The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-10-07
THE DRIVER
IS CLEARED
Investigation Shows That Mr..
Cordes Was Not Cruel
to His Horses.
COMMITTEE HOLDS MEETING
Witnesses Testify That Licking
Was Essential to Success
ful Training of
Balky Horse.

The council investigation committee
met last night at the city hall and pos.
itlyely determined that Driver Louis
cordss, Of the chemical engine, had
licked his horses with one OF the little
souvenir canes that were conspicuous
during the Fourth Of July season. In
cldentally II developed that Sheriff Lin
vile knows considerable about horses.
He can tell balky horse the minute
he sees him. There are, according 70
the sheriff. two ways to handle baIky
horses-one by kindly treatment, the
other BY force. II the sheriff had been
Driver Cordes on the day the alleged
beating was administered, he would
have thumped the balky horse with a
club in the absence OF a whaIebone
whip.
The committee was made up Of coun-
ciimen Burns, Nordstrom and Wilson
and the meeting was held at the Office
OF City Surveyor A. S. Tee, who had a
pleasant fire burning In the fireplace.
There were present members Of the com
mIttee on fire and water, who had pre-
ferred the charges. and witnesses who
were al the engine house the day the
horses were licked. 1t seems the charge
against Mr.. Cordes resulted from COM
plant made to Councilman Morton by
Street Superintendent Kearney. Mr..
Kearney had gone into the engine
house and found the driver administer
ing thrashing to his team. The doors
were closed and he gathered the inn
precision that the driver was engaged
in n cruel practice. Afterwards he
learned that a fire alarm had just been
turned in and that the horses were be-
ing licked because OF their failure to go |
out when the doors were first opened, |
and he said 10 members Of the council |
that he would have licked the stuffin' |
out OF 'em" had he been in Mr.. Cordes' |
place. Mr.. Morton was surprised to
learn that the driver was trying to re-
spond to fire alarm, and the charges
fell with lull thud.
The investigation had one beneficial
effect, however. in that 1t resulted in
the dissemination Of much information |
about horses generally. The dissemin-
ator was Sheriff Linville. who told the
members of the committee more about
horses than they ever before knew.
lie said he pretty thoroughly under
stood the horse Chief that had been
licked, and his knowledge of horses
was sufficient to convince him that the
licking was altogether too mild to
suit the case Of the animal in question.
Hes a balkY horse" declared the
sheriff, "and needs an occasional lick
ms. Why, you folks talk about cruelty
to horses when you have no idea Of the
of punishment that is inflicted
in horse countries to break halky ani-
mails, AS / said before, pride my
SELL on DtNlB u Juu6c VI HSAStsf ohN
want to tell you that Mr.. Cordes gave
his Chief horse just what he needed"
The sheriff then went on to say
several kind things about Mr.. Cordes,
who is a horseman Of experience and
always kind and considerate with his
team. Others present made similar
and there was not the
slightest evidence to show that the
'harge preferred had any foundation in
act.
At the conclusion Of the investiga-
ion the committee framed the follow
ng report, which will be filed today
With Auditor Anderson:
I'VE, your committee appointed to in
charges preferred against
4ouis Cordes, respectfully report that
We have heard the testimony in this
natter and after careful consideration
We think there is no ground for the
harges against him."