The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-23
AGENT TAYLOR
AGAINST CODE
County Treasurer Heckler Re
plies 10 Statements Issued by
Official of Society.
STATE LAW GUIDES THEN
Constable Subject to Fine fol-
Not Killing Dogs-Code
Leaves No Recourse.

The statement OF Agent Z. c. Tay-
/ Tor OF the Society for the Proven
ton of Cruelty to Animals, that Coun-
ty Treasurer Henry G. Hechier is
overstepping his authority in order
ing the county ConstaDles to Kill all
dogs in the county on which taxes
( have not been paid. is likely to lead
TO "a lively controversy.
Treasurer Hechier read Mr.. Tay-
lors statement Saturday, ard a broad
smile spread over mis- race as he pc
rused the article quoting the agent
OF the society.
1T is only for Mir. Taylor to read
tho Code OF the State to see that the
that there is no way in which he
or his society can interfere with the
enforcement OF the law in the coun-
~ said MIR. Hechler.
The Code lays down the law for
tho officials or the county, continued
the treasurer, and II is Gully for us
To enforce them. and@in the case OF
the dog tax we try TO enforce it to
The letter don't see what MIR. Tay-
Tor or the society has To- do with the
State laMsr"-&ald MIR. Hechlar. 1T
is not who authorize the killing Of
the dogs, but the State law, and
think that is final"
Opening a copy of the Code. Treas
urer Hechler read an act Of the Gen
eral Assembly that provides that It
shall be Che duty of the commissioner
of the revenue to take a list of all
the dogs in the county annually at
the time of listing taxable property.
and that he shall return the lists of
| dogs to the clerks office at the same
| time he returns the lists OF taxa Die
| property. The Code provides that
| the commissioner is liza bic to a fine OF
| 30 cents for every wilful or negligent
! failure to list any dog.
| Treasurer Hechler continued to
read from the Code. the body of the
Law being as follows: That in every
case where the owner of a dog fails
! to pay, by the LIST Of July succeed
| ing the return of the said lists of dogs
| the license tax provided by this act
| 1t shall be the duty of the consta BILE
| sheriff or deputy sherfT of the district
in which the delinquent resides to kill
said dog. for which he shall receive
a fee of so cents, and to that end the
| said constable, sheriff or deputy sher-
| in shall obtain annually during the
/ month of July from the County Treas
urer Il list of all delinquents under
| this act In his district, and shall with
list kin the said dogs. unless the tax
| together with q fee of % cents to the
consta bic, is forthwith paid. For the
| wiiful or negligent failure Of the con-
stable to do. so he shall pay g fine
of SIS for each dog he fails te-killl,. :.
The code further provides that tht
| fund realized from the taxes shall b.
| used for remunerating the inhabi
tants OF the county for any loss the!
| may sustain from dogs killing Oh
Gripping sheep or lambs or other liv'
stock
The code states that the provision
| of the dog tax act shall not apply Il
| any Incorporated city or town Of th'
State now nor hereafter having a mu
nicipal dog tax law or to any count!
| having a special tax law.
| While Richmond has special dol
| tax law, the county has none, ant
for this reason County Treasure
| Heckler points out that Mr.. Taylor
| position Is not strong one. Tn
dogs Of the city are given trial
that is, they are taken to the poun'
and held for several days, givin
| their owners a chance to get then
| out.
The county authorities state tina
. If the Society for the Prevention O
Cruelty to Animals undertakes to pa
the taxes on all deiinquents In tn
county at this time, II VIII prove
severe strain on their treasury. Al
though about five hundred dog take
have been paid. there are Yet abou
: twenty-five hundred dogs in the coun
ty on which the taxes have not ye
been paid. Mr.. Taylor's offer
thought by the county officials to b
very kind one. and they say the
will be glad TO have the society com
to the clerks office and take up tn
, bills.
In the meantime Constabies Burcf
! Temple Garnett and Samuel ar
securing the county killing off tn
dogs.