Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-01

time ako resd an article In The Star de-
instrument used therein Of the docking OF
horses tails. and this was followed by q
vigorous editorial condemnation OF this
cruelty. Perhaps II Il worth while TO ad-
vert to the fact that the society offers q
standing reward OF sie0 for information
leading to the arrest and conviction OF
any one In the District guilty OF this act.
and In this connection all communications
relating thereto would Be held In strict
THE society needs a headquarters In the
center of the city for It's office. The ques-
ton may appropriately be asked: 'Nho.
In his own name or IN the name OF an
other. will erect q building whose doors
viii stand open all day that the woes OF
the dumb and helpless may be made known
and their wrong righted and thus for all
time connect that name with q charity
which must endureT
Prevention and Punishment.
Nevertheless. the work Of the society Is
greatly expanding. We are making twice
az many examinations. inspections. arrests
and convictions as we made Ave years ago.
We are fortunate In having the cooperation
OF Maj. Sylvester and. with very few ex-
ceptions. OF the entire police force. Tho
streets OF the city have IN a measure been
cleared of the worst specimens of ENACT
ated. lame. sore and everworked horses.
and II Is certain that many horse owners
have been impressed with the necessity of
better care for their anirsals.
The horse Is usually overloaded and
overdriven. He is frequently relegated to
the charge of the most careless and thrift
less people In the community 1t Is not
because of a selfish love OF horses. but
because We are impressed with the injus-
tice and iniauity of their lot that we are
organized to help them. This year We
have eight agents. where i've years ago
we employed but three. The heavy in
a., fl.,HNt - h. tat
believe not to be due to an increase in
cruelty. but to our increased means In
discovering and Furnishing It.
1T is one of cur principles that II Is
better to have prevented cruelty than to
have punished II. holding there Is ample
evidence that the terror of the law pre-
vents more crime than its judgments pun
ish. While our work of amelioration has
been devoted mainly to the condition of
the horse. because he 10 the most used
and the most abused OF all animals. yet Ii
extends to all other animals and to chill
dren.
Since It IL possible for citizens to CO.
operate with the society and its members
in our work, l am satisfied that few
brief suggestions as to procedure will be
found of value. as there Is strong and
growing sentiment in Washington Of appre-
citation and approval '7 '-a''
Suggestions as to Action.
Under the laws OF the District the po-
lice are required to assist the society. its
agents and members In the enforcement OF
all laws for the protection of children and
animals. Therefore, IL any officer be pres
ent when an act OF cruelty be committed.
show him the card of membership. and IL
the abuse Is willful malicious ask him
to arrest the offender. II should be noted,
however that in calling for police assist
ance the officer can only arrest upon his
own view of a misdemeanor. II he does
not see the offense committed or cannot be
found until after the abuse has ceased he
cannot arrest upon complaint or statement.
and In such an instance II Will be neces-
Sary to procure q warrant.
This the society will procure II after IN
vestigation the evidence Is sufficient to JUS
tify prosecution, and the case Will be con-
Quoted with as little inconvenience as pos
sible to the complainant There should be
no hestancy In testifying before the court.
Sometimes our cases fail by reason OF
reluctance on the part of witnesses to tes-
tify, but this acts as drawback TO the
carrying out Of the purposes of the society.
and the offenders escape deserved punish
ment
LAS In an instance of whipping, such as
you observed this afternoon" continued the
officer, 1T frequently happens that no of1-
Ger of police or of the society may be In
view. Nevertheless We wish to be informed
by citizens of such cases. TO TINS emo
note of the time when and the street or
place where the offense occurred and the
names and residences of any persons pres
ent who may be likewise interested should
be obtained. 1t Is often possible to OBTAIN
the name and address of the offender. the
number or the name of the vehicle or some
other fact which Will assist IN the inVesti-
CATION of the case.
ION the other hand, the society Is always
ready to receive suggestions and complaints
from all citizens interested In the move
ment in which 1t Is engaged and all such
will be fully investigated and reported
upon"