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


it to their advantage to do 80 now.
A TALK AMONG THE WOOL
GROWERS.
THE DEFECTS IN THE PRESENT DOG
LAW-THE LEGISLATURE TO BE fETI-
TONED FOR NEW ONE-THE DUTIES
OF ASSESSORS AND CoNsTABLEs4EX-
GUARDS.
&C.. &C., &C.
The Wool Growers Association of Au-
gusta met in Stanton. on Monday morn
ing last. to consider petition to the legis-
lature for such alterations in the dog
law for this county as will make it effec-
tive-its present working being open to
the objection that it neither protects the
sheep nor indemnlies the owners for their
loss. The meeting assembled in the office
of w. e. Craig. ESQ.,, where accommoda-
tions were provided by VIM. A. Hudson,
ESQ.,, for the members, but the number in
creased so rapidly that it was found nee
essary to adjourn TO the Supervisors room
in the court house. A. M. Bowman, the
President, presided and the Secretary,
Geo. W. Koiner, was at his post. Among
the gentlemen present were Messrs. J.
: Kemper, John n. Opie, g. G. Child, A. III.
McCue, S. A. East, W. D. Anderson, DR..
D. W. Hanger. F. NJ. Bell, Rev. VIM.
Green, A. W. Arson, Groom, Gilkeson and
some twenty others.
The chair stated the purpose of the meet
ing. and MIR. Opie suggested that as there
breeding, present, they should give their
views on the defects Of the present law
and some suggestions as to its improve
ment.
WHERE THE OLD LAW FALLS SHORT.
Mr.. Child said that be learned from those
who ought to know that the number Of
dogs in the county is increasing and their
depredatiens are much greater than for
merly. In view of this there was a neces-
sity for the change of the law providing
for their destruction. That necessity was
made the greater because the sheep fund
had proved insufficient to indemnify ow
ners for their losses and that was calcula-
ted to repress sheep breeding. One change
suggested in the present law was that
the tax on dogs be increased, and another
was tine insertion of a provision by which
constable could be certain of getting his
pay for killing delinquent dogs. 1t had
been discovered by many dog owners that
they cannot be made to pay the tax and
that the constables will not kill their dogs.
The constable finds a dog owner out Of
whom he cannot make the tax and he is
pretty certain that out of such he cannot
make the ST. which the law provides the
owner shall pay him for killing the dog.
Doing away with the fees now paid the ap-
praisers was another amendment suggested
to the law, and another that killed sheep
should be paid for at their assessed value.
Mr.. Child thought that in many instances
the privilege of appraisment had been
abused and that the assessed value was the
proper figure to be paid.
ASSESSMENT AND APPEAIsMENT.
Mr.. Geo. W. Koiner-But sheep vary in
value. They are not worth as much in
summer as they are just before lambing.
Can Won suggest remedy for unfair val
nation
Mr.. Child cannot; it is hard matter
to reach and the nearest we can come to
it is for sheep owner to adopt the broad
plan of the average value Of the sheep for
year when he gives it in to the assessor
Mr.. Bowman-Assessor McF aria nd says
he throws in the lambs in making his ap-
praisment.
Mr.. F. M. Bell asked for reading of
the proposed changes in the law, which had
been prepared for submission to this
meeting.
Secretary Koiner then read the changes
which it was proposed to ask the leglsla-
ture for:
1. To pay constables 81 out of the sheep
fund for each dog non-tax paid which
he shall kill.
2. To pay the appraisers nothing.
8. To provide that there shall he reserve
sheep fund of $4,000 accumulated and re-
tanned before any money of the fund
shall be turned over to the general coun-
ty fund.
4. Magistrates to get Is cents instead of
$1.50 for the appraisment.
Col. East supervisor of North River
Dstrict) said the sheep fund last year only
paid % cents in the dollar of the claims
against it.
Mr., Opie thought this would not be so
If the constables killed the dogs but the
great trouble had been that a constable
could not get his money for killing the
dogs.
Mr.. Bowman-If the deficit in the fund
last year was " per cent how can we get a
reserved fund of $4,000 if we do not in
crease the dog tax ?
Mr. Opie-Tbe decrease in the number
of dogs will decrease the number Of claim
ants for sheep killed and the fund will not
be so greatly diminished.
A GENERAL LAW WANTED.
Mr. East favored applying for a general
sheep law for the State and if we failed to
get that, then fall back on our own coun-
ty. He agreed that sheep increased in
value in a year but thought that the
owners ought to bear some of the risk and
not expect to be paid. the increased value
out of the fund. He thought the assessed
value only ought to be paid. AS to the sur
plus reserve Of $4,000 to be kept, that was
an easy matter when there were few sheep
in the county and with the old dog tax, but
not easy now when there was such a
largely increased number and of course
largely increased depredations. As Su-
psrvisor he had been in favor of providing
for deficit before the fund was turned
over to the general county fund, but the
law required that it be turned into the
general fund. The legislature is composed