Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-22
Make No Arrests for Cruelty
to Animals, Says GaNinger.
.FAVORS HUMANE SOCIETY
Washington Dumping Ground for
Decrepit and WORKOUT Horses.
SENT HERE FROM OTHER CITIES
Adverse Report on Bill to Divert
Court Fines Into Public
Treasury.

a severe arraignment of the police
force OF Washington for past failure to
enforce the cruelty-to-a ninfaIs laws is
contained in the adverse report of Sem
ator Gallinger, for the Senate District
committee. on the bill proposing to take
out of the hands of agents of the Wash
ington Humane Society the power to en-
force the laws for the humane treatment
of animals in the National Capital.
The report declares that the proper
ton of ignorant and brutal drivers is
greater in the District of Columbia than
in any other city of the country, and
that Washington is a dumping ground
for decrepit and WORKOUT horses. The
Strengthening rather than the weakening
of the hands of the Washington Humane
Society is favored by the committee.
Senator Gallinger's Report.
After quoting a letter of the District
Commissioners fayoring the passage of
the bill witf certain amendments, Sen
ator Gallinger continues in his report !:
Notwithstanding this report your COM
mittee are of opinion that the bill does
not deserve favorable consideration at
the hands of Congress. Every essential
provision of the bill is now on the statute
books, hence its re-enactment is unneces-
sary.
THE only important change of law pro-
posed by the bill is to take from the
Washington Humane Society the fines
imposed upon those who inhuman1y treat
dumb animals. cover the fines into the
treasury of the District. and place the en-
foreement of the law in the hands of the
metropolitan police. 1t will be observed
that the chief reason assigned for this is
that the humane society is too active in
its efforts to punish those who offend
against the provisions of existing law
1T is also well to keep in mind. as
pointed out by the Commissioners in their
communication. that under the present
law the police force is authorized to make
arrests for the offense of cruelty to ami
mails: but it is notorious fact that such
arrests are rarely ever made. nOthwith-
standing the. fragrant violations of the
law TO be seen on every hand. What rea-
son is there to suppose that If the hui
name society is put out Of business the
police will be any more diligent than now.
and especially SO in view of the fact that
the Commissioners are pressing upon Con-
gress the necessity of greatly increasing
the force, which they say is now over
worked?
"a Remarkable Provision"
"A remarkable provision is found in
section 6. as recommended by the Com
Sec. 6. aThat the Commissioners Of
the District Of Columbia may commission
duly appointed agents of the Washington
Humane Society special police officers.
without compensation from the District
of Columbia, and such agents or officers
shall have power to, arrest without war
rant all persons. violating in their pres
ence or sight any law relating to cruelty
TO animals in said District.
That is an admission that the police
force. a paid body of men, will not
properly enforce the law. and so it is
proposed that agents of the Washington
Humane Society shall be given power
TO make arrests without warrant, but
that they shall serve without compensa-
ton. Further comment is unnecessary
regarding that provision of the bill.
THE truth is that Washington is the
dumping ground, as pointed out by the
president of the American Humane AS
ISOLATION in letter to the chairman of
this committee, for decrepit and worm
out horses from other cities. and it's
a notorious fact that the proportion of
ignorant and brutal drivers is greater
here than In any other city Of the coun-
try. Instances of brutality are constant
ly occurring. and it is a lamentable cir
cumstance that visitors from other sec
tions of the country frequently comment
upon that condition.
More Power for Humane Society.
Instead of weakening the hands of the
Washington Humane Society they should
be strengthened. to the end that the Dis
trict Of Columbia might become a model,
so far as the treatment of mans faith
full friend. the horse. is concerned.
THE chief proponent Of the proposed
legislation is an organization known as
the Horse Owners Mutual Protection As
ISOLATION. while the Humane Society has
the support of humane organizations in
all parts of the country. the press of
Washington and the people generally, as
was clearly shown by the mass meeting
of citizens recently held
Believing that the proposed legislation
is unnecessary and calculated to do
harm. your committee report the bill back
adversely, and recommended its indefinite
reinforcement"