The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-05-12
ABOUT THE POUND LAW.
New ORLEANS. May II, 1873.


Editor Democrat The foreible seizure and
impoundng of several lots Of cows on the
evening of Tuesday. eighth instant resulting
in the murder Of Dupre while defending his
property, certainly demand thorough in
vestigation to be made of pound ordinance
No 1896, and of the men aud manner Of It's
| execution.
| 1t Is proposed now TO consider only the case
Of the Second District. Ordinances No 1896
reads:
sec 8. Be it further ordained, etc. That
there shall be established u second pound
district, which shall be comprised within the
following named lines VIZ: From the river In
| front, along the centre Of Canal street, to in
clude the north side Of Metairie Road thence
along the north side Of Mstarie Road to the
Bayou St John and Esplanads street; thence
up the centre Of Esplanade street to the river.
SEC. 8. Be 1t further ordained, etc, That the
unlawful rowing Of animals within the limits
| defined by sections 2, 2. 4, +, q and of this
ordinances is meant to apply to any found run
ming over banquettes, through bitches and on
the streets, whether the same are in charge Of
| driver or not. except cases where parties
are driving animals through the public thor
oughtares to pasture grounds without the
limits prescribed In this ordinance, and then
care must be taken TO keep the animals on the
street. And any animals grazing upon open
lots within the limits prescribed by this ordi-
| nance that are not kept on the bdnQbettes IL and
streets are to be impounded
SEQ. H. Be It further ordained, etc, That
the Administrator OF Police shall appoint
subject to the approval Of the Council, quit
able persons ~ In each district of the city as
may be required, whose duty 1t shall be 10
take up and conduct to the pounds Of their
respective districts all animals found within
the limits prescribed by this ordinance, and
In violation hereof. for which service they
will be entitled to receive the amount author
lied to be paid by section 10 for conveying
animals TO the pound.
Strictly construed, it will prevent the graz
ing OF cattle except in inclosed lots. The Sec
ond District to Broad street and the Metairie
tivated fields and then the swamp and the
lake Between Broad street and the Metairie
Ridge are large plains where cattle have been
accustomed to Craze. Many diaries are 10
Gated whereabouts. It Is fmpraeticabls for
miiknen to send their cows out grazing Mt
long distances. because MS they are MIXED
morning and noon, they must he kept close
by. Nor can they. In this climate be entirely
kept and fed in tho stable; their health re-
qure open air and especially green food. only
derived from pasturage.
Therefore, this ordinances has been so far
applied and modified by custom SO as to allow
cattle to Craze within pound limits on the
open lots and vacant ground, provided they
were In charge Of Il keeper who would watch
them constantly and prevent them from tres
passing on the sidewalks, streets and the pub
lie; that under these conditions they would
not be in eontravsntion. ] believe this to be
the opinion and ruling of the police courts and
the Police Administrator in deciding and rfs-
dressing contested cases of wrongful i'm
pounding.
The ordinance so construed and executed
would be equitable to all parties, and would
be n complete projection to the public. rs NO
one who has cattle would venture them out,
unless in charge of n keeper, to avoid tres
passes by their stock and its consequent cap
ture.
The ordinance as it Is now executed, has
f.tI L.. - -
great distress upon milkmen; because it
has not been fairly and iIapartially executed.
Acting upon the sweeping provision Of the
ordinance that the whole district to the Me-
tairie road is pound limits. some pound
neglected to ippound others which were
equally liable to capture. The consequence
Of this system has beenfto destroy the intent
and true spirit Of the law and It's protection
of the public, MS some parties having rnnu-
nifty from capture by pound keepers allowed
their stock to Craze without q keeper.
To abate and remedy these evils. and pre-
vent these frequent raids on cattle by pound
drivers, the following remedies are sug
gested:
/. To amend revise define and limit ordi-
nance No. 1896 and its execution, in an euli-
table manner, that will fully protect the pub
lie and not distress unnecessarily the milk
men Il can be. done by amending the ordi-
nance to specify and allow the grazing of
cattle on open lots and vacant ground, pro
pided, they are In charge of q keeper, who is
there all the time and prevents them from
roaming on the sidewalk and street, and sees
that they do not annoy the public, and If they
do not comply with these conditions. then to
be liable to being impounded
2. To appoint and commission as pound
drivers none but responsible parties, capable
Of due discretion and impartiality in all
cases, and to hold them 10 q siriCt eIecutiOn of
their duty.
These remedies are In the hands Of orr CITY
administrators, and are trust that in view OF
the evils set forth above the distress occa-
stoned, the late lamentable murder, and the
frequent brols that occur In executing the
ordinance in it's present condition, that they
will take the subject under careful considera-
ton, and with prompt action in the matter
grant the relief asked for. 49,
~ This appears quite ambiguous.
t2) Means responsible and respectable per-