Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-14
TAX IMPOSED ON DOGS
OPPOSITE VIEWS OF THE SAME
QUESTION.

The owners of dogs In this city were dila-
tory in securing tags this year, and as 4
result a great many canine pets found
their way to the pound. The District build
ing has lately been well patronized at the
dog-tag bargain counter, the tag for the
ensuing fiscal year being after the shape
of a Maltese cross and of bright metal.
while l am willing to comply with the
dog ordinance, and contribute 81 annually
toward the police pension fund.- said a
citizen to a Star reporter, as he placed
the receipt and the metal emblem which
will give his dog the right to go at large
upon the streets until the last day of next
June, in his pocket, the fine imposed upon
the owners of dogs, which is called tax,
does not agree with the principle of taxa
ton at all.
THE fundamental principle of all schemes
of taxation is based upon the actual or the
relative value of all articles or property
taxed Continuing my remarks exclusively
to real property as a comparison, the Dis
trict authorities impose q tax of approx
mately $3.50 per 500 upon the real estate
in the District Assuming all dogs TO be
worth 500 each they are taxed at the rate
of So per 500 upon this basis. or % per
cent more than real property.
10000 Animals Tagged.
There are 10000 dogs annually tagged
In this District, yielding net revenue to
the police pension fund of $20,Oes. OF these
10000 dogs, 1t would be safe estimate to
say that not over 500 would bring 500, or
over, at auction, or forced sale, which is
also one of the criterions as to a basis of
value for taxation purposes. The average
dog tagged may have special value to his
owner, but has an actual value of about
one charge of powder and shot. The So
called tax is, therefore, l have stated,
simply a fine, and, from my point of view,
is about 81 too much
Poundmaster Einsten, who has made dogs
a life study and occupation, happening to
overhear the gentleman's protest regarding
the value of dogs tag, gave this informa-
ton:
ION the contrary he said, the tax upon
dogs is, from my point of view, too small
While the ordinance makes no dfscrimina-
ton as to the sex of the animal, would
personally favor It's increase to So for male
dogs and IS for females. This is the scale
of dog taxation. or fine as the gentleman
stated, imposed In some of the northern
cities, and it is none too small; in fact, L
would go as high as SO for all female dogs.
There are at least more than 5000 dogs
in the District which annually escape taxa
ton. The larger number of these untaxed
dogs are to be found in the outlying sec
lions OF the city, and in that portion of our
circumscribed area Familiarity known as
out In the District We have not the
power to go inside enclosures to capture
dogs, ana tney escape our nets by
running inside of their masters enclosed
premises. where they can figuratively give
us the dog laugh.
Calls by Telephone.
Now that the initial season of the new
dog year has begun. we receive at the
pound on an average of twenty thirty
calls a day by telephone and letter from
owners who do not wish to pay the tax.
nor to have unlicensed dog upon their
premises. This is one of the best ways
OF disposing of the dog problem in cities,
and we will respond without unnecessary
delay to all such calls, and remove any
kind of animal from a cat to elephant,
white or otherwise, that may not be de-
sired upon the premises of any citizen.
1T is the cur dog that should be eimi-
mated from cities, and We direct our atten-
| ton particularly to this class of CANNES
| for not only are they q nuisance in general
| to neighborhoods infested with them, but
| they are a menace to the public at large.
A heavy percentage of dogs In cities are
/ OF mongrel breed, and the higher the tax
| imposed the greater Is the general secur-
| ity from this class of CANNES, and especial
ly would this be the case with high tax
! upon the female II dog has real value
I It's owner, as rule does not object to pay
/ ing for its tag, although you wosd be
surprised to learn of the large number of
people who can easily afford the tax who
make Il q practice to dodge 1t each year.
| On the other hand many of the poorer
families Pay the tax upon their pets, often
not worth tie price of their collars. with
the same regularity that they settle their
grocery bill
| Take it all in all. the tax upon dogs IN
/ the District is a moderate one, and as
general rule our citizens willingly comply
Herewith. II they forget and their pets
| In due course get to my en,spsure it costs
them an extra two-spot to lead their pets
home"