The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-03-19
a(atioual llrpublitau.
Debate in the Board Of Common Ccuu-
Gil. Monday Evening, March 10.


troIuccd by Mr.. Pau, on the 9th Of January,
entitled "Au act providing for the appointment
u an inspector of horses, mules and cattle In the
city Of Washington" The bill was published
Mr., A. p. CLARK moved to amend, BY providing
that the said inspector should be elected By the
Mayor and the two Boards In Joint meeting;
Mr. Ball moved its reference to the Committee
Nj i' o. 5. Baker claimed the noor, which was
accorded to him by the Presiding Officer, for The
purpose Of explaining the bill ,r,.,,.o,
before the Council long time; that the commit
tee had thoroughly investigated ~ being seu
little knowledge himself on the matters con:
nectcd with 1t, he had sought and obtained the
ePbaS T q WeTe Sow he large
bcrs Of diseased horses and diseased cattle, es-
The horses were generally the relies of the
late war, and were imported TO the city every |
day by traders The diseases which infested the
10 man, and the hydrophobia to dogs-among
which Mr. Il instaneed FLANDERS and iarey. 10
these diseases 1t sometimes occurred that by
merely touching diseased animal persons were
Affected in the same way. From the medical
books no Instance could be cited Of an animal or
Hman having been cured of these diseases. One
stable In the city, however, pretended to say
that farey had been cured, but he had consulted
Or. Purdy, who was a graduate OF veterinary col.
lcge, and one of the most skillful veterinary |
surgeons, who Informed him that the disease |
may be dried up, but that 1t frequently breaks
Mi b, said that 1t was very important that an
inspector should be appointed for the purpose
Of stopping the fraud pFacticed upon the people.
The bill required the consent Of the Mayor to
the destruction of these diseased animals. In
the opinion OF Mr.. d. this was particularly i'm
pottNnt in the case OF cows. lie had examined
stable which contained nine cows, Ave OF them
were so diseased that they could hardly stand
and yet the milk from these cows was sold daily
TO our citizens, by whom 1t wasused In another
stable containing three cows, two OF them were
Another Important reason for the passage of
the bill was the fact that virulent disease has
broken out in the neighborlng state OF Mary
land. In one dairy IS cows were lost in n few
weeks from the disease. The veterinary surgeon
state; And yet these very cattle were driven
by dSirics and the milk sold 10 citizens lie did
not know the exact nature of the disease, but 1T
plague rindcrpcst, and the Texas fever,
The decision of the Inspector would not be
final, as the bill provided that no horse or COW
should be destroyed without the approval OF the
Mayor.
For these reasons he hoped the bill would be
Mr., Beall moved to strike out "MHyOr'' and
Mr.. o. ). Baker stated that Major Richards
was not an officer OF the corporation, and in no
way amcnable to the people.
Major Richards to neglect duty.
Nj. Bali opposed the bill, and said that he con;
cost keeper of a large dairy upwards of SIS
Just for. an inspector TO walk through his pre-.
hlhcb once month, suggested cents per
head out of the city where there were large
numbers OF cattle.
could not lcgislate for parties outside OF the city
limits.
Mr.. Dalton held that the city could prevent
the sale of milk In the city by parties outside of
the city, who would not get a certificate;
Mr.: Crocker thought the bill in its pres
operation lie did not believe that it would
guard against the frauds Of horse jockeys. Al
though there was plenty OF law now on the sub
lcct Of diseased horses II had never yet been ac-
eomplishcd. In regard to the terrible cattle
disease mentioned by Mr., Baker, as being now
within the city, he thought there WA an undue
apprehension. The result OF his observation had
been that although the disease had prevailed to
considerable extent, 1t had been made to yield
readily to medical treatment; The folly OF hay.
from the TACT that the oiicer could not Inspect
the cattle whose milk was brought In large
nd, Faiffa Sa and al Loudoun So%nties and tie
Northern and Eastern states; The Inspector
would be necessarily limited to the city alone.
for he BELIEVED the mir SToagHt to and ID used In
us"d IN most s Of the large Cities in the North ''
M Pau suggested that the bin lie over, 50
parties were now engaged In buying up diseased
yowsand selling them to the butchers He hoped
that some provision would be made In the bill
TO prevent this great outrage.
MI o. = Baker, in response to Mr. Crocker,
aid that the medical reports In Baltimore state
that the COW disease was breaking out with
greater fury. The Live stock Insurance Com
lhhlC5 ftiNacu 10 take insurance on any more
live stock, having paid over 10000 losses since
last fall He asserted again that cattle were ex-
tr"sivSIy diseased at the present, which was
At the present time in Mary land. He hoped the
council would at least attempt to stay its raw
ages in this city.
Mr., Connolly thought the bill a very import
ait one, being essential TO the health and salts
factory living Of the people OF this city. II the
shairnan had no oGleeti9n he would suggest It's
1t might be passed in the very best form. Re-
.peeting the fees, he would suggest that in cases
single dairy, the fee Should be IL, with 20 cents
per mile travel. In regard to requiring aveter-
innry surgeon who had graduated, he would sug.
gestthat it read "a Competent person" for he
aid not believe they could hnd any graduate in
Mr. D. s Baker said that three graduates OF
veterinary colleges had been before the commit
tee,
Mr. Connolly replied that wa. too small = mum
her to select from. lie thought the phrase "a
competent person." would be better than grad
uate from such a college. In regard to the city
he would sny that thousands of cows for year
have had no suitable shelter from the beginning
" the end Of winter, His Mr. go fences ha'
furnished shelter for about twenty cows for tn
lst three winters. lLaughter.l He had ofte
got up early, donned an appropriate suit, and
vain pals Of water proceeded to the business o
making his paycmcnts NJ for gentlemen to pass
aud the owner Of the cows would pass By an
speak TO him with snccr, while he was prose
cutting his work. Laughter. One morning las
winter, however, Heaven sent down right goo
shall have days rest anyhow. The cows will no
lie on the snow, and that will save my pavemen
for u day Mt least from an intolcrnble nuisance.
Laughter lie said he started down. when, T.
common expression he was hrreste,
IlaughteTl by an officer, who Informed him tn a
Judge Thompson desired to see him. daughter
lie saw that gentleman, and he polltely fined hi
lMr,CJ ~ Laughter and stated that fhe woul
go up aud see Mayor Wallach, who was u Yer
e-timable gentleman, he could get the fine n
mittcd. lie tMr. O. paid the line, and adde
that he should not go to the Mayor, as he ha
frequently implOrcd protection from him, an
I'D not think he would ask any more protection
[Laughterl
Inis was the poor history of one OF tn
Mayors pauueTs who had found his way to tn
Clty Council Somehow. To resume, Mr.. g. sal
that these cruelties TO animals should be stoppe
1t was false economy to turn cattle out
winter without shelter. The economy wou
house the cattle during tho inclement seaso
This cruelty to animals was the cause Of thei
diseases which we are now called to leglsla
for. lie suggested, In conclusion, that the bi
be recommltted and the various ideas OF men
bcrs be incorporated In the bin so that 1t coul
he perfected at the nest meeting
The bill was TCcUmmlttCd.
WEIGHT AND SALE or NAY.
Mr., o. ). Baker also reported n bill to regulat
the weight and sale of hay, THE bill was pul
lishCd in the REPuBLIt ~ yesterdAy.l