The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-20
Humane Society Adopts CODsti-
tuition and Elects Officers
COUNCIL TO Be PETITIONED
A Number Of Representative Men and
Women Participated. Hates
President and Miss Walker
Is Vice President.

After many years of indifference on the
subject Birmingham is again to have a
humane society. At a meeting held yes
terday afternoon in the office of Chief of
Police Austin the Birmingham Humane
society was permanently organized and
the following officers were elected;
President-N. T. Hates.
Vice President-Miss A. K. Walker.
Seeretary-Mrs. Charles A. Wheelan.
Treasurer-Ers. e. G. Chandler.
Chief Austin presided at the meeting,
and after a short discussion in regard to
the purpose of the society Mr.. B. w.
Brumley's motion for permanent organ
ization was unanimously carried.
The following committee was appointed
to frame a constitution:
Dr. J. II. Philips, L. s. Hates, Mrs.
Lloyd Guice and Mrs. Nat Hawkins.
The constitution as submitted and
adopted follows:
The Constitution.
l. The title Of this organization shall
be the Birmingham Humane Society.
O. Its objects shall be to secure the
enactment and enforcement of suitable
laws for the prevention of cruelty to
persons and animals. and to provide ef-
fective means for the same throughout
the state.
g. There shall be nothing in its man
agement or publication to interfere with
its receiving the support of all good peo-
pie
A. The society shall consist of active,
contributing and honorary members.
5. Any reputable person may become
a member of this society upon the pay
ment OF % annually.
6. The officers of this society shall be
a president two vice presidents sec
retary, a treasurer and seven trustees.
7. The trustees shall have full control
of the business Of the society and the
appointment of its officers, who snail
hold office until their successors have
been duly elected.
&. The annual meeting of the society
shall occur the third Tuesday In Decem-
Der, at which time the board of trustees
shall be elected. or as soon Thereafter as
practicable, and at which meeting ten
members shall constitute q quorum.
Q. At all meetings of the board three
of the trustees shall constitute quorum
for the transaction of business.
10 No alteration of this constitution
shall be made except at regular meet
ing of the board by a two-thirds vote OF
the members present.
A consideration OF the bylaws was de-
ferred until the next meeting.
After considerable discussion as to
whether the humane society intended to
accomplish its work through special
agent or whether the enforcement OF the
humane laws should be through the reg
ular police force, 1t was decided that
more effectnal work would be done
through a special officer detailed for the
protection of MANNED and over-worked
animals.
Council to Be Petitioned.
A committee was appointed to appear
before the city council tonight and pre-
sent a petition asking the mayor and
board OF aldermen for an appropriation
to maintain a special officer. whose DUTY
will be to enforce the humane laws
which are already sufficiently adequate
to protect dumb animals from brutality
on the part of owners and drivers.
The chairman of this committee Is the
Rev. DIR. A B. Curry. and the other
members are Mrs. Lloyd Guice, Mrs. e..
G. Chandler, Mrs Nat Hawkins, Mrs.
Charles A. wheelan, Mrs. Banxton, Mrs.
A. j. Riddle, Miss A. K. walker, Mrs.
Sydney Ullman and C. B. Spencer.
The meeting was most enthusiastic
one, and among those who made short
talks advocating the work. were DR.. A. B.
Curry, Chief Austin, Mayor Drennen. Mr..
Kate and DR.. ]. H. Philips and others.
The mayor read a section in the city
code that he considered adequate to insure
protection of MANNED animals, and while
he was In full sympathy with the work
of the humane society. he said that the
question to be considered was whether
the work could not be more effective
and the enforcement of humane laws
left with the fifty patrolmen now on
the police force, instead of employing one
man to enforce the law.
Chief Austin took the position that the
police force of Birmingham was the
smallest and the most overworked of any
force in a city the size of Birmingham
and he was in favor of a specially detailed
officer who would be the agent of the
Humane Society.
Child Labor and Eight Hours.
Earlier in the discussion Mr.. Brum-
ley advocated the organization of a So
cicty that would include protective legis-
lation for children, and that would pro-
hibit the employment of workers, both
men and women, over eight hours a day.
DR.. Philips declared that sucn a society
would be entirely contrary 10 the con-
stitution of the commonwealth, and ar
gued against the organization of a local
society that would attempt such legisla-
ton.
He heartily favored the forming of a