The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-03-15
DOG LAW RAISES
MANY QUESTIONS
Montpelier is Overwhelmed
with Inquiries About
New Statute
BOUNTY PLACED ON
MAN, NOT CANINE
That is Just One of Complexities Of
Absurd Measure Which Governor Re
Gently signed-what is an add
tionaP' Dog, Anyway.
Especial to The Reformer.)
MONTPELIER, March

MONTPELIER, March l5.l
From all parts of Vermont letters are
pouring into the Offices of the secretary
Of state, the tax commissioner and to-
members Of the legislature from town
clerks and citizens asking questions about
the new dog law recently enacted by
the general assembly. Tax Commission
or Charles y Phmley has found the ques
ton SO engrossing that he has been obliged
to give some of his time at the listers
meetings held in various counties to ex-
plain what it is about and answer ques-
tions.
The interrogations may sound humorous
but they are asked in all seriousness. Sec
Rotary of State Black receives from two
to a dozen letters daily, most of them
from town clerks, and lie endeavors to
answer the particular questions asked
One man wants to know which, dog TO
register first. the male or the female Ii
the female dog IS registered first the fee
for both would be SIG and il the male
dog is registered first the fee would be
Sl2 The law requires a $40 fee for the
additional dog, that part of the see
ton beng open to many constructions
Another wants to know if ''boarders
having dogs arc considered members al
the same household" and must pay SO
FOR the additional dog. Ore town clerk
writes that the law seems to be ..as plain
as q Chinese puzzle" and another appeals
for copies of the law and says he wishes
to ask some fool questions
\ fam sample OF the ''stckcl" questions
Is this ono propounded by town clerk:
"A father and both OF his two sons have
dogs he writes The BOYS are of age
and all three have had their dogs regis
| tered in their own names Shall | charge
81 for the first dog and consider the other
dogs IN the same household and charge
so each, or what shall / do, and which
dog should come first" should man
who IS boarding where the head Of the
family keeps a dog pay so for his dog
asks another
| IF the husband has bind dog and his
wife pet dog should one of them pay
$40, is the plaintive appeal OF clerk
who sees trouble ahead. A husiness-like
clerk briskly asks: Kindly explain mean.
ing Of the new dog law" and sits tight
! probably until he gets the information
Please send me few more to post n
the postoftice SO that the public may bet
ter understand the law, writes Il clerk
who is willing 10 have the 'peepul' dS
their own interpreting IF a person
calls for license on more than one dos
on or before April ] is the town clerl
10 charge him s. for the first one ans
$40 FOR tho balance" appeals a clerl
who has evidently been burning the mud
ni0ht candle What is the meaning o
this clause Ter dogs that have not sheer
licensed before April / said license shat
be So etc. comes from the man VIII.
thinks period should come before. Tn
word, for"
"The new dog law Just received, noy
| | have registered II dogs on or abou
March 4. 1919, and they paid 81. VIVA
shall ! tell them or can the state max
them pay This question has been aske
me, is paragraph taken from the lette
; of cIork in one of the smaller town,
!. A Windham county town clerk writes
? 1T has been customary in these bac
towns for persons to license their dos
on town meeting day There We're :
dogs licensed in this town at that tins
Now I want to know what to do abot
. t. If they must be re-licensed who
to pay for the expense of notifying thes
). % dog ownersz" Another clerk license
( 80 on town meeting day. How will
manage he begs to Learn And so tho
run on, letter after letter in the san
vein
TO cap the climax the law placer
bounty on the man instead Of tine do
Section reads: ''Selecthen may off
I a bounty OF FIVE dollars for any one HI
ing dog caught in the act Of killing
4 worrying sheep.