The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1879-10-17
III Law We NEED.

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Under Il law which went in force on th
first day of last July, Illinois sheep as
given rights which dog owners must re-
spect. The owners Of dogs are 10 pay int,
the county treasures a dollar u year io,
each dog, and from the fund thus create,
owners of sheep killed by dogs are to be
compensated. II tho dog lax money
shows a surplus at the end of the year, the
surplus goes to the school fund
The above, which we clip from
an exchange, gives the right text
for our next Legislature to draw up
a law to govern the people OF Mis-
sissippi as regards the owners OF
dogs. We are no enemy to the
dog, but OH the contrary think they
are a very necessary animal, par
ticularly to the people living in the
country, but at the same time be-
lieve sheep owners have rights
which the dogs or their owners
should respect, and to do this the
legislature should enact some law
that would protect sheep raisers in
their property, thus encouraging
the raising of these animals III our
State.
There can be no doubt about the
iusticeot taxing dogs, for they have
been declared property under our
and then as such they should
be taxed as well as sheep, cattle,
tic. The only difficulty is how
much shall the tax be per cGpjta.
We would suggest that one dollar
N each dog would be sufficient,
nd if an owner refused to pay the
ak, let COnstables, police, or other
Ulcers be empowered to Stay all
.ogs upon which no tax has been
aid. This would be the means of
aying all the worthless ours killed
#, and no doubt there are thou,
ands such in this and every other
tate, and this would benefit their
wners, and communities generally,
here the nightly bowling Of these
,sts annoy and disturb the weary
eeper.
Sheep-raising in our State is IA ,
'ofitable business, provided the ,
)gs can be kept from killing them I
}, and it is the duty Of our legis {
ture to enact such laws as will c
sst protect this enterprise, aud to +
courage i'll every Legitimate way v
raising of sheep within our ter i
tory. No doubt the fear of de II
ruction Of sheep by dogs keeps e
any men from engaging in sheep
Using in Mississippi, and if some
" is not passed by the legislature r(
protect this business many thou Il
nd dollars, which otherwise would $
invested here, will be lost to us Ut
tirely, for men will not invest $
Dney where the risk Of losing is OF
great. q
1t seems, however, that MiSsl8- eC
)pi is not the only State afflicted j
this evil. In Indiana the sheep b;
d dog question is under discus, di
N, and to show under what diff ii
tiles sheep ralsers labor we quote d,
armer's experience as given in in
!, Indiana Farmer. He says:
Unless some law of this kind is passed,
Iall not undertake to raise sheep, for
o tried it to my own satisfaction, and C'
it useless. Of my last flock | had IN
y one crippled sheep left my neighbour ~
b all. There is not a flock in this com VI
nifty but what has been visited. | am ~;
alone in this, a number of good, sub W.
ntials farmers nave come to the same be
clusion.o /,
similar experience, we doubt vi
t, might be told by many farmers NJ
this State who have attempted n,
raise sheep, and in justice to tn
s class our Legislature should h,
upon their first sitting. viii III
~ do it is the question. The he
ction is soon to take place, and
mers and sheep raisers should
d meetings and pass resolutions in
candidates for the legisla- -,
g to secure the passage Of such ii,
IS as will best secure them in M
S business and encourage sheep go
sing in the State. ~;
weeks iSSue of the Canton ~