The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-23
DOGS MUST STAND IT
Again to Raise License Fee to
ExOrbitant Figure.

Topeka is to have a new dog ordi-
nance, with an increase in the present
license fee. At least that is what the
present intention is. What the council
will do when C. c. Clemens and the
Foster Humane society get after it, no
body can tell
There is to be meeting of the judi
ciary committee of the council Friday
night, probably, at which the dog ques-
ton will come up. The plan is to have
new ordinance ready for introduction
at the regular December council meet
ing. The ordinance must be passed so
that all the 1904 licenses will be collect
ed under it.
Some want the tax to be raised from
81 to SO on male dogs and So to 81 on
females. Others favor a sliding scale
which will enable all who pay their Ii
cense before March 1 to be given a low
er rate than those who have to be hunt
ed up by collector and made to pay.
They think that 81 and SIS would be
about right for the first three months of
the year, with a penalty of so per cent
added if paid after March l.
There is already one dog ordinance in
the pigeon hole of the judiciary commit
tee It has been there almost a whole
year. 1t was introduced in the early
part of 1903 by George Neil, and Just as
the council was on the point of passing
it, G. c. Clemens brought up his bat
terry Of siege guns. and trained them on
the council chamber. The council
capitulated without a struggle.
The Foster Humane society was
backing Mr.. Clemens. They had a lot
of changes to be made in the ordinance.
They wanted the stray dogs put in a
pound when taken up. with each dog
properly labeled and classified accord
ing to size and sex. In case 1t became
necessary to infiict the death penalty on
any dog for failure to have an owner,
the act was to be done with chloroform,
instead of a pistol. The ideas of the
humane society were very nice, but
were regarded as somewhat Utop1an by
the council
when asked today whether the con-
cessiors demanded by the humane So
ciety would be granted by the council
in the proposed new ordinance, one of
| the councilmen said:
''I doubt it. Chloroform is very high
this year.
There is likely to be a provision in
the new ordinance which will permit
the dog catcher and license collector
to take stray dogs out into an alley
| and shoot them. The present law re-
CURED that the Digs be taken outside OF
| the city limits before execution. 1t is
law which is not enforced very hard.
however.
The proposed change in the dog ordi-
nance has double object: First, to
get rid~of a lot of surplus dogs; and
second to add a little, perhaps. to the
income from dog tax The first object
Is especially desired II - clemens
bases his opposition to such move
on the fact that it would make it
burdensome for poor people to keep a
dog. and thus deprive the poor man of
a faithful canine friend To enforce his
arguments, Mr.. Clemens threatens that
if the license fee is raised he will bring
an Injunction suit, and knock out the
dog ordinance altogether.
If the city council is in earnest this
year it viii probably dig up the old
ordinance which it pigeonholed year
ago, ard pass It in just about the
shape it was drawn up at that time.
| Buy 10c Bachelor cigar for sc.