The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-06

Vigorously Defends His Position.
The District Health Officer. DR.. William
| c. Woodward, has submitted reply to
| his critics in the Humane Society of
| Washington. DR.. Woodward, it will be
recalled, recently formulated q report to
| the District Commissioners recommending
adverse action on the Administration bill.
For this act of official duty. and for his
| expression OF opinion contrary 10 the
views entertained by members OF the
| Humane Society, he was somewhat harshiy
criticised by the latter In his reply to
| this criticism, which is addressed to the
Commissioners, DR.. Woodward says:
The Washington Humane Society pro-
fesses to find in the suggestion OF the
Health officer that The authority conferred
by this bill TO require reports of work may
be utilized SO as 10 make eNperimenters
bear witness against themselves, an ad-
mission that wrong is being, or is likely to
be. done in connection with experimental
ton. Ii hardly appears necessary to point
out that the bill creates new offences, aud
that ii provides no penalty for inflicting
cruelty upon animals, but only penalties
for the performance of experiments. con-
trary 10 certain arbitrary rules, which have
no basis either in morality or justice. The
statement that no. moral or statutory
wrong Is being done at the present time
has no bearing therefore, upon what may
be the case with reference TO statutory
misdomeanors II this bill is enacted.
1T is remarkable too. that the Wash
ington Humane Society should assume that
evidence against a person is always CON
elusive of guilt II such were the case
there would never be a criminal prosecu-
ton in which there would not be con-
viction, nor a civil suit in which the YER
die; would no; be awarded TO the plaintiff.
The opponents OF the bill were criti-
cised in the report Of the Senate commit
tee because they objected to the provision
for the appointment Of free inspectors.
An illustration was quoted in the report.
II was not a fair one. The position held
by she cashier OF a bank is in no way COM
parable 10 the position of the ordinary SCI
enlist; The former deals with the property
OF other persons, and exercises semi
public function. Tie latter deals with
his own property and attends strictly TO
his own business. II is sought TO explain
the failure of The Washington Humane So
ciely TO bring TO light during quarter
Of a century any cruelty in connection with
experiments On animals by this statement.
In the nature Of the case II is difficult.
If not impracticable, TO produce evidence
now OF atrocities committed by vivisectors
in the District of Columbia. 1t usually is
difficult and impracticable to find evidence
OF things which do not exist
In support of the assertion that need
less cruelty, if it result from experimental
ton, cannot be prevented under existing
law, the Washington Humane Society
fror ha hr Mr
Ross Perry to the Senate committee. I'm
less some reason be made apparent for be-
lieving that Mr.. Perry departed in this in |
stance from his usually uninform accuracy |
of diction, the statement quoted cannot |
be construed TO be anything more than an |
avowal of nescience. 1t is certainly not a |
denial of the existence of such law either |
here or elsewhere. There is an apparent !
effort, too, to exaggerate the force of this |
statement by emphasizing the legal attain |
ments Of the gentleman who made 1t. but I
Mr. Perry himself stated to the Senate |
committee, TO which his appeal was adj |
dressed, that he did not speak in his pro-
fessional capacity.
ut is attempted further to support the |
contention as to the insufficiency of exist
ng laws by stating that certain prominent |
sitizens, OF more or less eminence in the |
egal profession, have petitoned for the |
enactment of the bill now under considera-
ion. have carefully examined the report |
Of the Senate committee which contains |
The names OF the citizens referred to, to
earn, If possible. the date and form OF this |
alleged petition, but while it is exceedingly |
,ull in most particulars. for some in
;crutable reason the details of the petition |
10 not appear II is respectfully submitted, !,
however that such 4 petition can have nc |
weight unless its signers were acquainted |
with existing law relative to experimental |
lion on animals, with existing conditions /
not remediabIe by such law, and with thu
ietails of the proposed legislation, and no
where does it appear from the record that |
such was the case. The refusal Of signers |
to withdraw their signatures at the re-
quest of the opponents of the bill cannot |
properly be construed to indicate their |
strength of conviction any more, II as |
much, as II can be accepted as an indica- |
ton Of their pride of opinion.
"A further effort is made TO show the |
need for legislation By pointing out a sup |
posed analogy between experimentation and |
the operation of docking horses tails. In |
fact however, no such analogy exists. The |
law for the prevention of cruelty to ami |
mails enacted August %, 1871, and now in |
force. contains specific provisions as TO how |
and under what conditions experiments |
may be performed; II contains none reia- |
tive TO surgical operations for CONNER |
cial or esthetic purposes Even, there |
fore, though it may have been necessary
TO legislate specially TO prevent docking, /
1t does not follow that special legislation /
is necessary to prevent needless cruelty to |
animals in connection with experimental |
ton.
THE Washington Humane Society closes |
its communication with a kind offer TO give |
consideration to any constructive |
which The Commissioners may !
suggest. DIsregarding however, the fact |
that this bill does not appear to be before |
that organization for consideration at the
present time, would respectfully suggest |
that IL is desirable to demonstrate the ex- |
istence. extent. and character OF the condi- !
tons which 1t is proposed to correct by this |
legislation, and the irsufficiency of existing |
law, before the pending measure can be in |
diligently considered with reference to
amendment. ;"