The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-03-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.


sideration of Congress and their fate for
this session at least is in process of rapid
settlement. There is however another
bill of momentous interest to untold mil
lions of sentieut beings and it is in inn
minent danger of being decided against
them for the reason that they can neither
vote, nor strike, nor lobby nor assassinate.
Under law passed during the Admins
tration of President Grant it was forbid
den to hold animals in transit on cars or
steamboats, whether horses, cattle, sheep
or. swine for longer period than twenty
eight hours without food, water or rest.
For nearly thirty years this law has, been
dead letter on the Statute books and
these animals have frequently had to suffer
the agony of shock, bewilderment, hunger
thirst and fatigue for forty or sixty hours
or even longer But during the last two
years mainly through the activities of the
Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals the law has been enforced.
Hundreds of arrests have been made and
fines imposed with the result that Con-
gress is besieged at present by the most
powerful and determined cattle lobby
that the Capitol has ever seen. Cattle
men from Texas, Idaho, Montana, and all
the Mississippi have organized and
are pushing bill which they insidiously
call bill for the Prevention of cruelty to
animals in transit. Under the terms of this
bill, which by the way has been reported
favorably in both Houses, these animals
may be held thirty six hours without food,
rest or water packed like sardines on
swaying. rushing cars. In an argument
before the Hepburn Committee the
representive of the beef trust was asked
by the Chairman how much the average
steer would lose in weight in the first
twenty four hours of travel. He replied
about fifty pounds. Assuming that the
steer weighs thousand pounds loss of
fifty pounds means loss of FIVE per cent.
Applying this rule to man weighing
one hundred and fifty pounds loss Of
ave per cent would effect reduction is
his weight seven and half pounds.
Imagine the stress and strain and suffer
ing that an animal would have to undergo
to cause loss of five per cent of weight
in twenty.four hours.
*x*
The Railroad Rate bill is in the throes
of oratory. Senators Foraker and Dol
liver have made set speeches and other
Senators doubtless will speak. LaFollette
has broken the silence imposed on new
Senators and spoke very effectively OIL
this subject with which no other Senator
is more familiar. 1t is given out that the
bill will be passed with but slight amend
ment and in such shape that it will prob
ably be approved by the House and will
soon become law.
The Pure Food bill is one of the most
important measures that has received the
favorable attention of Congress. There
was powerful lobby opposing it and two
weeks ago it was doubtful if it could pass
the Senate. A number of prominent
Senators were opposed to its enactment
but they were pilloried in the Press, their
selfish interest were exposed. This most
benign measure will become law and
poisoning by drink and diet will receive
the severest blow ever given it in this
country.
*x*
An effort is being made in Washington
as in several other cities to introduce the
Juvenile Court by which youthful offend
ers will be granted separate trials and &C.
corded punishment according to their age
and their experience in crime. The ex-
pertinent has been so thoroughly tested
in New York. Chicago, ST. Louis and
notably in Denver where Judge Ben
Lindsay presides over this tribunal, that
it is conceded to be necessary part of
the Government of all large cities. Seven
years ago there was not juvenile court
in the country but they are now regarded
as the only effective and humane way of
treating youthful offenders and as one of
the most important judicial reforms the
century. They are founded on the pre-
sumption that the child delinquent is not
a criminal aud that he will not be treated
as criminal and, its object is to re-
claSm each child brought before it to
useful citizenship. The idea of punish
ment is eliminated as far as possible and
the comm itment to reform schools is the
last resortN The bill to establish such
Court in thu District of Columbia is now
before Cong less and has already passed
the Senate.
~
Among the bi Is that have temporarily
failed is the Con- sular Bill presented in
the Senate BY Ser ator Lodge of Massa-
chusetts and earne 6tly recommended by