The times., 1899-04-15
CRUSADE AGAINST THE
ASH CART NUISANCE
The Humane SOciety's Protest
TO the Commissioners.
Horses Shipped Here at 81 Head
to Die Hauling Garbage.
Disgraceful SpcctacIes in the Streets
of the Capital-No Remedy
Available at Present.

The Washington Humane Society recent
! ly forwarded TO the District Commission
! ers statement regarding the sale of old
and broken-down horses in Washington
| The statement was prepared by Mrs
Crammond Kennedy and approved by the
| society. II not only characterized the To-
cal ash cart as disgrace to any civilized
| community, but made the charge that many
of the horses brought to this city for sale
to ashmen are drugged
The Humane Society suggested in its
| statement that it would perhaps be wise
for the Commissioners TO impose a license
upon ashmen, but this did not meet the
approval of the board, and no action was
taken. The Commissioners maintained
that they could not license any occupation
without authority being vested in them by
law for the purpose. They added how
ever, that they were considering plans for
collecting ashes and refuse under munich
pal control, and hoped in the near future
to be able TO adopt some such system in
the city. The statement of the Humane
Society read as follows:
THE Humane Society has long consid-
cred how TO rid the streets of the forlorn
broken down horses staggering along in
the shafts OF ash carts, equally dilapidated,
which are a disgrace to a civilized CITY,
We are called upon constantly TO explain
to visitors why the law permits such
wretched spectacles here while in other
cities a system of inspection prevents the
selling of horses under a certain age.
Peculiar conditions exist now The COL
ored people flock into the city from the
surrounding country seeking easier en-
ployment than the tilling of the soil, and
as horses can be bought from 81 up the ash
business proves very attractive. To supply
this demand carloads of worn-out horses
are shipped here from Maryland and Vir-
ginia. Many of these animals are drugged
to keep them upon their feet until they
can be sold to men, who, knowing they
cannot last long, get all the work they
can out of them with the leas. outlay of
food. When our agent arrests an owner
OF one of these horses and brings him into
court he pleads that the horse is the only
support of the family. This problem con-
fronts the judge of the Police Court every
day, and especially if he is new to the
ways of the District.
is il any wonder if he dismisses the
case, thinking it smaller matter that an
old horse should suffer than that a family
should become a charge on the COM
munity? We know, however that when
finally the horse drops. unable to rise,
and his life is mercfully ended by our
agent. the man buys another to go through
the same routine.
The remedy for this condition of things
is not easy under the circumstances. but
something should at least be attempted to
prevent the daily spectacle of the breaking
OF the law for the prevention of cruelty
to animals. II every ash cart was licensed
and numbered in a conspicuous manner IL
would facilitate our work, as by reference
to the license record the homes of owners
OF such horses could be found This in
spection would keep those who were not
willing to be amenable TO the law out OF
the ASH business and fewer 81 to s. horses
would be Sold
Several days ago the Humane Society
again wrote TO the Commissioners asking
whether any further steps had been taken
in the way of abolishing the ash cart nui-
sance.
The Humane Society will be informed in
accordance with the following recon- |
mendation of Commissioner Wight, which |
was approved by his associates:
The Commissioners made earnest en-
deavors during the last session of Con-
gress TO provide for the municipal re- !
moval of ashes, but Congress did not see |
fit to allow any appropriation or grant !
the Commissioners the authority TO do the |
work. Nothing can be done by the Com |
missioners without such an appropriation.
and consequently nothing further can be |
done in the matter until Congress con- |
venes, next winter. The Commissioners |
appreciate the detriment to the commu- |
nity's welfare in having the horses and |
wagons referred TO in the streets and in |
such service and would be very glad to |
have the city relieved of them, If such |
a thing were possible, but know of no way |
at present of remedying the difficulties"