Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-17

or how many tags it may have. II caught
on the streets. unless in leash or In arms.
will be subject to capture by the dog
catchers.
This class Of dogs. when they reach
the dog pound. will not be put in with
the dogs captured without tags.
The interest of President Roosevelt in
the dog question was inspired by informa-
ton furnished him by Secretary Wilson
Of the Agricultural Department. The lat
ter received a report several days ago
from DR.. Alonzo Melvin. chief of the
bureau of animal industry. showing
alarming spread of rabies in this city
during the past three months.
The Commissioners Order.
The Commissioners order or proclama-
ton is for a period of six months, and
reads:
Under the provisions of section OF
the act of Congress approved June 10,
1878. entitled An act to create revenue
in the District of Columbia by levying a
tax upon all dogs therein. to make such
dogs personal property. and for other
PURPOSES the Commissioners hereby give
notice that every dog In said District
shall, for period of six months from
this date. wear a good and substantial
muZZle. securely put on. SO as to prevent
it from biting or swapping. and any dos
going at large during said period without
such muZze shall be taken up by the
poundmaster and impounded."
Mr.. Macfarland's Comment.
Commissioner Macfarland said the Com
missioners. having complied with the
Presidents request, would see that the
order was effectively enforced. and he
would give the necessary detailed instruc-
tons to the health officer and the pound
master.
Commissioner Macfarland was notified
by the poundmaster today that during the
past week forty dogs with tags have
been surrendered to him by their owners,
the latter having become alarmed over
the rabies stories. These dogs have been
killed.
Had the muzzling ordinance been effec-
tive last night Louise Witt. eleven years
Of age. of 1881 street northeast. might
not have been bitten by a dog. The child
was on roller skates and was enjoying
herself on the smooth sidewalk near 18th
and II reefs about 1880 o'clock, when
an unmuZzled dog attacked and bit her
on the leg. hSe went to a drug store on
H street and had the wound cauterized.
Max Rubin, nineteen years Of age. liv-
ing at 1900 Delaware avenue southwest.
was also bitten by dog yesterday after
noon. Rubin's right hand was painfully
wounded when he made an effort to sep
arate two fighting dogs. He was given
treatment at Providence Hospital.
DIR. Schroeder Advocates Muzzle.
DR.. E. C. Schroeder, in charge of the ex-
periment station at Bethesda, Md. part
of the bureau of animal industry OF the
Department of Agriculture. believes dogs
should be muzzed to prevent the spread
of rabies. DR.. Schroeder is a dog fancler
and an expert on the subject OF RABIES
The Commissioners order is good. I'm
portant and necessary" said he TINS
rpnOrfer gredl
mistake has been made in the consldera-
ton of this subject in Washington
1T has been stated that only two per
sons have died from rabies here WITHIN
recent years. This fact should not be
considered alone. 1t should not be forgot
tenthat many others have been bitten and
their lives saved only by the effectiveness
of the expensive and time-consum1ng PaS-
teur treatment.
Il would favor the nluzzling of dogs If
it were for no other purpose than to pre-
vent them from biting children on the
streets. l do not believe 1t is hardshll
to the dogs If it is properly done. l own
several myself, and I would not think OF
allowing them to run loose without muZ-
Zles''
President Snow Approves.
President c. A. Snow of the local HUI
name Society said this morning the new
order was sensible and In the interest OF
humanity In the broader sense.
Il firmly believe there is such a thing
as rabies, and that 1t is not possible to
take too great precautions to prevent its
occurrence. I am disposed to accept the
position of the government officials as
the most intelligent attitude. I think 1t
would be better always to tie dogs and
confine them to the premises of their
owners. If they are to go on the streets
they should be muzzled.
If the muzzling of dogs In the District
will prevent one case Of rabies, I believe
every dog should be muzzled."
DIR. French Thinks Otherwise.
The opposite view is taken by DR.. Cecil
French. the Washington canine specialist
the Commissioners had issued muzzle
order when requested to do so by the
President. he remarked:
Il think the President ought to keen
his hands off local affairs. He has had
enough to do with them already. 1t is
utter rot to require the muZZling of dogs.
In the first place I never saw a muz-
zle manufactured in this country that
will stay on il the dog really tries to get
it off. They are not made here. 1t is
true there is wire muZzle made in Eng
land. that is satisfactory, but you can't
get it here.
Il wrote letter on this subject to Com
missioner West last week, in which /
stated my views plainly