The Washington herald., 1909-02-14
Humane Society.

E2itor The Washington Herald:
In his interesting account Of the hear
ing before the legal committee OF the
Chamber OF Commerce. last evening. on
the bin prepared by the Horse owners
Association. to abolish the Washington
Humane Society, your reporter quotes
ne as stating that '3,s25 friendly visits
were made by the agents IN a given year
for purposes OF advice and warning, and
that only 1ss arrests were made in the
same period. OF these ls2 were eonvic-
tons"
The table 10 which ! referred. and
which is printed on page 2 OF the So
clety's annual report for I9oS. covering
the work OF 1867. shows that there were
eleven agents employed in the District.
and that they examined in that year 1881
animals and remedied z4.s1I cases OF al
legged cruelty OF neglect without prosecu-
ton The figures given by your reporter
referred only to the work Of one OF these
agents. That agent examined 2,55 cases,
OF which 2139 were remedied without
prosecution. and OF the IsS which he pros
ecuted there were 1a2 convictions. All the
prosecutions in that year were I.723. re-
sulting IL convictions or forfeiture Of
collateral IN Less cases.
L was particularly 20 the unobtrusive
and little known work Of the society
benehcent alike to man and beast-that
1 desired 20 invite the attention Of the
committee Cases Of cruelty or neglect
observed by the agents. or examined By
them on complaints 10 the number OF
2Ae11. in that one year, never got into
the Police Court az ALL
Nothing was said OF the society's drink
ing fountains distributed throughout the
District-Over 100 of them-where horses
(and dogs as weld can stake their thirst
and ENJOY life for az least a few moments
These are the joint work Of the society
and the city. the former furnishing the
fountains and the latter maintaining
them in efficient service. winter and sum-
mer-
Nor was anything said Of the bands
OF mercy" organized IN past years by the
society. among the children Of our public
schools for the incubation Of the sacred
ness and mystery or life, and the Law OF
kindness To ali sentent creatures
The Horse Owners Association did not
seem 10 have Informed the committee that
they had been granted a public hearing by
the District Commissioners in 1867. at
which the same charges and propositions
were made especial weight being given
10 the proposed repeal OF the law giving
the fines in cases OF cruelty 70 the soc.-
ETY. and that the Commissioners had
communicated their conclusions 70 the
secretary OF the association in writing
These conclusions. a copy Of which was
also furnished 20 the Humane Society by
the Commissioners. are printed IN the
soCiety's annual report for 1858, page IS,
as signed by Mr.. TlndaU, the secretary
of the beard. I trust YOU can find space
for the following extracts which may be
Of Interest 10 some OF your readers. es-
pecialiy as 10 the practice IN other cities:
Dear Sir Referring u Tie hearing recently
granted yurr associatiCn regzrJ3ing alleged abuses
practiced by the WasiinCton Humane society. the
Col1Izsstoncrs diret ne 20 inform YOU that they DC
not beieTe thEt the law respecting the use q fines
ard fc-feitIros II cases uuder the humane lsFsla-
slo1. b. the Washington Humane SOCIETY,". IN exeui-
ton q that legislation. should be changed They
believe that on the whole il has worked great ad-
Tartsgs % nc Community. inciuding all owners Of
ho-ses Il has been an effective chcck upon cruelty
% ard nezlect q horses. ard the comparatively
e1od reputation q Washington II this matter e
believed % - largely duc % the efforts Of the
Washington Humane Socety with the means thus
placed a. its Command. TIE CoIuusssienCTs believe
thst % withdraw this uens would Be 10 c1ippis
tha activity n the society ard relsri the pEozress
n Washington II tbs rsspcct. There Is not
s1cicrt force q UOlictnel 70 suable the detsn q
specisl squad of oiceTs far TITS work take the
Place q the Humane Sccietv agents The Major and
Superintendent o. PClIos has ssEed for 30 add
tiaTal C-tCTS. and the COnmisisE1eTs have rec1m-
mended e. C0ng1ess thst a hundred additional Of
csrs be provided simply % meet ths present. re-
qI,i7gueuts q the laws AID regulations Nons q
these could be spared for sue1al Work uadeT The
huElaue laws. and Uiess this ECFz Is done specially
and cortinroysly L cannSt b d1ue vel.
The eTpTieca o. tLe Dislr5c1 q Col-.lhia n this
matter does not stand alone. Among The cities IN
which fines and foTfeitUes IN cses q mis-reatment
q animals are given % humane societies f0- the
rrlTD0ea a. F-0secltins sch cases are Ns9 York
Phiiadel1hia. SaE EranCsco s. Lcuis. RochesteT.
Buffalo. Les Angeles. Pasade1a. Minneapolis 81
Paul. Columbus Hartford and Proyidence- II sd-
ditil 70 the fines ard fo-feit-res societies in Los
Angles Minneapolis. Hartford. and Progderce re-
ceiTe arT-oTriatons from cty. c-guty. OF state.
II the WsshingTo1 Humane Society fails 70 take
proper acton on any cozpairt against It's agents.
the Commissioner VIII provided the complaint
rants Z. revoke ;he commission o. any agent CON-
HiiSiosei specal policeman.
There is thus a remedy provided for
abuses and the Horse Owners Associa-
tion should submit their charges against
the society's agents IN proper form 70 the
Commissioners. or 10 the chief of police,
II they do not receive prompt and due at
tention from the officers OF the Humane
Society CRAMNOND KENNEDY.
Febrsry a