The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-04-03
A Question of Cats and Dogs,

Mans faithful companion Is still wild
animal In the eye of the law. The Senate,
after spending much time during the winter
in struggling with grave and weighty ques-
tions, today took up matter which is of per-
sonal interest to nearly every man, woman
and child In the state. This was the vexed
question of the standing of the dog in the
eye of the law. The bill under consideration
was the dog license measure reported by the
tax committee. MIR. Thatcher, at the request
of Senator Libby Of Androsc0ggin, who was
detained at home by illness, and wrote that
he hoped some friend of the dog would make
himself heard in behalf of that wild animal,
offered an amendment declaring dogs to be
domestic animals and placing them under the
protection of the law.
Mr.. Grindle of Hancock is genial gentle
man who hasn't an enemy at the capitol
and probably no Sors where else Mr
statement of his character. He said
that he certainly was not an enemy to the
dog but ne was friend to man. He thought
the dog mad enought protection at present.
People who lived at summer resorts saw a
sentiment manifested against which the
common sense part of the community shonId
be protected. He had seen people at one of
those resorts who took dogs into their beds
ana were re- angry mgr because they could not take
them into dining rooms.
Mr.. Powers OF Aroostook gave a legal
| opinion on the matter. This opinion ia an
| titled to weight as entirely unpreinniced as
Mr. fowers said ne did not care one Way or
| the other about the matter. He was mt an
| enemy to the dogs but it would NOT tronbIa
him If all the dogs In Maine were killed he
| thought the amendment would result in nro
| tectlng dogs against wanton cruelty lint
would lot interfere with their destruction in
cases where they attacked people or domes.
/ tic animals.
Mr.. SwantOn is friend to cats "a well os
to dogs and moved to amend the amendment
by inserting the words ''cats and1 So that
both cats and dogs should be included.
Whether this amendment would nrotect
nocturnal vocalists of the feline species from
assaults with bootjacks and similar objects
| was not stated. 'NO''
Mr.. Thatcher expressed sympathy for tho
| tax commission, which after two wears Of
labor, did not seem to have secured the mas
sage of much legislature. This bill was ona q
of the results of their labors. ""' 0"o
The amended amendment making cate and
dogs domestic animals was then voted down
| % to 2. MeSsrS. Stewart and SWanton uara
the two members who went on record as tor
oring the amendment in behalf of these wild
animals.
The bill was amended by striking ort tho
third section, providing for payment for
sheep and other animals killed by dogs from
the money collected from license fees, Ar
] other amendment was adopted under which
the licenses may be collected by officers 9TH.
, er than the treasurer in towns and cities nf
| over 5000 population. Va
Mr.. Thatcher asked for the reading of this
"dog-goned" bill. 1t had been amended iusS SO
he hardly knew what it meant. '0
A motion to indefinitely. postpone was lost
10 to IA, and the bill was passed. II fiyes '., :
tax of 81 for male and So for female dogs to
be collected by the towns and cities The
bill authorizes the destruction of dogs for
which licenses have not been taken.
The Beginning of the End.
Preparations for leave taking began thi:
afternoon and when the members left the
State House tonight many carried bundle: