The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-13

The Savannah authorities now see how
good a thing it would have been if the
Hon. Hope Polhilrs bill to fix the legal
status of the dog as personal property
had passed the legislature. If it were pos
sible to make the residents of the city
go to the tax office and return their dogs
for taxation. along with their watches
bicycles and other personal property, the
result would be salutary in two ways
The amount of taxable property would
be increased, and the number of dogs in
the city would be decreased. The peo-
pie who owned valuable dogs would pay
the tax on them. and the worthless ours
would be sent into permanent retirement.
AS a matter of fact the retirement
of the worthless element of the dog pop
ulation is an end most devoutly to be
desired. There are too many dogs in town.
In certain parts of the city they are an
unmitigated nuisance, and it frequently
occurs that they are nuisance on Bur.
Broughton and other important streets.
The well-bred dog usually has an even
temper and good health. The scrubs ana
ours are vicious, NANCY and liable to do
somebody damage at almost any time.
A glance at the city code would induce
the opinion that there is already law
enough on the subject to keep the dogs
down. But law. on the books only, does not
amount to a great deal The books con
tain nearly three pages of dog laws. 1t
is against the ordinances for any dog 10
go at large in the city without a muzzie
and collar, upon a penalty of $50. 1t is
unlawful for any dog to approach within
less than thirty feet of the city market
upon penalty of $50. 1t is in the power
of the mayor to order all dogs unmuzzled
and not following their owners to be killed
without question. 1t is against the law
for any dog to go into Forsyth park, with
or without its owner, under a penalty
of IS for each offense. A lot more of or
dlnances relate to dog taxes and licenses.
and tags, and double taxes for failure TO
observe the rules. and the duties of the
marshals, and the manner in which fines
shall be collected. In short, there has
been quantity of dog legislation put upon
the ordinance books. Yet the utterly
worthless dog thrives and abounds.
Big hats with high plumes are once
more fashionable, and the public are
threatened with their obtrusive tendency
The cutlery against the wearing of such.
hats TO the theater and to other places of
amusement has had good effect. 1t is
gratifying to note that some of the wear
ers of the great headgears have enough
consideration for the rights of others at
the theater to unrig the hats and hold
them in their laps. 1t requires care and
Judgment to take out and put in a num-
Der of hat pins without the aid of a mir
ror but that the unrigging and rerigging
can be successfully and even gracefully
done has been demonstrated repeatedly of
late. The operation may be witnessed at
the theater almost any night. And when
it is performed it marks the person as be-
ing of good breeding and of thoughtful
consideration for Others There are some
persons, Of course. who insist upon maxi
ing purchasers of seats pay for the privi-
lege of getting back view of their millin-
cry and not much else. But they must be
borne with. if not excused for their lack
either of refinement or another hat.