The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-23
MAKING DOGS USEFUL.
Women Fight the Politicians and
Garry Their Point.

KANSAS CITY. KAN, MaIth ia
new and useful field of endeavor has been
found for the dogs OF this city. Ihey
are now the sole support Of the public
library. Every wandering mongrel that
bavs at the moon at midnghts watch
ing hour. every canine of high-born de-
gree and carefully groomed coat-pointer'
setter or mastiff, spitz or poodle, large
or small. savage or genrle-contrloutes
its mite toward maintaining a constantly
growing and modestly elaborate pubic
library.
More than this. the dogs are laboring
ceaselessly. patiently and earnestly III
building up a comprehensive and admlra-
bic city park system. The burden or re-
sponsibility imposed upon the dogs OF THIS
town has been accepted in spirit OF
cheerful acquiescence by the CANNES AZ
though the owners are inclined 10 com
plain over the vigilance OF the authorl-
ties who have the matter OF collecting
license in charge.
The Federation OF Womens Clubs, or
which Mrs Carrie A. Brownson Is the
president. Is responsible for the system
OF supporting the library. In the oldeh
time and golden, when the Kansas won
an was a dubious factor in politics. the
position If public impounder was polit-
zeal SOP tossed by the party in control OF
the negro voters. The impounder was
modest man and knew good thing Wheh
he saw it. He was allowed one-halt OF the
tax for imposing payment, but as there
are more than 1000 dogs in this town
and as license was paid only on about
one-third of these. IL became nOlsed
abroad that by paying the impounder his
share Of the tax he was willing 10 throw
off the city's portion.
The disposition Of the unclaimed ami
mails led 10 The introduction Of an ordl-
nance in tine common council BY one
Abbott authorizing the impOunder 10 XIII
the animals and present the tails OF the
dogs M the city treasurer ofice Where
he would be compensated at the ratio OF
T. per tail. The ordinance remained IN
force but enc brief but busy month. dur
ing which time the impounler collected
$50 from the city on tails. Many and va
ried were the complaints that were lodg-
ed with the city officials by the owners OF
dogs who said that Jack. the tail clip
per" WAS abroad I'm the town. Licensed
dogs stray dogs. farmers dogs visiting
in town and dogs across the state me
i'm Kansas city Mo. were depleted OF
their caudal appendices with impair
tialitv. some people suspected the public
impoundcr but his culpabiity was never
proven. But the ordinance was repeated
Just the same and dogs that had escaped
the clippers were safe TO venture out
with their tails once more.
II is long jump from dogs-licensed
or unlicensed-to a public library, but
the women. after innumerable meetings
and conferences. arrived az this conciu-
sion. There are more than 1900 dogs in
this town. there are less than 2wO books
I'm the public library. The public library
IS supported by private subscription, the
dogs are q public nuisance, ana taxes are
maid on less than one-third Of them; why
NOT divert the revenue from dog tax 10
the support Of the public library Meet
ings. pink teas and long conferences re-
suited finally I'm a united demand on the
city fathers FOR the dog tax Tor library
purposes.
Tho politicians were mildly amused at
the demand. but the women were in earn
est they besieged their husbands, their
hrotherst and their sWeethearts. They car
ried their point, much 10 the disgust OF
the politicians. who saw one OF the
strongest holds on the colored brother
passing. An ordinance was prepared ana
sent through the city council, but IT
contained "A fatal defect and tho negro
impounder knocked It out. The politicians
told the women it was no use, the law
was against hem More meetings. more
conferences and q new ordinance. me
impounder gain invoked the law and was
beaten.
The passing Of the impounder brought
q new position into cxistence-the dog
enumerator. The place is held by Mrs.
Sarah A. Rickart.
But why dog enumerator!
"We1" said one OF the women naive
IL. "enumerator sounds better than I'M
FOUNDER"
The dog cnumerator employed clerk.
Colonel Edward Haren. who attends 10
all the duties Of the Office. dog census
was taken after the manner OF reSu ar
census The names Of the dogs. COLOR
breed. disposition-savag or gentle-aBe'
owner. owners occupation, were all enter
ed i'm a big book. 1t was found that there
were 4.32S dogs and that at no time had
the impounder collected on more than
ls75 of them. Under the new method
collections have been made on more than
. 700 and this week IL is expected that
about 900 arrests will occur Tor failure %
nav dog tax. County Attorney Miller was
arrested last week because he failed 10
paw for his dogs right to live in town.
Il forgot all about 1t. your honor, ne
said TO the police judge.
Two dollars and costs said the judge.
The law as IL stands to-day declares ali
dogs 10 De HulStIttHs y oiN "a W." -
nlaced on males and S225 on females.
The expenses OF collecting the taxes are
betrayed by the women's clubs. The city
receives one-half of the sum collected,
which is devoted TO identifying the public
parks. while the other half goes 10 the
women. who Use the amount over and
above expenses to buy new books Tor the
library. Thus far 400 new volumes have
been added end about 1000 more Will soon
be bought.
The women say the expenses OF emu
meratng dogs and collecting taxes VIII
decrease each year. and that Will add TO
the sum TO be used In building up great
library. Under the present system tne
owner OF a dog is given five days notice
that his dog AK is due. TX al the eNpira-
ton OF that time he falls 10 pay the
coney to the city treasurer. a warrant
is issued for his arrest and given 70 tne
police. No excuses for failure TO pay are
ransidered valid.