Seattle Mayor Paul Schell plans to submit an ordinance to the City Council banning the display of exotic wild animals in city-owned and operated facilities or entirely within the city limits.

It is interesting to note that he did not make the fact public until after the Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus played here in September, which consequently added thousands of dollars to the city treasury. Representatives of the Ringling Government Relations Committee had written to the Mayor offering to meet with him to discuss the issue, but were unsuccessful in getting an appointment.

The Mayor's response to my letter asking him to listen to both sides of the issue was that "such a ban can only increase Seattle's reputation for its responsible treatment of the natural world." He also stated that he had received a petition from a fourth grade class from Waldorf School supporting the ban. I cannot help but wonder who, or what group, introduced the subject in the school and if students were presented with facts on both sides of the issue. Or, if like the Mayor, they were targeted by special interest groups that not only want all animals, wild or domestic, banned from performing but whose ultimate goal is to have a society free of animal ownership of any kind.

I am also against animal abuse, but there are Federal guidelines in place that govern the use of performing animals. Circuses playing the Seattle area have been in compliance and passed inspection. If they had not, they would not have been allowed to proceed. When Ringling performed here in September, they invited the Mayor and City Council members to attend a demonstration on how tigers, elephants and horses are trained. Trainers freely answered questions. It would be interesting to know if any of the council members attended.

Thousands of people choose to attend the circus in Seattle, many of them because of the wild animals, despite the horror stories of PETA and PAWS. Much of their material comes from many years back and does not take into consideration that the Circus World has been making great strides in policing itself, adding larger traveling accommodations for animals and, in some cases, using electric fencing instead of leg chains. I agree, there may be animal abuse in some circuses, as there is with some pet owners. However, groups such as Ringling and the Elephant Managers Association do not hesitate to speak up against it and take steps to keep it out of their organizations.

Mayor Schell has chosen to turn this controversial issue over to the "new" City Council. It will be interesting to see whether they will take the time to listen to those who have a different opinion from PETA and PAWS.

-BETTY BARTHOLOMEW,

Lake City