The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-27

Reports from those who are circulating
/ the petition protesting against the dog
| mUzzl.ng order. now being enforced in the
District show that the feeling IS general
! throughout the city that the regulation
should be rescinded.
1t would be very easy matter said
| George W. Evans. who is one OF the lead
| ers Of the movement in behalf Of the SUI
fering CANNES. to procure the signatures
J Of ten thousand citizens who declare that
that muzzliug order is entirely uncalled
for" Mr.. Evans said that he. alone, had
/ obtained the signatures of nearly FIVE
hundred persons 20 the petition.
To-day there are at least fifty OF hose
petitions in circulation said Mr.. Evans.
They are being presented in all parts Of
| the District. and those who are engaged in
passing them around report long lists of
names OF prominent persons. | have
nearly five hundred signatures. Surprising
that each OF the other fifty ant-muZZle
workers secures even half that number,
and that will be an easy matter, We will
have The names Of more than twelve
thousand citizens who are in favor Of
abolishinE the muzzle These signatures
D
night az National Rifles Hail. and | am
sure the number viii be surprisingly large.
Scores Of persons continued Mr.. Evans.
come into my Office daily, and am
stopped on the street by many. who desire
TO sign the petition and TO join in the
movement"
Mr.. Evans is in receipt. also, Of numer-
Gus letters. in which the writer's commend
the action taken by the citizens for the
all - Has rf.e.
from Prof. A. Gerard. Principal Of the
Berlitz School OF Languages. who wishes
10 be considered heartily in favor cf the
movement.
While the records Of the Health Depart
ment show that since January ]. 1900, up
10 and including March "A. 1900 seventeen
dogs have been reported as suffering from
symptoms resembling those OF rabies, it
is the positive opinion Of hundreds Ct dog
owners that, if a case Of hydrophobia
existed I'm the District the time has now
past when il is necessary to keep the
dogs muzzed.
while j; is the general belief that there
has been no case Ct rabies here. said
MI Evans. eve are not making any point
on this claim. We are claiming however.
that no case exists today and that there
is no cause for the continued enforcement
Of the law which brings 80 much suffering
70 me Guys.
Commissioner Wight sad yesterday af-
teruoon that the law providing for such
an order was an act OF Congress. and to
have il resCiuded % would be necessary 10
repeal the law.
Prominent citizens Interested however.
believe the law 10 be more or less discre-
uouary. They claim that the length OK
time in which the animals are to be muz-
zled after a case Of hydrop5obil is report L
ed is left TO the judgment Of the Com
missioneIs.
+. A. Hammond. Vice President OF the
New York Humane Society, at present in
Washington, is indignant al the inhumsn
manner in which dogs are treated in the
Capital City. II is an outrage, declared
Mr. Hammond 10 President Pratt. of the
Washington Humane Society. yesterday
Ito have the poor animals mouths strap
ped up on so slight a provocation."
This morning a meeting Of the p5und 4
committee Of the local Humane Society 4
will be held 20 reconsider the communi- .
cation sent 10 the District Commissioners T
in which the society offered to impounl .
the dogs for IS. 900 wear Il is believed .
that the amount asked for VIII be lowered .
to $500 yearly.