The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-07-10
PLAN ID REVIVE
 HUMANE SOCIETY Plans Formulated Yesterday for
 ArouSing Interest NEXT MEETING JULY 23 Work of Humane Society Hampered. Indifference of Members and Pub lie In General Remarked By
 the Few Faithful.
NEXT MEETING JULY 23

That the interest in the Humane ciety of Birmingham has been allowed to lapse was shown in the report of the secretary and arresting officer, l.. A. Ben nle, which was rendered at meeting of a few interested people, held yesterday afternoon in the hall of the Jefferson County Medical association on the third floor of the city hall. Following are the names of those who were present. l.. A Bennle, Mayor George B. Ward. Judge N. B. Feagin, John Melpolder, Dr. Sto- vall pr. J. R. Snyder, Dr. F. Ballard, T. S. Plunkett. Captain J. R. Bryan, Mrs. Whalen, Mrs Nat Hawkins and Mrs. Jen- kins.
 Mayor Ward presided. After calling the assembly to order, he asked MT. Ben nie to explain the purpose of the meet ing MT. Bennie stated that the object in calling the meeting was to give an op- portunity to hear from the citizens gem orally concerning the Humane society. To quote the arrestlng officers words: The Humane society of Birmingham has not very large membership, and we have not done very much" He said that to those who would say: 'Why haven { you done more as an organization? He would bluntly state that you cant get blood out of a turnip. He declared fur ther that his salary Is based on the money that Is in tho treasury, and although he is supposed to get $75 per month, that during the three years and half that he has held office, he has received an aver age of $4S.65 per month He said, how ever. that he would go on with his work. He wished it understood that he dld not expect to receive any more salary than this under existing conditions. But the Humane society cannot be expected to do anything without d larger membership, he declared, and gave 1t as his opinion that the greatest need at present is to have some good woman collector to work up interest and get new members.
 Mistaken Idea.
 MT. Bennie also touched upon the mis- taken opinion that the policeman seem to have that the Humane society Is kind of private graft for the arresting officer. For this reason, he alleged. the police re- fuse to cooperate with him in making arrests for cruelty to animals. This brought on discussion as to what right A. private citizen has to exercise the au- | thority when he sees violations of the law in question. Judge Feagin read sec lions of the state and city laws relating to breaches. According to the city code, 1t is lawful for any member of an or ganizaton formed for the purpose of pre- venting cruelty to animals to make ar rests in such cases, and according to the state law, 1t Is lawful for any citizen to carry offenders before justice of the peace or other person of judicial au- thorlty. The city ordinance is broader than the state law, in that 1t inserts that the law shall apply to inhuman treat ment of all living creatures.
 It was pointed out that the society can be sure of the warm support of the chief executive of the city. Another point brought out in explanation of the decline in interest. was the fact that regular meeting has not been held since some- time during the year 1903 '~
 Needs of the Society.
 Mrs. Whalan, Mayor Ward and Judge Feagin also spoke briefly concerning the needs of the society. Judge Feagir