The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-03-10

the burdens laid upon all dumb anlmais
it actually imposes the ponderous flnan-
cial burden of S1O2, 900 annually upon
the mute but human taxpayers OF the
State or a tax upon the people OF the
counties of the State of 81 500 per an
mum for the benefit of the sympathetic
friends of the brute For the violation
of any one of the extraordinary prov1-
sions of this bill the offense is rated so
high that all members and agents of
the society referred to in the Act are
authorized to start upon a pilgrimage
of human Slaughter, and for such pur-
pose may carry the same weapons that
Sheriffs, constables, police and peace
officers are authorized to carry"
These newly created knights Of the
pistol and truncheon are justified by
this bill in the use of armed interven-
ton, not for the benefit of the State,
| but for the purpose of increasing the
exchequer of the incorporated humane
societies.
The societies characterized as "hu-
name" which should operate under
this bill would soon prove a misno-
mer inasmuch as by its provisions the
officers of such societies are authorized
to kill every sick, disabled, infirm or
crippled animal which may have been
abandoned by it's owner, and are en-
powered to use force and arms against
any person who should demonstrate or
interfere with this sanguinary duty.
Another unusually cruel feature Of
the bill is to be found in Section 81.
where it is made the duty of every
owner of an animal which is unfit, by
reason of its physical condition, for the
purpose for which such animals are
usually employed, and when there is
no reasonable probability of such ami
NAL ever becoming fit for the purpose
for which it is usually employed" to
, kill the same within twelve hours after
being notified by a peace officer or Off
Ger Of said society. So, therefore, if
the animal should have been used for
racing or breeding purposes and should
be no longer fit therefor, the unfortu-
nate beast must be deprived of its life.
This doctrine is wholly indefensible. IF
, the owner of a horse destined for such
: a fate because of such uselessness
should happen to be hippophile, and
lack the bloodthirsty spirit necessary
for obedience to such officers command,
I then he is deemed guilty of a misde-
meanor and subjected to the penalty of
fine or imprisonment, or both, as pro-
vided for in the Act.
I find singular ambiguity in Section
% of the bill which, should it become a
law, might puzzle the ermined arbiters.
namely, where the following language
is used:
"Any person or persons holding a lien
or liens against any animal or animals
under the provisions of this Act may
satisfy such lien as follows: If such
lien be not paid by the party or parties
responsible within three days after the
obligation becomes due, then the party
or parties holding such lien may re-
| sort to the proper court to satisfy the
claim; or he. or they, three days after
! the charges against such property be-
comes due. may sell the same or so
much thereof as may be necessary to
| defray the amount due and costs of
! sale, etc.
| Now, as by Section 20, no tail shall
be "docked' or shortened, it might be
! difficult for a strict constructionist to
determine whether the tail should be
| included or excluded from the sale, and
! a conflict might arise which would in
volye mathematics, as we'll as ethics.
But disregarding this possible con-
| flict as of trivial Importance, it is not
useless to the taxpayer to scrutinize
| the purpose of the bill. which seeks to
impose all the expenses of the trials and
| proceedings upon the several counties
and to permit the humane societies to