The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-10
Anti Canine Ordinance Shelved
After Stormy Session.
Kemper, Stubs and Crumbine
Are ssROasted.o
BOARD OF HEALTH MAD
More Germs in 1t Than Dogs,
COney Says.
Hiram Foot Would Bar Bull
dogs Alone.

The now famous w. H. Kemper dog
ordinance was shelved unanimously by
the board of city commissioners this
morning, after the spectators had in
dulged in oratory for a period of two
hours.
More excitement was created by this
ordinance, which had as its object the
depriving of the dogs of their liberties,
than anything that has been considered
by the city commissioners in months
Seventy five persons were on hand in
anticipation of the heated argument
that would result upon the introduce
ton of the ordinance for it's final con-
sideration
It prophesy that in ten years there
will not be a dog in Topeka" said w.
H. Kemper, who defended the position
he had taken in introducing the ordi-
nance.
Child Bitten by Dog.
In the beginning, I want it under
stood that the Commercial club, as a
club, is not responsible for the intro
dGction of this ordinance. The munich
pal legislative committee tried several
times to get together and finally had
a meeting with pan of the committee
present.
Il would be willing to take the credit
for presenting this ordinance but that
would not be fair to the other gentle
men who were with me in the matter.
In my opinion the introduction of this
ordinance is = step for the safety Of
the people and any man may feel proud
to be charged with having presented it.
THE reason why this ordinance was
presented at this time is the fact that
the three-year-old girl of Mr.. HulPs
was bitten a short time ago by a rabid
dog running at large near the Glenn
wood hotel. After a long sickness, the
child finally got well. 1t is a good thing
to lock the streets against rabid and
vicious dogs before some other child
is bitten.
81 do not know how many other
people in Topeka have been bitten by
rab1d and vicious dogs within the last
year, but do know that reports show
that about three hundred have been
bitten in the state of Kansas within
a year and that at least two have died.
such facts may seem appalling to you
and to the people who oppose this or
dinance. 1t seemed so to me.
Mr.. Mayor and commissioners, you
know this ordinance is right You
have appropriated and are using part
of it already, though it has not been
enacted into law. You will not have
to go very far to find, at a. park en-
trance the sign, No dogs allowed in
this park If it is not right to keep
the dogs out of the park why that
sign? This ordinance says keep the
dogs off the streets and out of the
parks.
ct was surprised to see stated in
decided this matter before it had
been discussed. If the paper had you
gentlemen quoted correctly you had
given out your several decisions before
the arguments had been presented.
Roby's Garden Damaged.
w. ]. Rickenbacher was the next
speaker in favor of the ordinance. He
said that DR.. Crumbine had made
statements about the transmission of
diseases by dogs which had set him to
thinking. He consid cred that for the
safety of the citizens the ordinance
should be passed.
''These dogs are of very little value
to the public; are mere plaything,'
said DR.. H. W. Roby, who seemed to-
have a grudge against the species be-
cause they tore up his garden. Dogs
did s25 worth of damage in my gar
den," he continued. "Why should you
not protect me?
Its only a within. If man wants
a dog, let him take care of him as he
does his cows and chickens
Foot Against Bulldogs.
Hiram Foot was opposed to the or
but he suggested that the
present dog ordinance be amended so
that all owners of dogs of bulldog
pets.
''There is no argument in favor of
a vicious or destructive dog, he con-
tended. There should be an ordi-
nance providing for the destruction of
such dogs. I'd amend the present or
dinance by a clause providing that
bulldogs be kept out of the city. They
are vicious by nature, and when they
become infuriated it is only carrying
out the instincts of nature.
There is not one case of rabies
out of a thousand People are simply
scared into fits. I have a little dog
that came to me ten years ago. He
drove burglars away from my house