Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-07-20

Undoubtedly the District Commissioners
ought TO have full and specific power to deal
with the dog question, as proposed by Mr.. Van
Wyck in the senate yesterday. WhenNone
takes into account the number of dogs, good,
Dad and Indifferent, owned or tolerated in the
District, and reflects how largely their exist
ence and control affect the lives and comfort
Of the people of the city, it will be admitted
that the subject is one that deserves the atten-
ton OF the public authorities quite much as
many other matters which are considered of
importance enough to call for positive legisla-
ton or specially delegated authority.
To begin WITH the number of dogs In the Dis
srict should be regulated, and, If possible,
reduced. The license Zee for keeping dog OF
any kind In the city should not be less than
I'VE dollars per year, and not less than half that
sum outside the city limits. This would at
once produce a handsome revenue to the Dis
trict treasury and diminish the number of
worthless and dangerous ours with which this
community is now infested.
This clause should then be followed by an
other. making 1t penal offense, punishable by
fine OF from ten to fifty dollars or d term in
the work-nouse OF from thirty to ninety days,
or both, for stealing, enticing. keeping or har-
boring dog belonging TO another person.-the
finding Of such dog in the possession or on the
premises of the accused 10 be regarded as suffi
Client evidence of guilt. This would give TO
owners of valuable or highly priced dogs the
protection to which they are entitled in return
for the amount they are required to pay as an
annual tax for the privilege of keeping them,
and at the same time tend to break up the
practice OF dog stealing, which is rapidly be-
coming a systematic and recognized branch of
industry with a certain class of our population.
1t Is possible that Senator Van Wyck or
some of his colleagues in Congress may have a
better code than this in view. II 50, it is to be
hoped that 1t will be formulated and put into
effect before the adjournment OF Congress A
radical reform in the present condition of affairs
- badly needed.
UWhile 1t cannot be hoped that any site that
may be chosen for the city post office or District
building will give universal satisfaction 1t Is
certain that it would be grave and irreparable
mistake to appropriate any part of Judiciary
Square or any other reser yation in the city for
that purpose. The taking of portion of tina
park for the new pension Office was a most IN
fortunate blunder, which has been made
uonal outrage by the character of the building
erected there, and TO still further reduce tine
size of that breathing space would be little less
than crime. The only plea that can be urged
In behalf of this proposition is the one of econ
oEy,-the theory being that by the utilization
Of ground already owned the government would
save the expense of purchasing a site especially
for that purpose. But this is most fallacous
argument. A wise administration of public
affairs would not only forbid the appropriation
OF single foot of existing park ground for q
building site, but would diligently seek to ex-
tend the number and area of the parks and res
ervations at present preserved to the city while
ground available for that purpose can still be
had at reasonable prices. But, above all things
the present park limit OF the city should not be
reduced under any pretext whatever. While
European capitals are finding it necessary to
destroy rows OF valuable buildings for the pur-
pose of widening old streets, opening new av-
enues and creating more parks for public health
and comfort the capital of the United States
should not be surrendering any of the spaces so
wisely provided for that purpose by its found
ers- The person who proposes or advocates such
. proposition can hardly be regarded as less
than public enemy.
THE boy was rendered insane by the terrible
AFFAIR" This Is the concluding sentence of a
slegram from Bangor, giving an &C count of
case where fifteen year old lad pointed
t-wasloaded" gun at his sister,
with the result that she was shockingly mutt
lated and insta ntly killed. The young murderer
could hardly do less tn an become insane, under
the circumstances but all the same he ought to
be promptly and enectually hung. This would
not OF course restore his dead sister to life but
is could hardly fail to have the effect of deter
ring other humorously inclined scape graces
from playfully pointing guns and pistols at
sisters and playmates. In that sense bis
taking on would be a substantial public
service.
The evidence given in the anarchist trial at
Chicago yesterday directly connects the noisy
leaders Of the riot with the shooting of police
men on the fateful night of May Attn. This is as
gratifying Is IL is unexpected. 1t is not often
That the moutn-heroes of such movements are