The Portland daily press., 1889-04-04

Treasurer W00dman'S report was read
and accepted, showing with the collections
from the members of the society, and in
terest from Its permanent fund, an annual
income is produced sufficient for the
society's ordinary needs.
The Agents report follows:
THE AGENTS REPORT.
In presenting to you my annual report as
agent of your society for the year ending
March 81, 1899, it gives me great pleasure to
say that our society Is well known for their
work in the cause for the protection of those
who cannot speak for themselves No close
observer upon our streets can but be i'm
pressed with the great change which has oc-
CURED in the treatment OF animals in the
last few years. Before the organization Of
our society what cruelty was daily wit
messed. This cruelty on the part of adults
and the thoughtleSsneSS of boys were not the
Outgrowth of bad hearts, but from the want
of education, the absence of the knowledge
that the animal like the human being has
feelings, has tender, sensitive nerves, is in
fact as capable of suffering as we who are
gifted with speech to express our feeling, to
enter protest.
Great care and attention are given to all
complaints, especially when endorsed with
the name or names of the complainants
either in the city or country. continue tu
receive many anonymous complaints, which
must necessarily be looked upon with dis
trust. | therefore again respectfully, but
earnestly ask of those forwarding complaints
in writing to give their name and address,
experience proving that, in many instances,
the investigations of anonymous complaints
result unsatisfactory. All communications
addressed to me are held to be confidential
therefor no one need have any fear of i'm
proper use being made of them Anonymous
communications hereafter will go into the
waste basket
There are also seen constantly on the
cfr ci innc fnr arrafr. and
/ to parties who need cautioning whose
offences while not guilt sufficiently fragrant
for arrest or prosecution may quickly be-
came so. i am often too busy to make re-
cord of these cases but they form division
of the work by no means to be overlooked.
The good effect of the society's work is
manifest in the gradual decrease from year
to year in the number of complaints of open
acts Of cruelty to animals, thus showing
| that the public eye has been trained to be
has become keenly alive to the sufferings Of
| dumb animals.
| The police and courts have cooperated in
| the work of the society. l cannot speak too
out their sympathy and assistance much of
the work that has been accomplished so sue
| cessfully must have failed.
None know so we'll as those actually en-
| gagged in the prosecution of the society work
| the great value of the sympathy and support
| OF the public press. This we have had to
] an unusual degree. desire to express most
hearty thanks for the oouItesies that have
been extended.
A few years ago the Rev. Thomas Tim
Minis of England visited this country and
brought with him plan for the organization
| of children into "bands of mercy" The
pledge of these little organizations, II will
try to be kind to all living creatures, and try
Of meaning 1t aroused the child to a sense
of its responsibilities; to the fact that al
though the dumb cannot speak they can
feel. This is education which must yield
the richest rewards. The Portland Band
of Mercy, connected with the Portland
Fraternity, is doing a great and good work
in this city There is hardly week passes
without some member Of that little band re-
ports to me some case Of cruelty, and unlike
the older people are always ready TO face
the guilty party and say l told you would
tell the agent of the cruelty society. This
Portland Band of Mercy should receive the
support of all good citizens and our society,
"The childhood shows the man
AS morning shows the day.
There exists in this State an organization
known as the State Society for the Proven
tion of Cruelty to Animals. understand
that this society has done but little work IN
the State Its members are anxious to have
all local societies join them. The usefulness
of the State society should be increased 4
thousand fold, through the establishment oI
cooperating branches. 1t should extend
its usefulness and good influence
to every part of our own State,
The State Society should be made fully re-
sponsible for the management of its own al,
fairs and the prosecution of its work. The
| work of the State Society should be placed
under the patronage of committee made u
of representative and influential citizens
from different parts of the State and through
the cooperation Of this committee, efforts
should be made to secure means to pay the
expense of our out Of town work. The neigh
boring towns call quite requently upon me
to stop acts of cruelty and Notwithstanding
that / am called out of town for near
y onethird Of the work work Of foh the Society W
receive no income IRON tha atoaRh-resldents ~ i
agent is laborious, thankless and unpleas
ant. The agent should have hearty sympa
thy and support, This Ihis,TISd work requires pnus
ual patience tact. oegenGe and nYOies. experience
sponsibilities.
The report closes with thanks to the Sccie