The evening times., 1900-03-30

The District Commissioners, after a deal
Of discussion among themselves. sent today
a somewhat tardy reply to the Senate res
olution, asking for information relative to
the proclamation issued requiring muzzles
to be placed upon all dogs running at large.
The Commissioners are evidently acting
upon the defensive, in view Of the storm
of public opposition which their dog muz-
zling proclamation has aroused. and their
letter to Senator Mcmillan in reply to the
Senate enquiry is Uouched In emphatic lam
guage
The Commissioners state that in Novem-
Der last the fact was brought to their at
tention that hydrophobia had appeared
within the District Of Columbia, several
dogs suffering with the disease technically
known as rabies having been reported
through the Police aud Health Department
Acting upon this information. the Commis-
sioners say that they instituted an official
enquiry. the result OF which was that the
Secretary Of Agriculture certified in a let
ter that rabies did then exist in the Dis
trict and in the adjoining States. and the
Secretary transmitted TO the Commission
ers also an order directing that all dogs
brought into the District should be muz-
Zled as well as those taken from IL. At
the same time the Commissioners state
that they received a notification from the
Health Omcer that rabies was 70 some ez-
tent prevalent in the District.
The law authorizing the proclamation
tsection Z. act of Congress. approved June
10, le!s) is then quoted as follows,
See. T. Whenever IL shall be made to
appear 10 the Commissioners that there
are good reasons for believing that any
dog or dogs within the District are mad
II shall be the duty of the Commissioners
10 issue proclamation requiring that all
dogs shall for a period 10 be defined in TIE
proclamation, wear good, substantial muz-
Zies. securely put on, 50 as 10 prevent
them from n-ting or Swapping: ana auy d-g
going AT large during the period defined
by the Commissioners without such muZzle
shall be taken by the POUUdmaster and i'm
pounded, subject to the provisions of sec
tiOn g."
FurthermCge. the Commissioners state
that they were advised by the Attorney for
the District that the act was mandatory.
and that % left them no discretion what
ever in the matter Under its terms the
Attorney said it was the plain duty OF
the Commissioners 20 issue the proclama-
ton, IN compliance with the law. which
they accordingly did on December Ig. 1899.
Appended 20 this statement is a report
from the Health Officer stating that since
the proclamation was issued seventeen
cases Of rabies in dogs in the District have
been reported.
As further grounds for their action. the
Commissioners state that they have rea-
son TO believe the disease known as rabies
comes through incubation only and that
the period required Tor its DEVELOPMENT
may vary from two weeks 20 twelve weeks.
according to circumstances. With this
kncwledEl before them. the Commission
ers declare thai they felt constrained 10
specify q term Of six months during
which the proclamation should remain on
eratiye- This was done they aver. in the
hope that all cases Of the disease might
have time 20 develop and be effectually
stamped out
IN view Of all the facts I'm the matter.
as Well as The plain commands Of the Law.
the Commissioners declare the belief that
ihey were fully justified in their action.
There rs every prospect that the mass
meeting or dog owners and those opposed
10 the muzzle order, which will be held at
the National Rifles Armory tonight. will
ba largely attended. Numerous speeches
wlll be made and the growing sentiment
against the order viii probably be crystal
lied into a resolution asking Congress
10 do away with the mandate OF the COM
Mtssioners which mas met with such zen
cral opposition.