Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-09-04
STATE HUMANE LAWS FOR
PROTECTION OE HELPLESS

mails and children through the en-
forcement of the laws as they stand
upon the statute booksA is the main
object of the humane society. Incl
dentally to influence public opinion i'm
the direction of such changes and adj
ditions to these laws as may from
time to time appear necessary is an
other object of the society. But
the laws already iii force in Illinois
cover a very wide scope and if strict
ly enforced would go far to remedy
the evils arising from mans inhuman-
ity, not only to man, but to his fellow
creatures. In regard to cruelty
TO. children the state of Illinois
speaks in no uncertain tone when it
declares that 1T shall be unlawful
for any person having the care, Gus
tody or control of any child under
the age of IA years to exhibit, use or
employ or in any manner or under
any pretense sell, apprentice, give
away, let out, or otherwise dispose of
any such child to any person in or
for the vocation or occupation. ser
vice or purpose of singing, playing
on musical instruments. rope or wire
pulling, or as gymnast, contortion-
list, rider or acrobat, in any place
whatsoever, or for or in any business,
exhibition or, vocation injUrious to
the health or dangerous to the life
or limb of such child to engage there
in. Nothing in this section shall APP
ply to or affect the employment or
use of any child as n singer or mu-
sician in any church, school or acade-
my, or in the teaching or learning
the science or practice of music
This section, which is No. 1872 of the
revised statutes, is a large mouthful
and covers a good deal of ground.
Section 493 carries the law over and
clinches it on the other side by MAX
ing it unlawful for the other party,
such a child for the purposes prohibi-
ted in the former statute.
Section 494 relates to the custody
of children and gives the courts the
custody of such children as may have
been unlawfully used or abused.
Section 495 makes it unlawful for
any person having the care or Gus
tody of any child to wilfully cause
or permit its life to be endangered
or to place or cause a child to be
placed in such situation that its
life or health may be endangered.
The penalties for cruelty to children
are from s. to 5000 and justices of
the peace and police magistrates are
given original jurisdiction in all such
cases. The law defines the following
kinds of cruelty:
Firstly cruelty beating, tortur-
ing, tormenting. overNvorking, mutt
lating or causing or knowingly al
lowing the same to be done.
Second - BY unnecessarily failing
to provide any child in his charge or
custody with proper food, drink, shell
ter and raiment.
Thirdly abandoning any child.
Section 497 is general and provides
that any person who shall wilfully or
unnecessarily, in any manner, injure
in health or limb amy child. apprentice
or other person under his legal con-
troll shall be fined not exceeding
5000.
In the matter of the cruelty to
animals chapter 80 section so, says
whoever shall be guilty of cruelty
to any animal in any of the ways
mentioned shall be fined not less than
$3 and not more than 5000.
Firstly overlooking, overdriving, |
overworking. cruelty beating, tortur-
ing, tormenting, mutilating or cruelty |
killing any animal or knowingly al |
lowing the same to be done.
Secondly cruelty working any |
old, manned, infirm, sick or disabled
animal, or causing or knowingly al |
lowing the same to be done.
Thirdly unnecessarily failing to
provide any animal in his charge or
custody as owner or otherwise, with |
proper food, drink and shelter.
Foufth-By abandoning any old, |
MANNED. infirm, sick or disabled animal.
Fifth-By carrying or driving or
causing to be carried or driven or
kept any animal in an unnecessarily |
cruel manner.
Section 81 provides for the proper
care of animals during transporta-
tion on railroads.
Section 50 forbids bull battling, |
cock fighting and similar sports and
section "a of chapter s forbids dock
ing the tails of horses and fixes the |
penalty at one year in Jail and
fine not to exceed 5000.
In the enforcement of these laws
the humane officers will find abund-
ant exercise for their authority. 1t
will be noticed that the laws above
quoted say not only that it is unlaw-
full to commit certain acts of cruelty.
but also to knowingly allow them
to be done" This places certain
responsibility upon every citizen to
protect the helpless and to uphold
1 he law