Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-05
OVERLOADED HORSES.
Good Work Done by the Humane
Society

I'm the report Of the monthly proceed
ings of the Washington Humane Society
published in The Star a few days ago"
said a kind-hearted philanthropist this
morning, Il was gratified to observe that
out Of 100 arrests for the month for cruelty
to animals no less than ninety nine convic-
lions were had of cases brought before the
Police Court judges.
Il consider this a remarkable showing
and one which should not be passed by I'M
noticed. AS an evidence of the splendid
work accomplished by our home society this
cannot be excelled by the work of any SIM
liar society In any other city except in point
OF numbers OF cases successfully prosecut-
co. SeVenty-f1ye per cent of convictions
would be fine average, but practically 100
per cent is very unusual.
There is a long story of good behind
these simple figures. Every arrest and con-
Elct1on OF cruelty to animals serves as a
deterrent to persons who permit their br,I-
tai instincts to get the better of their rea-
son. The officers Of our society with their
limited resources and staff deserve the
highest praise for their excellent work and
our police judges and the members of our
police force for their cooperation in This
labor, almost one of love, the greatest COM
mendation.
There are many forms of cruelty to ami
mails, but one, to my mind, of the very
worst is that of the overload ding of vehicles
and the flashing of the straining horses up
lncllnes in the streets. l observed that one
man was fined on eleven different counts
of employees of his who had been ed
for this offense. l am sure that those Of our
residents who love the horse will applaud
such arrests. These cases of oyerloa ding
are usually overlooked by the average pc
destrian. I do not know of a more distress
Ing sight upon the streets than to see
sweating, steaming horses, hitched to a big.
load OF merchandise, dashed by the driver
when they become stalled In rut OF on a
sidehill.
In this connection it may be well to call
the attention of the officers of the society
to two points in the city where their serv-
Ices seem most required, and they are It
the top of the 18th street hill at the inter-
section of F street, and on the 10Th street
hill at the intersection of G street The
drivers of brick and building material
wagons seem to be the ones mostly at fault
1t Is a common sight to see a wagon with
a third more weight than it ought to carry
stalled at the first mentioned intersection
of streets. This Is especially true IN win
ter when snow and ice cover the Belgium
stone pavement on 18th street between E
and + streets.
Every encouragement should be given
our local society in the Accomplishment of
It's beneficent purposes Washington has il
our streets of sick, lame and sore horses and
for the suppression of cruelty to animals
generally. All instances Of cruelty either
to animals or to children are cheerfully in
Festigated upon complaint. For instance,
in the house where l room a sickly little
boy who needed air and sunshine was al
ternately whipped by the mother and father
daily. This disgusting parental brutality
was brought to an abrupt stop upon intima-
ton to the parents that II the child s
screams were heard again they would have
TO account first to the Humane Society and
next to the police judge