The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-28
DOESN'T LIKE The DOG LAW.
FOREMAN DIXON OF GRAND JURY
DIsAPPRoVEs 1T.

Local Conditions in This County DO
Not Demand the Enforcement of the
Law Here. He Says-In the Coun-
try the Dog Is a Member of the
FamiIy-ShouId Not BE Taxed out
of Existence-SchOoI Teachers Are
Paid Euough-WOrL Less and Are
Paid More Than Any other Labor
ing CIass-Foreman Dixon Relieves
in the whipping Post Only Par
TALLY.
Mr.. James NJ Dixon, foreman of the
grand jury of the Superior Court, does not
approve the state law that would tax
the dogs belonging 10 the people and turn
ing the fund resulting from such taxa
ton over to the public, schools of the coun-
ty in which it is raised
81 shall bring the matter to the atten-
ton of the grand jury" said Mr. Dixon,
yesterday "but 1 shall accompany the no
titication with an expression of my own
opinion on the subject. l dont see that
the law will result in any real good, and
it does seem to me that it will result IN
real HARM
I'm the country the dog is a member of
the family 1t may be common cur
but it has been bound to the other mem
bers of the family. 40 the father and
mother and children,Oby the ties of affec
tomato love It acts as a watchguard and
is a means of safety and protection and
l do not believe that it should be taxed
out of existence, the opinions of the other
grand juries of the state to the contrary
Notwithstanding. Whatever influence |
may have with the grand jury of Chatham
county will be exerted toward preventing
the operation of the law in this section
of the state"
Besides my opposition to the reiegation
of the family dog to oblivion, have an
other objection to the operation of the
law. 1t provides that the fund shall be
devoted to the common schools of the
county in which the dog law is placed in
operation and that the County School
Commissioner is to have charge, and en-
tire charge of its expenditure. l am OPP
posed to this feature of the general scheme
also.
The schoolteachers are better paid now
than are any other class of employees in
the state. They receive twelve months pay
four hours a day? During the summer
they enjoy a vacation, they have week
at Easter, and another week at Christ
mas and the single vacations they have
during the year make up approximately
two weeks more. They are better paid for
less work than are the same class of la
borers in other businesses and l do not
see why they should have additional re-
Enumeration. My bookkeeper, who does
three times as much work gets about as
much as the better paid of these school
teachers. and il is so in every other class
of employment.
"Then the dogs are taxed enough Under
the municipal ordinance, il is required
that the dog-owners pay a tax of 81 per
year. Under the state law, it is required
that dog-owners pay an additional tax Of
81 a year FOR male dogs and $l.50 a year
for female dogs. We have no industries
in this county that the dogs threaten,
and that we are called upon to protect
and l shall oppose the introduction and
the operation of the law in Chatham coun-
ty. | do not believe that it viii do any
good, and l can readily perceive how 1t
will do a great deal of harm"
what do you think about the establish
ment of the whipping post for misdemean-
or offeuders?" Mr.. Dixon was asked.
81 am in favor of it only partially was
his answer. 81 believe that it would be a
good thing, so far as the offenders who
are brought before the Recorders court
are concerned, but | do not think il would
be an adequate punishment for the hard
ened and seasoned offenders with whom
Judge Norwood has to deal, If it could
be made legal to lay on The whip for a
month of days in succession, Ii might then
be all right, and the punishment might
then be sufficient This plan would hardly
be possible, and the plan, without such
constant infection of the punishment
would not in my opinion, offer suffl-
Gent lettering influence to the commits
sion of crime"
1T seems TO me that the best thing we
can do under existing circumstances is
to send the chronic offenders to the chain
gang, so that the county may get some
benefit from their services. / know that
this prospect does not prevent crime and
l am aware of the fact that some other
form of punishment seems to be urgently
demanded But l do not think that the
re-establishment of the whipping post will
fill the aching void of which we COM
plain"
However, 1 shall feel ii my duty to
bring this matter, in connection with that
of the dog law, before the grand jury, for
such action as it shall consider proper. |
can form no idea of what course will be
pursued -