BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-10-14
SAN JUAN, OCTOBER "A
Editorial Comment.

In all ages and In al countries one OF the
surest tests of the degree of civilization to
which people had attained was the manner
in which dumb animals we're treated.
Where consideration was shown for those
poor suffering creatures who with dumb,
appealing eyes, could merely indicate their
pain but could give no voice to their suffer
ings. there civilization 10 greater or less
degree was found. Wherever, on the other
hand, these silent, dumb appeals remained
uuhoeded, we cou!d look for cOncomltants OF
barbarism in keeping with the unfeellng
nstures displayed in the cruelty practise'.
InPorto Rec, while even the lowest
classes of the.inhabitants are warm hearted
and the very opposite Of cruel there had,
unfortunately, mainly through tboughtless-
ness and ignorance, arisen manner and
method-of dealing with the lower animals
which were essentially cruel in their nature.
The attention of humane aud kind hearted d
people laving been called to this great and
growing evil, they organized society, on
the basis Of similar associations in the
United States, called s.The Society for the
prevention of cruelty to Animals IN Porto
Rico" This society prepared series OF
articles, 81 in number, designed to cover all
possible cases of cruelty to animals, and
submitted them to the then Governor of the
Island Geueral Guy V. Henry, and he
promps.s approved them.
This wss in May, 1899, ard in August Of
the same year the Agents of the Society
were given power to impose and collect iBes
for violation of any of the regulations Of the
Society. This power remained with the
Society, and vas exercised, until the passage
in January last by the lnsular Legislature
Of law modifying the powers of the Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals So
far as the imposition and collection of fines
were concerned.
Instead of having authority, of their own
motion, to impose and collect fines tor viola.
ton of the order, the agents OF the Associa
tion could only note such violations anu
make complaint before police magistrate.
However well Intended, this act of the
Legislature has bad the effect Of rendering
the anti-cruelty to animals order practically
null and void. So log as the agents of
the Society have not the incentive of receiv
ing their share of fines, they appear to have
lost interest in the enforcement of the prov
that zoe hear Of prosecution under it.
Some people, inded, believe that the
provisions Of the Humspe Society General
: Order were repealed by the Act of the Legs
lature of January 30th, 1901 but that is
mistake. This very question Was submitted
to the Attorney General some time ago in
connection with the question OF whether or
not cock-fghting was illegal, and be decided
it was, citing this very order, approved BY
General Henry, which he held was still in
full force and effect, the act of the Legi. lat
ure having merely taken from the society
the right to impose and collect fines, but not
have repealed even by inference or implica-
ton the punitive provisions of the General
Order approved by General Henry.
This order is very sweeping, containing
81 articles, and includes almost every from
Of cruelty, which can be exercised towards
dumb animal or beast of burden. II has
become practically a dead letter, largely
through the indifference of the pubic. Let
all this be changed now. If ycu see some
thing CARRIED in the apparel of man strlk.
irg an on the nose, and il can be seen
daily With hard pole, ask him how he
scotiid ike 10 have you do the same thing TO
him. lfyou see q iteamster drive the point
Of pole into tee side of horse with such
force that you are eXpectir & TO see the pole
come out at the other side, step him then
and there, snd if he resists, call a police.
man. II Jon see poor little pony weighing
about 100 pounds carrying two ton
load, stop 1t for have right to. Tie
law provides for it. Ii you see beast
Of burden abused or overloaded appeal first
to the man in charge Of him. II your ap-
peals are UNDECIDED, call policeman and
have the man arrested, ss you can do under
the law already quoted and make it your
business to see that the inhuman monster
who aliases the poor, uncomplainiHg or other
animal ls punished as be deserves and as
the law requires.