship, and personal regard of long standing, the inspection 
of livestock for the Islands could very easily have been limited 
to the letter of the law and to the strict observance of and com- 
jjliance with rules and regulations, which, especially when dealing 
with such delicate matters as the interpretation of a tuberculin or 
mallein test, would speedily have resolved itself into the dissolu- 
tion of the present system of inspection and left us to protect 
ourselves as best we might. But bitter experience has proved that 
the above mentioned tests are as good as worthless when applied 
by paid practitioners whose bread and butter too often depend 
upon their interpretation of the test records. And nobody knew 
this better than Dr. Baker and for this reason he held out. He 
w^as not going to see us loaded up with any more diseased stock 
than had already been shipped here, but that his vigilance on our 
behalf should result in his being practically ostracized locally 
among the profession was somewhat of a surprise to us. How- 
ever, California is rotten to the core with livestock diseases, and 
were it not for the strong hand of the Federal Government in 
compelling that effective measures be adopted the State would un- 
doubtedly be absolutely quarantined against by all adjoining and 
neighboring States. Hence, we need Dr. Baker's continued assist- 
ance, and I would respectfully suggest that this Board express 
to him its appreciation of what he has done for the protection 
of the livestock interests of the Te^'ritory and ask that he con- 
tinue his vigilance on our behalf m spite of what unpleasant results 
may accrue. So many representations were made to Washington 
that the chief of the Bureau came to California in person to look 
into the matter and, while fully sustained by the chief in all of his 
actions and decisions, it should be remembered that it is the en- 
forcement of the regulations made by this Board which has at 
times made life less pleasant for him and which for years has 
given him much extra work without tlie slightest additional re- 
muneration. Under these circumstances it would seem to me but 
reasonable to let him know that his work is appreciated. 
Before leaving the subject of San Francisco, I wish to add that 
an old pet scheme of Dr. Baker's and mine, the establishment of 
