The Washington herald., 1910-03-16
CITY RULERS RETORT
Declare HumaneS Society Head
Guilty of Exaggeration.
HAS ENDOWMENT OF $4,000
Commissioners Assert They Have
Power 10 Appoint Special Officers
and that Organization Is seIf-sup-
porfIng-CIaim Passage of Bill
Gripping Police Is Ridiculous.

Retortlng TO the attack against the
proposed mutilation of the anu-cruelty
laws. the Commissioners yesterday gave
an answer in the shape of statement
that the Washington Humane Society is
self-supportng. and has an endowment OF
$4,000
An indignation meeting was held at the
New Willard Monday night BY the HUI
name Society and its sympsthizers. and
/ the Commissioners were mildly scored
for countenaucing a bill, said to be the
offering of the horse owners of Wash
ington, stripping the organization of its
police power and the benefits of fines.
| The Commissioners declared President
Walter Stilson Hutchins was guilty OF
exaggeration when he said such meas
ure would cripple the society. They said
| section 6 Of the bill provides the Com
missioners shall have power to appoint
special Humane Society officers. and that
the endowment ig large enough TO sup
port it without relying on the energies
of its agents and the number of con-
victions they obtain.
Medals Promote characterization.
| The Commissioners asserted. further.
that the idea the passage OF the bin Grip
pling the police force Is ridiculous. in
view of the fact that at least four more
officers will be appointed IN the event
it becomes a law. They also declared
that Offering medals or prizes to police
men for acts deserving special attention
promotes INSTRUMENTATION.
In answer 60 the charge that the police
cannot and will not enforce the cruelty
to animals laws. the Commissioners re-
fer 10 section 5 OF the amended bill,
wherein the enforcement of all provisions
OF law in the District relating to cruelty
to animals shall be under the exclusive
direction and control OF the superin-
tendent of police. and that it shall be the
duty OF every member of the force to
see that the law is enforced.
In connection with the provision I'm the
bill. Withdrawing fines from the Humane
Society and turning them over TO the
District treasury, the Commissioners say
Mr. Hutchins in a hearing held before
the Commissioners on this subject, made
the statement that the society would pre-
fer the infection Of Jail sentence instead
of fine. and that IL was also stated at
one Of the hearings. that fines dc not now
amount TO more than $500 per year. The
Commissioners claimed that taking away
this sum could not cripple the society.
They said II the society has the approval
of the public. there is no reason why it
should not be supported by the public
Horse Owners Protest.
The Horse Owners Mutual Protective
Association yesterday issued a statement,
through its secretary, Benjamin F. Ed
wards. stating that the bill contained
''salutary and Just provisions. and should
be placed or the statute hooks as a
substitute Cor the existing statute. which
is un-American and unworthy Of this
enlightened age
The association says the measure Is
as stringent and severe in It's provisions.
Il provides for the punishment Of every
unnecessary cruelty to animals While
in sympathy with the aims OF the HUI
name Society, they declare the associa-
ton is opposed to the methods OF salaried
agents. The horse owners association
claims that the agents have become a
stencil ia the nostrils Of the people"