The times., 1899-12-27


The District Commissioners yesterday is
sued orders TO the Pouudmaster to capture
today AN dogs found at large without muz-
zies. whether they were properly equipped
with license tags or not. In issuing the
order The Commissioners announced that
local dealers had secured stocks Of muz-
zles, and that there was no longer any
reason why owners should not have them
on their animals. The Poundmaste-. upon
receiving the order Immediately instruct
ed his sub0rdinates TO enforce ii. and the
dog catchers viii begin their work this
morning Under the order no fayoritism
viii be shown and every dog. whether
high-bred pet or street cur viii be taken
in on sight. The Commissioners. however.
exempt from the order all dogs that are
led by strap OF chain. In making this
concession the Commissioners announced
that the animal must be held at all times,
and III il should be released even tenn
porarily ID would be subject 10 seizure.
Late be the afternoon Commissioner
Ross gave out the following statement re-
garding the action OF himself and coli
leagues on the question Of muzzling the
dogs:
There seems 10 be some misinforma-
tiOn in the minds Of many OF the worthy
people Of the District with regard 10 the
recent action OF The Commissioners re-
quiriug dogs TO be muzz!ed. They seem TO
believe that this action was taken without
reason and without authority OF Jaw. A
brief statement of the law and the Cacts
may tend 10 place the matter in a proper
light before this community
"On the 18th Of June 1S7S an act Of
Congress was approved which evidently
had Two purposes in view One was 20 l'r0-
vide revenue by d tax upon dogF and rhe
other part Of the act was intended TO
meet an eZIgency when hydroph0bia pre-
vailed The first part OF the act levied a
tax OF s. each upon all dogs owned or kept
in the District. Upon the payment OF the
tax the Collector Of Taxes was required
10 issue q tag and II any dog was found
without d tag the Poundmastcr was re-
QUired by this law 10 impound H. and If
not redeemed within forJy-eight hours he
was required TO sell or destroy the dog.
This part Of the law is entirely iHdepen-
dent Qf the other part. which is as follows.
Whenever il shan De made 10 rpr5ar to tae
Commissioners that there are good reasons for
believing THAI any dog or dogs within tie Dis
tflet are mad, y slait De the duty OF tle Com
Hlssonefs q issue q proclamation requiring that
sll dogs shall for a period 10 be defined in The
proclamation. wear good. substantial muzzles
c--e-y put on, - IS 20 prevent tEcin from biting
% Swapping. and any dog going az large during
the period defined by the Commissioners without
such muzzies shall be taken by the pound-mas-
ter and impoCDdcd. subject 70 Tie provisions Of
section 3
1T Will seen from the reading OF this
section thar even il the owner Of tie dog
has paid tax upon the same, and the dog
has been tagged, yet, if there be good rea- !
sons for believing that any dog or dogs
within the District are mad, tagged dogs
and al others must, during the period
named, be provided with good, substantial
muzzles, SO as TO prevent them from biting
or swapping.
About the only question which can
arise under this last quoted law is. whether
there is good reason 10 believe that there
are any mad dogs in the District. II there
be such reason. the Commissioners have
no more discretion with regard 10 the ac-
tion required by this law that they have
with regard 10 any other act required by
an act 0f Congress.
The discussion as 20 whether muzziing
is injurious OF not cannot be considered
that would be q question 10 submit 10 Con
gress with regard 10 the repeal Of the act
The Commissioners received a com
munication from the Hon James Wilson,
Secretary Of Agriculture, dated December
l3. lss9. in which he stated:
As So tbe existence q the disease fH the Dis
TrlCr - Columbia the evidence 0f lhi- depart
Eaent is based upon tests made ia the laboratory
~ the Bureau oI Animal Industry, which have
shown The following uudoubted cases of rabies
- deEs during The gear 1890; January 9. J;
March lG. 1- April D.. !. May 20 4. August 30.
]; October =. j: October 20. 4 November =
A0remb1r g j; November l3, D; Npremb=I I5 ];
November -, ,: December. q p
As rabies Is strictly Contagious disease and
doss mol develop except IS consequence Of
Hs#ar F~s. s..
ease. II j. evident that iIs cau-agiun iias con-
stau-ly existed ia this vicinity ~ least since
oet0t-er ~ and the Increasing number % cascs
which hsve been hVauEht 10 this department for
examination indicates JuC extension ~ this con-
tsgion il is also reported thar
number 1l persons have recently been bitten uy
r4hi0 do2- iu the District
soon after the receipt Of this communi-
cation The Commissioners met ia board
session and gave 70 it the couside alton due
to-Its eminent wTiter-upon the question
&c 70 whether the proclamation reQuii ed
By the act referred 10 should then be
issued. Inasmuch as that report referred
70 the past and bore no evidence that a
case Of rabies then existed in the District.
the issuance Of the proclamation was
deemed inadvisable ar that time.
Under date OF December 16, 1898. re-
port Of the Health officer was received by
The Commissioners. in which he sya
cases Of rabies exist iu this District Al the
present time. and II is certainly beyond
question that there IS good reason for be-
lieying So Referring TO his whole report
he further says. ] viii respectfully sug-
gest that these facts warrant II they do
not even require the issuance Of such q
proclamation as IS specified in this act. and
] have the honor 10 recommend thai such
q proclamation be issued.
Hfss.f 4fHfd Ha
Commissioners issued the order bearing
that date. in accordance with the terms
o. the law, requiring ali dogs 10 be- muz-
zled for G period OF SIX months from thar
date. and which stated that any dog going
az large during such period without such
muzzle would be taken up by the Pound
master and impounded.
This artion was not taken until after
fun end complete discussion Of the whole
matter had been had with the Attorney
for the District Of Columbia who uFon
the facts 50 set forth advised the Com
Tnissloncrs that they had 10 option what
ever in the matter. but that upon the Off
cial reports so received by them il was
their plain duty 10 obey the mard3te OF
the law.
Upon December 20. 1898 the acting
Health Officer reported as follows:
have the honor 20 inform you uat ,he u-
Epector 8f live stock connected with Jtis depart
Enent ras called December q. 1895, 20 a farm
on tie Conduit Rcad, iu he District Of C0lumtIa.
10 hold 4 p0st-ngEtgn examination on a Cow
suspected 81 having been affected with rabies
Tie brain Vas removed by sid inspector and
taken t1 tsc Bureau ~ Animal Industry. where
flfe necessary scsl made o. confirm the sIs-
pici1n 0i the cEIsloEcr 81 the disease The Tal-
bits tiut Wer then inoculsted now have th0
rabies proving csncipsiyey that the COW 10
question uss thus affected. The Inspector also