• U.S.

BUREAUCRACY: Fair Answer

1 minute read
TIME

For a colicky cow in Ithaca, N.Y., a veterinarian prescribed stiff doses of kerosene. Farmer Royden M. Vose tried to buy four quarts, ran into rationing trouble, finally talked a dealer into letting him supply the coupons later. He sent a letter to the Office of Price Administration office in Syracuse. No answer. Off went another letter. This time back came an OPA questionnaire to be filled out.

Farmer Vose sat down to give a fair question a fair answer:

Make? “Jersey.”

Body type? “Two horns, tail, four feet, an udder and four teats.”

Year? “1940.”

Rating or seating capacity? “I have never ridden her, but imagine she would seat two.”

Mileage? “The vet gave her one quart of kerosene and she ran four miles, so I judge she would have gone 16 miles on the four quarts. I can’t tell you her speed, as the vet hasn’t yet caught up with her.”

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