Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-01-20

I'LL. 10 6lbO VI uO pu"o AO5e
will select the latest sheep and therefore
the most valuable, but know no way to
remedy these discrepancies in value ex-
cept by general average.
Mr.. Opie-When man buys sheep he
expects to make him worth more than
when he got it.
THE DOGS THAT DO THE KILLING.
Rev. VIM. Green thought that the dogs
which did the most damage we're those on
which no tax was paid. 1t was hard to
estimate the damage done sheep by dogs
even when not killed by them on the spot.
His son had flock of twenty sheep at
tackled by dogs and ten died afterwards.
Hunting sheep when lambing is injuri-
GUS to it,
DR.. D. W. Hanger thought we ought to
go back to the old tax of 81 on dog and
IS on bitch. The bitches did most dam
age. A negro Keeps one and the whole
neighborhood is soon Uttered with puppies.
Mr.. Child endorsed DR.. Hangers views,
but feared an increase OF tax might make
the law so unpopular as to defeat their ef-
forts, Bitches however, he thought, ought
to be taxed SIS.
DR.. Hanger said that he believed he
was the originator of the first dog law,
and that when Hon. J. Davis Craig got
the tax lowered from 81 to so cents there
had been no dissatisfaction with the orig
NAL law and no popular demand for the
decrease.
Mr.. Bowman.-And Mr.. Craig was de-
feated at the next election.
DR.. Hanger said the law making it the
duty of constable to kill dog ought to
be imperative.
THE PRESENT LAW ABOUT CoNsTABLEs.
Mr.. Opie.-It is Imperative. [Secretary
Koiner here read the present law fning a
constable ST. for not killing an unlicensed
dog. and making the constable responsible
for all damage the dog does until it is
killed.
Mr.. G. W. Koiner moved that the petit
ton TO the legislature ask that the con-
stable be paid 81 for killing dog and 81, so
for killing bitch.
Mr.. Benton Coiner seconded this and it
was unanimously adopted.
DIR. Hanger moved that the tax be fixed
at the old rate-dogs 81, bitches SIS.
A member favored the present dog tax.
so cents, and $3.50 on bitch.
DR.. Hanger replied that it had been
Shown by experience that the present tax
OF hn dor 70 oh nj
81 tax would do it,
Mr.. Opie thought the deficit in the
sheep fund was caused by dog owners find
ing out that the State neither collected
the tax nor killed their dogs.
DR.. Hanger-Mr. Opie proceeds on the
theory that Virginia cannot enforce her
own laws.
Mr.. Opie-She hasn't enforced this one
DR.. Hanger thought the Association
should make it its duty to notify both con-
stables and assessors that it would look
to them for rigid enforcement of the
law.
Mr.. Bowman did not believe that the
law could ever be enforced even at 81 to
the constable, The constable who kills
forty or fifty dogs in his township is not
likely to be candidate for reelection.
THE NUMBER OF LISTED DOGS IN
AUGUSTA.
MT. East, who had been to the County
Clerk for the official figures, read them to
the Association. There were $500 dogs
listed IN the county of which AS were de-
linquent. In round numbers the tax was
s1,75O, from which had to be deducted 1925
for delinquents. leaving ST. 800 for the sheep
fund cut of which to pay the owners, ap-
praisers, magistrates and constables. The
delinquent dogs were distributed this way
Beverley Manor, So; North River, So; Pas
lures, 35; Middle River, 1872; South River,
ia, and Riverheads, "a.
Mr.. Benton Coiner.-And yet I don't be-
lieve half the dogs in my neighborhood
have been listed.
DR.. Hapger.-The receipt of 81 500 to
meet nearly $4,000 of damages, shows the
necessity of going back to the old tax of
$1,OO.
A motion by Mr.. Kemper, to ask for a
fine of SIS instead Of 81 against Constables
for neglecting to kill dog, was unani-
mously adopted.
The clause for a $4,000 reserve fund be-
fore turning over to the general county
fund was adopted.
Mr.. Bowman.-I am willing to 60 farth-
er, and provide that the surplus should
remain intact for five years before being
turned over.
Mr.. East asked If something like the
law about fox scalps wouldn't be a good
way for Constables to prove their fees for
dog killing.
Mr.. Benton Coiner thought the Consta-
bles might qualify to the fact.
Mr.. e. W. Koiner moved that the JUS
tices be required to have sufficient evidence
before giving certificate. Adopted.
SUMMARY OF WHAT THE ASSOCIATION
ASKS THE LEGISLATURE TO DO.
+ On motion, President A. NJ. Bowman,
Secretary G. W. Ko1ner, and Col S. A.
East were appointed a committee to draw
up the petition to the legislature and have
it presented, setting forth the following
changes asked for in the present law for
Augusta county:
1. To pay Constables ION the presenta-
ton of proper proof of having done SOY 81
for killing each unlicensed dog in the coun-
ty, and $3.50 for killing each unlicensed
bitch. A fine of SIS against the constable
for each neglect of such duty.
2. To abolish the provision of law which
now allows appraisers compensation for
appraising sheep killed by dogs.
3. To provide that reserve of the sheep
fund to the amount of $4,000 shall always
be kept and never reduced by any transfer
to the county fund.
4. To restore the old tax of 81 on dogs
and SIS on bitches.
5. To reduce the fees of magistrates for
making out appraisment papers for sheep