The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-13
WAR ON THE SPITE.

ARGUMENT BEFORE MASSACHUSETTS, LEGIs-
LATIvE COMMITTEE ON THE QUESTION OF
RESTRICTIONS ON TIE KEEPING OF Dogs
IS THERE SUCH THING AS HYDRoPHoBIA?
BosToN, Feb. ~, 1878.
The annual the SPITE and his tribe began
at the State House to-day, when a hearing was had
the petition enact restrictive legislation against
dogs for tho better protection OF the community from
the evils OF hydrophobia and rabies. Last year the
same subject discussed before legislative
committee, but nothing done TO decrease
tho nuisance. The present tax So for
males and SO for females, aud the petitioners
that be increased 10 $40 for males $40 for
females. Both sides wero represented by counsel,
Mr. Gorgan Of Boston, appearing Tor the petitioners
and Mr. f. p. Brown for the Boston Kennel Club
Besides these Mr.. George I. Angel, agent for the
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; Mr.
+. II Lathrop, OF the Hampton Rod and Gun Club ;
AL Watts, the Boston dog destroyer, and Elijah
Morse, the sensational temperance reform advocate
face appears connection with poorly painted
sign of a rising advertising on rural fences
certain stove polish took sizes on tho
question. The blue room, VIII ere the hearing was
riven, was packed SO that it resembled a primary
meeting in all respects except the presence OF ladies'.
Old women In puIs young women IN curls and women
of 'certan age" Byron said, IN all sorts OF head
gear toed up the steps long before The hour Of meet
ing and look up the seals on one side OF tho room.
They came from Beacon Hill and the Back
Bay; they ali own pets and pood!es; they
possess the gentle spuz and are bound TO
protect hun. There they sat IN close, badly
ventilated room, listening TO language that could not
DO uttered III the paror without anront applauding
every point made their side OF the question ana
expressing their aisapproval oil what was against
Interfering, talking SO loud that she could b. heard
all through the room, until Mr. Gorean got so I'm.
patent that he gently sat on hero and extinguIshcd
her for The rest Of Tue nearing.
HARD FACTS AGAINST THE PETS.
The arguments Of The petitioners were the same as
those used before. The question OF bydrophooia IS
difficult ono TO settle. The disease has increased
lately with alarming rapidity especially In the west
ern part OF tue State ana IN Boston. People have
been bitten have died from tue eects-aied most
horrible deaths. What is wanted is restrictive Ieg's-
laton TO decrease the number OF dogs aud pro-
mote the Improvement OF the breed. II
tax Of $40 we're put on male dogs, and
$50 female none but good dogs would DO kept, and
tney would be we'll taken care Of 1t is also asked
that every owner OF dog shall give bonds that no
Will pay for all damages that may DO done by It,
and insist on law that will provide Tor line on
every person VINO allows u dog 10 go abroad without
proper restraint and without his collar and number.
Whether deatn resulted IRON The actual 0e or from
a diseased imagination, winch superinduccd hydro-
phopia, the dog was the cause.
FRIGnTFUL PIGUFEs
Mr. Morse stated that there hai been since last
March thirteen deaths from hydropnOba in the State.
Thirty. eight bites had been recorded, anu five were
set down as endangerIng life.
Mr. Davis, OF Gloucester, argued also that
whicn run about The Streets because not properly
cared for ought to be extcrminalcd. Tho only way
TO that to incroa,e the tax and the res trio
tons; the matter would regulate itse.
EDUCATE HIN, NOT KILL HIN.
William 7. ANGEL leu the light behalf OF poor
Tray. He argued ihatit was an inbuman proposition
to deliberately cgislaie dogs out Of existence. The
soul OF q humane man rcvolts al the bare thought
ne said Dogs were KIND, useful ADD aneclionate
Thcy had In lde their influence cll tho umau
school IN England wners 600 children had been edu.
GATED in affection Tor oumb ANIMALS. and out OF those
1000 not was ever indicted Tor Criminal offence
Inc hydrophobia scare only the result OF dsodorod
Imagination Tho bite OF DOG could not cause death
OF lt.eh. Dogs had been kicked about the Streets
abused, neglected and he would like 10 know II they
nau not received abuse enough to mako even "A man
mad. Dogs need training they need good influences
to develop the points OF their natures just
m UGH as men, rhcy had saved human lic under all
circumstances; had rescued men from drownibg from
starvation and dcatn by exposure 10 cold or heat He
offered IA b which he wanted passed BY the Legism-
ture to provide Tor the erection oil pounds Tor the
Keeping OF that SICK or distempcred or stray.
ing away from their owners.
EXCITED BUT NOT MAD
DR.. John p. Ordway followed on the Same side and
put strong plea Tor tho spitz aud his brethren +.
II. Lathrop, OF Hampdcu county, made savage at.
tack on Mr.. Morse sying that he had used language
unbecoming gentleman, and Mr. Morse responded by
declining 10 say that what Mr. Latnrop asserted was
he but that u was wiliul perverson oi the ruth.
There was lively row alter TINS, and the dignihcd
granger who presided over the deliberations Of the
body had much difficulty To preserve order.
nyDRoPnoBA.
A. Watts, the dog lancer, was the next advocate OF
Of ,hs ,ing' He nsa ,rea,ed over 1 900 cannes and
never met a case oil hydropI0ba. He did not believe
there was any such thing 1t was usually diphtneria
or some disemper. several other gentlemen, all
owners OF some hnc specimen OF dog, argued
against the proposed legislation because IL was
,uhuman and UNJUST Sir. Gorgan closed Tor
tho petitioners In n very eloquent argument 70
snow that dogs should be restricted just any other
evil that aiicts tho community Inc argument on
the ground of humanity good enough as lar as II
won't but II did not 60 tar enough. he was hecking
this legislation purely on the GROUND OF humanity
and no du not care whether tue soul OF the dog was
immortal as some OF their defenders claim. Ho would
act value the o OF ono human being than on
the lives oi all tho pcts aud poodcs Ia the State.
Tho meeting adjourned amid good deal oil excite
mont The ioeiings OF both sides arc terribly sufrod
up and the hight IN tho Legislature promises To be
not one.