294 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
ticular direction. A bill was framed, however, and introduced, 
giving the State Board of Health jurisdiction over all matters 
pertaining to veterinary sanitary science and police and em¬ 
powering them to employ experts as they deemed necessary. 
Everything went along smoothly until all onr plans were upset 
by the energy of one J. C. Blemer, who was and is in the employ 
of the Bureau of Animal Industry, employed on the Federal 
quarantine service. This person was and is considered by some 
to be, on account of his connection with the Bureau of Animal 
Industry, the greatest expert on matters pertaining to diseases of 
live-stock west of Chicago, and as a consequence had great in¬ 
fluence with a certain class of politicians. Through his efforts 
a bill providing for a live-stock sanitary commission, composed 
of laymen who were to be empowered to appoint a State veteri¬ 
narian, was introduced. This bill was dropped later on when 
it was learned that the Governor had stated that he would op¬ 
pose any legislation providing for the appointment of a com¬ 
mission of any nature. Blemer and his friends then framed and 
had introduced a bill similar to the above with the exception 
that it provided for the appointment of a State veterinarian by 
the Governor instead of by a commission. This bill at the time 
of its introduction was approved by a number of stockmen who 
met for that purpose, notwithstanding the fact that it was the 
crudest affair it has ever been my lot to read. We then 
saw that there was practically no chance of the State Board of 
Health bill passing, and, deeming half a loaf better than no 
bread, we directed our efforts to perfecting the bill providing 
for the appointment of a State veterinarian by the Governor, 
which after a hard struggle and much lobbying we managed to 
substitute the most salient features of the former for the objec¬ 
tionable features of the latter. In fact made a pretty good bill 
out of it, in which shape it became a law. 
We were at a loss to know the reasons which caused this 
man Blemer to display so much energy to obtain unscientific 
legislation, and wondered whether or not his superior officers in 
Washington approved of his actions. Eater on, however, he 
announced himself as a candidate for the position of State vet¬ 
erinarian, and openly boasted that he had recommendations and 
endorsements for the position from Washington, and that he was 
going to obtain leave of absence from the B. of A. I. for a couple 
of years in order that he might accept the appointment of State 
veterinarian and start the work in this State in a proper man¬ 
ner. He well knew that should the State Board of Health or 
