Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-21
AUTHORITY FOR POLICE
Committee of Chamber Con-
siders Cruelty Cases
FAVORS CHANGE IN LAW
Would Wrest Jurisdiction From HUI.
name Society.
NO REWARDS FOR CONVICTIONS
President Snow Submits Figures
Showing Sources of Income and
Expenditure of Society.
NO REWARDS FOR CONVICTIONS

The existing law Of the District on the
subject of cruelty to animals and particu-
larly that part which vests in the Humane
Society the supervision of the enforce
ment of the law. was criticised sharply
at the meeting of the Chamber of Com
MERGE committee on law and legislation
yesterday afternoon. Resolutions were
adopted recommending a change.
There is a bill before the House at the
present time providing for a change in the
jurisdiction of cruelty cases from the
Humane Society to the police department.
The committee yesterday decided that
there are flaws in it and appointed a sub
committee to draft a substitute bill.
The subcommittee talked together. for
few minutes and then appointed a sub
committee which will do the actual work
of drawing up bill which will be pre-
sented to the proper committees in Con-
gress
Humane Society Revenues.
Previous to the adoption of the resolu-
ton several communications were read
from officers of both the Humane Society
and the Horse Owners Mutual Protective
Association. President Snow of the HUI
name Society sent in the figures he was
the committee February 13.
They show that the society has received
Sl3b5O9.75 since 1881, and Of this amount
s6s.1oo.6o came from fines. Under the
proposed law that money would belong
to the District.
The expenses of the society, according
to the presidents figures. have been, since
1881, S113.354 So. OF this amount over
$4,000 has been paid to the societys
agents and clerks. The society has $40
hD invested i'm ipfprp Sf-ho vi
ties
Another communication was a COPY of
a letter to Commissioner West written
by member of the Horse Owners Mu-
tual Protective Association. 1t stated that
since the last meeting of the Chamber Of
Commerce committee, at which the bald
statement was made that the agents of
the Humane Society were extremely ac-
i've In getting their names connected with
the cruelty cases in court, whether or not
they made the arrests. an instance of the
sort had occurred in the Police Court.
Inc facts were set out a great length.
the gist of the matter being that two
witnesses carried information Of a cruelty
case TO the fifth precinct police station
and when the case came up it was found
that Humane Society agent had his
name in the information" The letter
asked Commissioner West to make an
sponslbie for having the case diverted
from the police to the society.
Provisions of Revised Law.
The subcommittee in charge of draft
ing a substitute bill is of nearly unani-
nous opinion as to what will be pro-
posed to the full committee. 1t will
cover the. changing of the Jurisdiction
over cruelty cases from the Humane So
ciety TO the police department: the pay
ment of fines to the government and not
to the society. and as a last sugges-
ton, there will probably be a clause in
the bill absolutely prohibiting the giving
of medals or compensation of any sort to
policemen or any one else for any ar
rests in connection with d cruelty to ami
mails case.
Leo P. Harlow. Washington attorney.
was elected permanent secretary of the
committee on law and legislation. The
subcommittee which discussed the substi-
tute bill is composed of Leon Tobriner.
William H. Levin. Jackson H. Ralston,
Charles w. Clagett. Conrad w. Syme.
Walter G. Balderston. Charles w Darr,
Samuel Ross. E. II. Daniel and John l..
Weaver. The subcommittee is composed
of Messrs. Tobrner Ralston and Clagett
A. Leftwich Sinclair will act with these
gentlemen in an advisory capacity. He
is chairman of the full committee.