The times., 1899-12-23

An evidence Of the interest that the citi-
zens are exhibiting in the order of the
District Commissioners TO compel owners
OF dogs 10 muzzle all CANNES was mani
Tested last night, when a prominent F
Street merchant said to reporter for The
Times
I have some information for the Dis
trict Commissioners and the Poundmaster.
which J would like 10 convey to them
through The Times While I was walking
through Mount Vernon Park I counted FIVE
unmuzzled dogs gamboling about the
grounds without fear Of moIestatIon. Only
one Of the number had a license tag on
Two OF the others were about the most
yiliainous looking tramp dogs that ! have
seen in a long time. and the two others
were common mongrels that probably never
had an owner. For the benefit OF the So
Ecitous Commissioners who are SO anxious
about the welfare Of the people, l would
like TO have you publish this. They may
request the gentleman who mauipUlates the
dog pound TO send some of his ablebodied
assistants TO that neighborhood to make an
attempt 10 capture these homeless ours"
The Commissioners muzzling order is
not only being commented unfayorably on
by owners Of dogs and fauciers. but also
by members Of Congress who dislike the
order for several reasons.
Representatives Views.
The matter is not one OF very great
importance" said Western Representa-
tive today. but I think it is an open ques-
ton whether the District authorities have
4 right TO first license dogs and then com
nal their "a % In mid
winter as TO make the ownership a nuis-
Ence TO both the owners and the dogs
The District Commissioners have ap-
peared 10 me for a long time TO be
set OF old women. who, not having enough
legitimate business 10 occupy their minds
ind Il necessary 10 fuss with details which
should be relegated 10 their subordinates.
No one seriously believes that December
Is q month in which people should look
for an outbreak of rabies
Whatever danger there is 10 the Washing
ton population comes from the stray dog
animals whose owners. IL they have any,
pay no tax or license for them, and which
are permitted 10 roam free about the city
These animals should be impounded and
then the difficulty viii be at an end
The license fee is 81, which is the
price OF q dog tax, 10 allow a citizen TO
keep his dog in peace and to permit him
~ grown dog likes, or is accustomed 20
beng led about by a chain, and some of
the scenes that / witnessed on the street
yesterday and this morning Of toy terriers,
King Charles spaniels and small fox ter
riers running about eucased IN muZzles.
which in some instances we're bigger than
the dogs, can only tend TO make the ordi-
nance ridiculous.
i may say in all sincerity that I have
1~T-a - .a=a H-g rF-
trict Commissioners 10 make this oTdi-
nance II these three gentlemen are not
only the executive but the legislative body
ss well. il is 2 fact that has not yet come 10
the attention Of Congress. This is the Sc
rious part Of the matter
Probably the dogs can stand ill-treatment
for q few months and perhaps the District
revenue from this source can stand being
decreased when dog owners learn that L.
censes amount 10 nothing, but If the Dis
trict Comm issiOEsTs can enact or pTOmul
gate laws with reference TO dog ownership
they can take similar action or other sub
5ects that is not within the contemplation
OF the District scheme Of government
I think ! shall look into this matter
and bring il TO the attention of the District
Committee OF the House. IN my Congress
Bional service have noticed many start
ling performances on the part Of the Dis
trict authorities, and sooner OF later &c viii
be necessary for Congress 10 take the mat
ter up"
The Cost OF Buying MuzzIes.
Another gentleman who is dissatisfied
with the order to muzzle dogs, because he
believes that it viii not in the slightest de-
gree diminish rabies in the District, said
respecting the ordinance
gUwlzrc q me : strange STATE of af-
fairs which permits these District Commis-
Bi0ueTs 20 impose & tax at any time they
may see At 20 do so. According 10 the
Health Oficer's report published IN yes
terdays Times. there have been granted
1853 licenses since July J. 1893. Each
license cost q citizen s. tax, OF total Of
sl531s Not satisfied with this eXorbi-
tRnt taxation. they have issued an order
that these $50 taxed dogs must be sub
3ect 10 z further tax in the nature Of the
purchase price OF z muZzle- These instru-
merts Of dog torture cost from . cents to
$50 each. The average price is about IS
cents This means that the owners OF
these 1853 dogs must pay s. . more
IN order 20 retain the animals they had
already obtained q license 10 keep. Be
sides these known !. .Gas dogs. there are
many Others that viii also be muzzled If
the obnoxious order Of the Commissioners
is put into eject.
! want 10 know II the Commissioners
have q right 10 make the people OF Wash
ington 60 20 this extraordinary expense
I also want 70 know II the Commissioners
car legally do this what is 10 prevent them
from issuing an order that men must wear
claw hammer coats when on the street, or
any other ridiculous notion that may hap
pen 70 catch their fancy. II seems 20 me
that the Commissioners have greatly eN-
ceeded tbeir powers"
The Official report OF the Poundmaste-
Of The District 10 the Health Ofhcer indi-
Gates that he has been stirred up C some
activity. but men who profess 10 have .
knowledge OF what is being done say that
he Poundmaster's force should be greatly
inc-eased and that his efforts TO capture
stray dogs should be redOubled.
The report indicates that since July J
Ises the Pounlmaster has captured dogs
e. follows July 1885, August, 6I6; ScpJem
her --6. October 3Ss. November, 3sJ, anC
10 December I6. inclusive. 6sZ
The total number Of licenses issued FOL
dogs since July J. 1888. is 659- For th'
entire year. ended June 80, 1883, there We,
bur G. 43s Licenses granted.
secretary Wilson's Suggestion
The Secretary Of Agriculture So com
muuication TO The District Commissioner
few days ago, called their attcntlOn Il
the fact that be had reliable information
that rabies were prevalent ina Fairfax an'
Alexandra counties. Virginia, and in Mont
gomery and Prince George counties, Mary
land, and he suggested the advisabiiity O
the Commissioners preventing these dog
from entering The District without beini
mazzlcd. The Secretary did not however
70 10 the extreme Of suggesting that thi
dogs thar have homes IN this city shoul,
l,e ufzZled. That was an insuiratiOn d
tie Commissioner Secretary Wilson sal 2
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