The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-19
AnntI,cr NJ Crn.nhc

For reasons unknowu-or perhaps il is
attributable TO the prevalence Of a form
Of midwinter madness iu certain circles Of
brief authority-the dog has lately become
an object of attack in more than one quar-
ter. In Washington. by an august decree
ne has been sentenced TO the indtgnity and
torture Of having his jaws done up in wire
or leather. OF both. II a certain bucolic
assemblyman Is permitted 10 have his way
in the New York Legislature. the Empire
State dogs excepting in few more en-
Iishtened counties where idioJic measures
are strauEled a, birth, will be summariIy
suppressed Not thst general execution
is proposed but the bill introduced by the
assemOlymau fr,'m one OF the rural conn
ties of the south,-u tier provides that any
resident Of any community. excepting tn Sc
in New York. Kings. Albany. and Erie
counties. may. upon having his nocturnal
quietude disturbed by the barking of rfe
animal in question. complain TO a justice.
repetition Of the offence confers upon
the Judicial officer the authority TO saE-
tence the offending dog TO determination.
In settled communities. aside from being
congeuiaI domestic animal or a priced
pet. the dog has a single sphere Of useful
ness. I'm the majority a. instances he is
fed and housed becausC of his procIivi,y
for warning the residens against thieves.
If Of sufficient proportion and pugnacity
TO be formidable. his duty lies in the di-
rection of vigorous attack upon the in
terloper. II diminutive. as is frequently
the case. ne is expected TO BE- better than
an automatic burglar alarm. inasmuch as
these electrical devices are not put in op-
Grafton by suspicious sound. and tie
right sort Of a dog is.
The bucolic New York assembIyman's
measure. however, threatens TO deprive the
citizens of a large part of the Empire
STATE OF these valuable canine services. If
stamped with authority. his law will pro
vide an excellent facility for the further
ance of neighborhood feuds and the gratif-
cation of private grudges. There is woe in
store for the man who keeps dog if he
also has an enemy within earshot. for even
though a dozen masked thieves seek 20
break into his dOmicile and despoil hin
Of his yalu>Ses. the disgruntled neighbor
may easily lodge complaint with the near
est justice. pleading Insomnia. and secure
upon second offence, the removal of his en-
emys dog to the general place Of execu-
ton. There may. OF course. be a clause
in the proposed law exempting from com.
plant and futur, seizure the dog who IS
wise enough to distinguish between noises
that are natural and sounds that are sus-
piciOus but If there is the dispatches
have failed TO note it,
There is no denying that some dogs are
nuisances and ought. in the interest Of pub
lie sOmnolence. TO be violently suppressed.
But a sweeping measure enjoining silence
upon the dogs OF the larger part OF a
State after the curfew without discrimina-
ton is an injustice to th0se animals whose
judgment has frequently been demonstrated
to be almost human: and, secondarily,
is an indirect invitation to petty thieves
to come on and help themselves after the
wholesale slaughter OF CANNES has been
completed
Another indefensible feature OF this pro-
posed enactment Is its provision of ex-
emption in favor OF four counties where
the dog family is known to be represented
in large numbers. If it is right that dogs
should be forcibly suppressed in Duchess.
there is no apparent reason why the quar-