Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-10
ALLEGES CRUELTY
Law VIOLATIONS
Retiring Head of Humane So
ciety Claims Increase in
0ffenses Here.
CHARGE AGAINST POLICE

Nom enforcement by the police of
the laws of the District of Columbia
aimed to protect dumb animals was
a.ssertrI by W~.2.r Sr.fson Hutchfns
retiring president of the Washington
Humane Society, as one of the reasons
for an increase in cruelty to four
footed beasts, at the annual meeting
OF the society at the Shoreham Hotel
yesterday.
MIR. Hutchns, who was succeeded
as president by DR.. Thomas Feather
stonaugh. said that many cases of
actual cruelty could be traced to the
iaNity of the police in arresting Of
tenders against dumb animals on the
Washington streets.
The greater use of the automobile
for hauling purposes has largely cut
down the use of horses and the con-
sequent work of this society,"" said
Mr.. Hu;chins. Added to that, many
men experienced in driving horses
nave gone to war and their places
have been taken by boys and persons
inexperienced in handling animals AS
result, these persons have come to
treat their animals in cruel manner.
in many cases not understanding the
dumb beast
Dogs in Poison Gas Tests.
&. Mr.. Hutchins revealed that for
months past 500 dogs per month have
been sacrificed in poison gas tests
made at Camp Leach in the District
of Columbia. These dogs gathered.
1rcm all over the nearby country have
oeen subjected to gases of all kinds
10 determine their resistive qualities
n he,
rms question agitated the humane
societies all over the country for
months. said Mr.. Hutchins 1T was
hhaiIy determined that if one Ameri-
can life coulo De saved by the death
OF these dumb beasts the experiments
were worth while.
However, imn etiiateIv on the sir,
Ing OF the armistice. protests against
the practice began pouring in 70 the
Secretary of War with the resuIt
that 1t was stopped a few DAYS after
nost'htIes ceased and will not be be-
gun again."
Mr.. Hutchins said that great on
portunity for the American Red Cross
In relief work for the wounded horses
on the battlefield had been over
Io'"ke ed during the Wa.
NO effort has been made to take
care OF these servants" he said "Ttey
servo Tor cause about which they
fnow nothing and willingly. Spor.
anlc efforts were made in all the al
bed countries to do something 10
the wounded horses and dogs. but
theE were not recognized by the gov
tsnments and did no. accom- 5lish
'a' n W crk was under taken in 1,.s
country under the Ped Star Society.
Inaugural Address.
Dr.; Featherstonaugh. the newly
eiecteo president, in his inaugural adj
ofess made plea for more members
urging that the membership of the
association be increased from 2TS
5000 '''' 'nah
Other officers elected were. First
vice president. Medical Director John
T. wise; vice presidents, John B. Lar
ner. Rev. DR.. Wallace Radcliffe. Mrs
EDWARD Douglas White and Mrs. Fl
Z. Halliday; secretary, John P. Heap.
treasurer, w. Clarence DuvalI: execu'
tive committee. Chester A. Snow. Col
Archibald Hopkins, Rev. DR.. c. Ernest
Smith. James P. Briggs, Mrs. Dun
can U. Fletcher. Mrs. H B. f. Mac
far1and, Mrs. Edwin C. Brandenburg.
Or. Charles c. Rice, Rear Admiral
3 A. Staunton, Arthur T. Brice and
Walter Stifson Hutchins
The secretary's report showed that
lack of funds forced the society to
drop two of its four agents. During
the year these agents examined 4152
aniInals and prosecuted 232 cases in
Ponce Court. securing 231sconvictions.