Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-27
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
Continued from Page FouY.)

House Document NJ. l-G "Biil relating
to domestic animals vas taken from
the tabl". The s2Iae senator navel
that it take its second reading. Nj. lrv-
ing Cf ArOoStooE moved that tn. BILL b..
Indefinitely postponed.
Mr.. St,WNLL Of Sa-aIahOc: Mr.
President, if there is 10 be 4 provision
on this bill. I wish to say something
and apparently now is the time. ;l1ve
tried 70 observe the rule at this Stage
Of the session as to any measure watch
can 30 through without opposition.
that it should be lrft to do 50. think
there are very few Cf us who under
stand fully the features Of this bill. 1t is
the shortest bill introduced ut this SOS
sion: but for u great majority or our
people I think ii is a bill which comes
nearer home than any. It's passag"
through the House, although tn" tim"
has long passed when VIC are r"S'.nn-
sihlc tor passage through the IIouso.
WAS brought about by a burst Of gen
crous sentiment in favor of tho dog rs
cuiogiZed by one or two gentlemen who
are popular members Of the House and
popular citizens Of the state. and WHO
have dogs about which tho public has
no complaint to make ut all krun"I| -!
fancy dogs Kept ut hone. Hut TIM dog =;
we are asking to lcEisldt" in this hill
arc dogs. are dogs rs in tie stat" o.
Maine the great majority of dogs
which roam about or STATE and are
rnvaging oar woods ana chasing TO
death every living thing tA"y cam st
within reach starting out for foxes
or rabbits and ending UP with Grcr;
and making night hideoUs with their
Drawing and goiE~ out on On" public
squares and polIuting with thcjT ntHtl-
ncgs everything exposed there: ilf%1t-
ching horses on the street, fright ming
our children and frightening ourselves.
| am frank to confess that | dare not
get cut in a country ROAD and approach
a farmhouse for drink-of water
GauEhter)--that is an unnecessary eX-
planation-Without being in fear ~
this class of wild dogs. 1t was brought
out in the discussion in III" House tha'
the dog is the nearest approach we
have to the wolf, and the dogs winch
we have right to complain and which
we are lcgslating about now. are
race Of animals that approach the Vol
as nearly as any class can 90, OUTSIDE
of the wolf itself Gentlemen. the "c-
tual fear inspired in the people of thiS
state say nothing of their mental Tor
rlcnt, their loss of sleep by this large
and increasing race Of animals without
any responsible protector or owner Is
enough itself to condemn such a meas
ure as that This simply throws ABOUT
those dogs the protection ana CUSTODY
OF real domestic animals. ana that Dill
if passed would prevent your using
against this wild and vicious class Oh
animals. or class of nuisances. they are
about evenly divided between puDilc
nuisances and vicious animaiS-ally
more weapons of defence than you
could use against your nciShbors' sheep
or chicken.
cannot speak as i farmer here, Al
though Il great many of us claim 20 rep
resent the people whom we do not pc
Culiarly represent. like the senator from
Knox for instance. in his culigioum a.
WAYS Of the common people. Yet me
senator does represent the county, the
major population of the county Is sur
buban and while it has been nlau'
somewhat of levity. I have had SuCn
appnaIs from my people who cannot
keen sheep and cannot do what they
like with their own land because "f
these wild beasts roaming at large. that
l should not feel justified IN keeping 81
lent on this measure.
You can resort if necessary TO des-
rerite remedies against these dogs ana
YOU are not liable to any criminal n
dictment for this crime. but II YOU
adopt this innocent looking bill, th2
Cog owner today has his remedy IN
civil action and that is often greater
remedy than l would have nm nave.
AS a matter of fact. under this Dill II
YOU fine one Of these animals you must
corral him and lock him up. feed nm
and care for him and then. after Az
that trouble. take what remedy you
have against the owner of the dog.
TO me, with all the crowded work we
have to do. there are some peculiar
mental traits displayed and pecuiiaf
preiudices displayed by people whose
minds are peculiarly occupied with one
subject and one subject alone. We nave
had some recent evidences on that