Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-14
ITS ANNUAL SESSION
Washington Humane Society
Receives Reports of Agents.
PRESIDENT SNOW'SADDRESS
Appeal to Members to Alleviate Suf-
ferings of Animals.
CASES OF CRUELTY CITED
Opposition to Legislation Increasing
Time In Which Cattle May Be
Kept in Transit.

iiuihaie society TOOK place yesterday az
ternoon at i o'clock in the banquet hall of
the Shoreham Hotel. The various reports
read showed the large amount of work
which the society has done during the past
year with the limited amount of money at
the disposal of the members The reports
of the agents of the society showed that
out of 1850 prosecutions there were but
twenty-five acquittals. The examinations
OF animals during the year numbered
%. 733
Mrs. Helen Armour, during the course of
her report for the Bands Of Mercy said
that there was increased interest in the
work Miss H. b. Loring also reported
upon the work being done by the commit
tee on fountains President Snow then
read his annual report, which recited that
as at every succeeding annual meeting
Ior d NUMBER OF years, he was able this
year 10 show by figures that the Washing
ton humane Society has outdone all preyi-
Gus yearly records. The books show that
III inspections, arrests, convictions and hu-~
name work; In the amount paid to agents
ana In the number of agents employed the
society is twice as large and strong and
eHective as 1t was five or six years ago
Fewer Horses in District.
Indeed, it is probable that owing to the
extensive use of automobiles and electric
cars, he said, there are fewer horses in
the District than there were five years
ago Where, then, do we find SO
much to do that last year we en-
ployed six agents and are this year
employing eight, when five years ago
we employed only three agents? Why is it
that we are now making twice as many ex-
amlnations. arrests and convictions as we
made five years ago? We believe the an
swer is not in the increase Of cruelty, but
In our increased means Of discovering II
and Furnishing II. We believe also that we
are yearly more and more indebted to a
growing public sentiment in appreciation
and approval Of our work a sentiment
shared by enlightened judiciary and re-
Elected in its decisions. We are fortunate
also In having the cooperation of the CHIEF
of police and, with but few exceptions, of
the force under him"
Mr.. Snow then declared that the figures
showing some thousands warned or ar
rested by the agents and punished by the
court, are, he believes, not the full measure
OF the society's usefulness. 1t is surely bet
ter TO have prevented cruelty than to have
punished II. for there is ample evidence that
the terror of the law prevents more crime
than Its judgments punish. There are many
horses not overdriven Or underfed and not
beaten for the reason that we are here and
That our agents are abroad, and that must
be our greatest solace, our encouragement
and our stimulation in continued effort
The report adds;
Increase in Number Of Agents.
have eight who give their time to the pre-
vention OF cruelty to animals. The streets
OF The city have in a measure been cleared
of the worst specimens of emaciated lame
sore and overworked horses and the result
is less dlsgraceful equine procession and
il is certain that many horse owners and
users nave been impressed with the neces-
hlty OF better care for their animals To
those VINO have only an esthetic interest In
animate street effects it cannot he a matter
or indifference that larger number OF ami
mals show the result of more food and bet
t yer care our work Of amelioration has
been devoted mainly to the condition NJ the
morse, because he is the most used and most
abuse of all animals Although innoceDt
OF crime he is often condemned to the
Shaln gang and compelled to work without
unit OF hours and without uroner food ~
sreiter. He is overloaded and oyerdriven
lie Is Telegated to the careIessne Of thn
tnost careless and thriftless PEOPLE of the
I'm unity, those who have neither the on
efsy nor the intelligence to t,Ike cara np
themselves. ''"Ae care OF
Harnessed by day, battered bv .n,gbt
s'1p,ar rT no means OF telling his wants or
sunerlhss. He cannot strike for more mr.
peter food for shorter hours Tob 20, OF
4oads, or softer and drier beds Thereeo,o
h',t because OF q selfish love for horses
put because we are impressed witb 49,
injustice and inequity of their lot "4 ~. one
organized to help them VIC are
without presuming 10 express the onir-
-, .Iie spc4ety' think the greatest
cruelty practiced toward dogs is In co,o
ming them TO the city or In other nIacns
Inc city is no place for dogs. Their mar
ners are unspeakably and irreforrnably had
ana they should not be allowed at largo on
Inc streets. To immure them in dog bornas
Is species@of perpetual impoundIne nnnre
crnel, when the nature OF the dog is con-
sldered. than death. Dogs are of Ut,le nr
nc use in the city, and 90 per cent of IT,,
would be better out of the way
Cases of Cruelty.
In my opinion, the Humane soc,at,,
should continue to prosecute those eu,Itv
Of cruelty 70 dogs and cats tust as II has
prosecuted for cruelty to rats. monkevs
fowls and fish; but think 1t has too much
serious and real work to do to spend time
and money In cOddling dogs and cats
Ihese animals are predacious and carniyor-
Gus. and therefore, by nature, cruel In
their domesticated state they must loot 70
man the butcher purveyor of the fiesb
food OF herbivorous animals To rejecting
minds there Is something repugnant i'm
moral and degrading In catering to dogs
and cats with the flesh of the more inno-
cent animals.
The Humane Society should try to allie
vlate the suiferings OF all animals, by the
punishment OF those who are cruel 10
them. We doubtless fall far short OF onr
aims. but we should try to avoid the mis-
take OF overlooking the cruelty at our door
and or seeking cases OF remote isolated
or doubtful cruelty. We should also trx,
to avoid the blupder of cruel kindness
Those who throw dogs and cats together
In so-called homes, regardless Of the fact
that they are not gregarious where the
weaker live In terror. without means of es
cape from the stronger and more savage have
doubtless the best intentions, but an intelli
gent knowledge OF the habits and tastes az
these animals would suggest that a life of
freedom, even without shelter, Is preferable
10 the home, sG-cailed, which TO Thorn
means prison with the deprivation of those
conditions for which evolution and habitat
have fitted them. In my opinion the CITY
pound IS the proper place for unnecessary
unclaimed dogs and cats and at least nine
tenths OF them are unnecessary The HUI
name Society, as society, should not be
prompted by weak, selfish. sentimental
love for auimals-leave that 10 individuals
but by a sense of injustice TO them, and
especially OF injustice 10 draft animals. who
do not get In food and shelter one-half as
much as they earn. They are about the
only real representatives OF honest labor
who DO not get living wages.
Human suffering is clamorous Brute
suffering Is dumb There is no unit for
measuring, no means of computing suffer-
ing, but II q measure could be applied / do
not doubt 1t would show that the aggregate
of avodable brute suffering In this age ex-
cesds that of man.