The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1856-01-26

TH1 NEW Dog LAW.-Thc old law to tax
dogs for the protection of sheep having proved
entirely insufficient a new one has been re-
ported IN the House of Delegates by Doct.
Stubs, which we give below. 1t will no
doubt become law, and if so will abundant
ly pay for all the sheep that may be annual.
ly killed
4 Bill Entitled, an Act for The protection of
Sheep By tnr'ng Dogs IN Cecil Coutg.
SECTION l. BE it enacted, by the General
Assent y of Maryland, That it shall be the
duty of the Commissioners of Cecil County,
and they are hereby required to cause an ac-
curatc return to be taken annually by the
Collectors of the several districts within the
said County of all dogs upwards of one month
old, Owned or possessed by any person or per-
sons within their respective districts, partic-
ularly noting the number owned or posses.
SD by each person or persons and kept aboar
thS same house, and when the said Commits.
Sioners shall have ascertaincd the number of
dogs, they shall levy and cause to be collected
the sum of one dollar for every single dog,
and fifty cents each for every additional dog,
kept, owned, or possessed by such person or
persons; to be collected by the Collectors of
the several districts at the same time and IN
the sam, manner MS County and State taxes
are now collected, for which the said collect
ors shall be allowed the sum of six per ccntum
on the amount so collected; And it shall be
tie duty Of the County Commissioners to keep
a separate account Of the money arising Fl ON
the tax on dogs, and the said money shall be
and Ecr, by is appropriated as a fund for re-
lmune,atng the inhabitants of said County
for any loss they shall sustain after the pas
sage Of tits Act, by sheep being destroyed or
injured by any dog or dogs: and also to pay
the awdrdS ready made and on file in the
otlcc of the County Commissioners of Cecil
County, for the years eighteen hundred and
ffiyfour and cieht,cn hundred and fifiy-fvc.
SEC. .. Al d be itenactod, That when any
inhaLitant of the County aforesaid shall have
any sheep destroyed or injured as aforesaid,
he or she may apply to the nearest Justice of
the Peace who shall and is hereby empowered
to appoint three disintcrcstcd persons, who
are hereby authorised and required to view
and ascertain the damages sustained ny the
owner or owners of such sheep injured or des-
troyed as aforesaid, and they or any two OF
them shall certify the same under their hands
and seals to tho. Commissioners ofsad County,
and said Commissioners shall draw their war
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amount so certified, to he paid out of the funds
arising from the tax on dogs, but if there shall
not he sufficient money in the Treasury be-
longing to the said fund, then the said war
rant shall BE- kept by the said person in whose
out of the first money that shall come into
the Treasury belonging to said fund
SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That every dog
lrr,t CT h<,,t .I,,JI l..
deemed sufficient evidence of ownership to
authorize the Collector to return the person
inhabiting such house, as the owner or pos
SCISSOR of such dog or dogs, and any person
sending his or her dog Or dogs from house to
house or place to place. in order to evade the
said tax shall be liable to pay double tax
therefor, and every dog not returned shall be
deemed to have no owner, and may be law
fully killed by any person who may see such
dog running at large.
SEC. 4. And be it enacted, That if any
dog shall tic seen worrying sheep, 1t shall be
lawful for any person seeing the same to kill
such dog, or if any dog shall have been known
to worry sheep and information thereof be
given to the owner of such dog, if he or she
does not not kill or cause to be killed such
dog. hc'or she shall make full compensation
for all damages done by said dog, and any
person SEEING such dog or d'gs running at
large may lawfully kill the same.
SEC. s. And be it enacted, That any money
that may be in the Treasury at the expiration
Of one year from the first levy under this Act.
and at the expiration of every year thereafter,
Overland above paying the damages sustained
by said inhabitants i'll the loss or injury Of
sheep by dogs, shall be by said Treasurer.
upon the warrant of said Commissioners.
paid to the Judges Of the Orphans Court of
said County, 10 be by them applied to the
purposes Of education in said County.
SIC. 6. And be it enacted That the said
Commissioners he and they are hereby re-
quircd to allow each Collector the sum of six
cents head for each dog returned as provid-
ed in Tie first slctiCn # this Act. 10 be paid
out of the fund arising from taxes on dogs.
SEC 7. And be it enacted, That al, former
acts imposing tax on DOGS in Cecil County
hc, and the same are.hereby repealed.
SEC. S. And be it enacted, That this Act
shall take effect from the date Of It's passage