The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-03-28
anti MUZZLB CRUSADE
Arranging for the Mss MeetiBs
on Frid3y Night.
George W. Evans Expresses the
Opinion That the District Com
Once Rescind the order Regard
ing DogS-The LAW Quoted in Full.

George ". Evans. one Of the leaders Of
the auti-muzzie movement. which is is be-
ing pushed by so many citizens OF the Dis
trict, in discussing the probabilities q a
revocation OF the ordinance this morning.
stated that in his judgment the power TO
abolish the muzzles at any time is within
the Jurisdiction Of the District Conmis-
sioneIs.
While Commissioner Wight Gains that
| il will be necessary to repeal the law.
/ said Mr. Evans. before he can recinG
/ the order. I am Of tire opinion that the
/ length Of time in which the dogs are To
be muzzled is LEFT eqtirely. 10 rs Com
missiOners."
Mr.. Evans quoted the muzzlirg law.
/ which reads as follows. ..--
/ Whenever IL shall be made 10 appear
( to the Commissioners that there are good
| reasons for believing that any dog or dogs
within the District are mad. il shall be
| the duty OF the Commissioners TO issue 4
| proclamation requiring that al dogs shall
| for a period To be defined in the pTOClam8-
ton. wear good substantial muzzles se-
| curely put on 50 as TO prevent them from
swapping or biting; and any dog going At
| large during the period defined by the
! Commissioners without such muzzle shall
be taken by the Poundmaster and i'm
pounded"
The law does not read that IL Is the
duty OF the Comm ssioners to define 2 pc
riOd Of six months. or a year, or any stat
ed time said Mr.. Evans. but. as I con-
ceive IT, simply compels them to order the
use OF muzzles on dogs so long as there is
danger Of hydrophobia II Is certainly
within their power to rescind the order il
they can be convinced that the disease
| does not exist.
1T was brought to the attention Of the
/ Commissioners three months ago that dogs
had been captured showing symptoms re
semblng those Of hydrOphObia and the
muzzle order was Immediately issued
/ Today the appeal Of thousands Of citizens
/ brings IT to their attention that the dis
| ease. if it ever existed here has been
stamped out and it is their right and duty
| to allow the muzzles 10 be taken or
According to the latest Statistics NJ.
/ Evans continued. there are 1900 dogs in
the District. and 5000 of them are tagged
/ and well cared for. Is il reasonable that
! this great number of dogs should be made
to suffer simply because the Health De
| partment says that ten of the 1900 ami
mails during period extending over three
/ months have been injected with rabies. a
| disease which is not incidental to hydro
! phobia2 There is positively no occasion for
la continued enforcement Of the law.
At the mass meeting which is to be held
/ by citizens at National Rifles ArmOry Fri
/ day and night, when formal action will be
| taken with a view to repeal OF the muz-
zle ordinance. resolutions Will also be Of
| fered endorsing the application Of the
| Washington Humane Society to the Dis
| trict Commissioners for control of the dog
| pound.
President Pratt. OF the Humane Society.
| said this morning that in all probability
I a refuge for sick animals would be estab-
| lished by the society near the dog pound
| providing its request is granted. This
/ however, has not been definitely decided
4 upon as yet.
1T will be necessary to construct new
/ building" said Mr.. Pratt, for we desire
to introduce more humane methods for
/ sheltering the captured animals"