The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-13
9HB DOG MUZZLB ORDER
The Regulation Will Expire by
Limitation Next Tuesday.
The Public Interested In Knowing
Whether the Objectionable Edict
VIII BE Continued-The Probable
Course to he Pursued by the Com
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of Mr. Ross.

The order promulgated by the Commits
sioners Of the District on December 10,
| 1899. making it obligatory upon owners OF
| dogs to muzzle them while running at
large in the streets. will expire by limi-
tation next Tuesday. This order during
! the six months in which 1t will have been
in effect has called forth a volume of pro-
test from the citizens Of the District, and
has proved, perhaps. more unpopular than
any other regulation emanating from the
municipal authorities.
1t gave rise to public meetings called by
indignant owners OF dogs, whose pets were
impounded or whose wrath was stirred by
the unnecessary cruelty put upon the
animals by wearing the uncomfortable
headgear. These meetings led to the
organization Of the Dog Owners Protective
Association, whose resolutions Of protest
against the order and whose petitions for
its resembling have been matters Of wide
publication. Much OF the time of the Com
missioners themselves has been consumed
in listening to complaints against the en-
forcement OF the law. and in adjusting
claims for the remission of the pound fee
when licensed dogs have been captured
and redeemed.
A few days ago a motion made at
board meeting Of the Commissioners by
Mr.. Mcfarland to rescind the order was
voted down by Messrs. Ross and Beach,
they being actuated. as they said. by re-
cent reports from the Health Department
to the effect that rabies still prevailed in
the District.
As the time approaches for the order
to expire great interest centres In the
probable action or non-action OF the Com
missioners relative to the extension of
the dog-muzzIe order. Will the Board
action relative to the promulgation Of q
similar regulation for another specified
period. or will the unpopular law die a
natural death and pass into oblivion?
This question Is being asked By the mi
nority who have profound faith in the cx-
istence Of rabies in the District. and by
the vast majority Of citizens who do not
believe in the efficacy Of the muzzle to
eliminate the disease. il 1t does exist.
1t is understood that the Commissioners
would much prefer, personally. to allow
the present muzzling order to expire by
Limitation without action looking to the
of another similar one. At
the same time, II reports from the Health
Department or from other sources should |
come before the Board. alleging that |
rabies still exists in the city or county. |
It is probable that motion would be made
to extend the regulation for specified !
time. Judging from the recent acticl of |
the Beard in voting not to rescind the |,
order. it may be assumed that two of the |
would vote to extend the |
came
From information Of trustworthy |
character it is learned that Commissioner |
Ross will be guided in the matter by the |
facts as they present themselves on next |
Tuesday. II it Is made to appear by re- !
ports from the Health Department or the /
Bureau of Animal Industry of the Agri-
cultural Department that animals are suf-
fering from rabies Mr.. Ross will probably
move to extend the order for, possibly, |
six months longer.
In that event 1t is learned from good
authority that Mr.. Mcfarland will oppose
the motion and place on record state
ment of his views. even stronger than
that recorded on the recent action of the
board.
Commissioner Beach. 1t is thought, will |
side with Commissioner Ross, as before. |
1t is said that Commissioner Macfarland |
will not be left to fight the battle alone. !
1t is understood that information has |
been accumulated In considerable volume |
to prove the utter insfficiency of the muz- |
zle order to accomplish that for which it |
was intended.
Commissioner Ross. in speaking OF the |
placed upon the board in |
with this matter, said to |
friend recently that he wished the ques-
tion might be left to popular vote. He is |
represented as saying that he would like
to know just what the people Of the Dis
trict think about the matter