New-York tribune., 1901-04-22
TEST OF THEIR HUMANITY
ASSEMBLYMEN To VOTE FOR or
AGAINST CRUELTY.
OF PIGEONS FOR TIE BENEFIT OF
FEW MEN MAY COME UP To-pAT

Action by the Assembly to-day win probably de-
eide whether the privilege to iufict unnecessary
torture upon tens OF thousands OF meek birds shall
be perpetuated for the benefit OF a few manu-
factu-ers Of spo-tsnen's supplies. OF whether New
York State shall be freed from this blot upon her
record at the urgent request of the great mass OF
her citizens. Many uisGeeds have been ascribed-
with and without cause-to the present Albany law
makers but one far as can be learned. mas
far had any reason to accuse them OF a disre-
gard for the feeling of common humanity II
seems almost impossible that a majority OF the
members of the lower house" would be willing
put themselves on record favorirs wanton
cruelty TO birds.
This test of the finer sentiment OF the Assembly,
men is expected TO come to-day when 1t is hoped
the Rules Committee will report out the bill which
will make Illegal the Dutchering OF pigeons at
shooting matches in this State That this alleged
sport is abhorrent to ninety-nine hu7dredths or
the population is apparent from the fact that such
slaughter of pigeons IS Illegal all over the State
outside the grounds OF Incorporated gun clubs. and
the people we'll content have II So In 1875.
however. certain persons were powerful enough 10
have a special law passed el Albany which VIZ
tualy declared that form of sport which was
too brutal. too degrading. too offensive to hu-
manity he permitted generally. would be all
right if practised within certain specified areas
the grounds of gun clubs. Ever since that time
the hearts Of manly and wornanly women
have been wrung BY the truthful accounts Of tho
barbarities which perpetrated freely upon
pigeons in this State. This special privilege for
the few TO outrage the kindly feelings OF the
is last felt TO be unreasonable. disgraceful. IN
tolerabIe.
The lobbyists who are working for the continual
ton of this abomi1abe privilege we'll supplied
with money. John P. Haines president of the
American Society for the Prevention OF Cruelty to
Animals who drew the bill under discussion says
the lobby showed unexpected power when the bill
came up in the Senate. The measure passed by
only a majority. and Mr.. Haines says he IS
informed that a paid employee of the Assembly IS
boasting that he has enough votes TO kill the
measure on the floor OF that body. Another exas-
perating feature about Is the fact that
the interstate association Of manufacturers OF
guns. powder. shot, traps. etc. which is opposing
this humanitarian bill tooth and nail. according
Mr.. Hatnes is composed of only fourteen firms and
most of these not New-York corporations at ALL
Unable keep up this dsgustingly brutal sport in
their States. they have the insolence 10 de-
mand that New-York shall bear the disgrace OF
shelterlng for the benefit OF their pockets.
When these things considered it i'm
possible that New-Ycrk Assemblymen who desire
maintain the respect of their constituents should
hesitate a moment about voting for the Haines
bill introduced by Senator Slater and Assemblyman
Bennett They must have political acumen enough
20 perceive that such threats the following.
which Mr.. Bennett absurd in their
feebeness and that the result OF supporting the
bill will be just the opposite from that which II
indicated in this letter:
Y. y u
Dear Sir: | belong 70 the Hell Gate and Oceanic
Gun clubs We have a membership OF 225- Out of
| the clubs I don't think there are Twenty-Five
Democrats. and mostly Germans, and We have made
| up minds If you and Slater take our sport
/ from Will slaughter you and Slater az the
| polls. VOTER
/ New-YorfI. April Il. 1901.
| The law permitting the slaughter OF pigeons was
passed az the instigation OF pigeon shooters IN
| 1875 as the result OF the interference by Henry
| Rergh on behalf OF his society. with pigeon
| GUS AS the result OF this interference suit was
! brought against Mr.. Bergh by one Paine, pigeon
Z shooter but the was dismissed IN the City
Court bv Judge McAdarn. who held that the shoot-
| ing Of pigeons thrown from traps was within me
Statute against cruelty. q City Court. 16l) Mr.
Bergh unable, however, TO prevent tne passage
OF the obnoxious law permitting pigeon snootng IN
this State and the several attempts which nave
since been made 10 repeal the law nave oesn uh-
sIcC essrul In 1882 a bill introduced IN the
Senate by Senator Boyd and in the Assembly oy
Assem- blynan Theodore Roosevelt. the present
Vfce-President of the United States This repeal
hill predecessors. was ruIhlessly killed N
Committee at the nstigatiOn Of the pigeon shooters
Of and their hackers.
The : has fer many years been DONG vhat
q could 10 create public opinion in opposition 10
this brutal. so-called sport. but II was not until
public sentiment SO outraged by the dlsgustinS
| iv when twenty thousand pigeons were slaughtered
nv professional pigeon shooters retained oy manu-
fsr1rers of ammunition that the society felt thar
/ the time had when II might oe possine 10
| sto o the demoraliZinE pastiuc
| The argument used in defence of the sport. that
is no more brutal 10 shoot the orcS ror tun tal
20 wiring their recks for market Is wholly mlseac-
ing becaCse many OF the pigeons are Herely "OUnd-
| ed by the gunners and fly away 70 Gle aIter pro
longed misery