Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-10-30
LAW BEGINS TO WORK.
Good Effect of Lacey Bird Law Al.
ready Apparent.

ready Apparent.
William E. Curtis in Chicago Rec
ord-Last winter congress passed an
act introduced by Mr.. Lacey of Iowa
intended to protect the plumage and
game bird from indescriminates laugh-
ter by making it unlawful to sell or
hold in possession in one state birds
and animals that were killed in viola
ton of law in other states and forbid
ding common carriers to transport
birds or game killed in violation of
state laws. In other words milliners
and dealers in milliners' supplies in
Chicago, New York, and any other city
or place can be punished for using
or selling or keeping on hand and any
woman can be punished for wearing
as hat trimmings the plumage of birds
killed in states where the killing of
birds of plumage is forbidden. The
law also requires that birds and game
when offered for sale or when shipped
shall be plainly marked so that it may
be known from whence they came and
from whom they were obtained.
The enforcement of this law was in
trusted to the secretary of agriculture,
who has detailed T. S. Palmer, of the
biological bureau to take the matter
il charge. Mr.. Palmer is endeavoring
to secure the cooperation of game war
dens, societies organized to preserve
bird life, ornithologists and lovers of
birds generally to assist him. Already
milliners and dealers in millinery sup.
plies have become aroused over the
danger of punishment for handling
| bird skins, and inquiries from commits
| sion houses and dealers in game are
coming in large numbers to the de-
partment of agriculture to ascertain
| it's intentions regarding the enforce
ment of the new law.
The first important act thus far was
the seizure a few days ago of $500
skins of sea gulls at Baltimore and the
arrest of firm dealing in millinery
supplies, who intended to use the plu-
mage as hat trimmings. The laws OF
Maryland are explicit on this subject,
and forbid women to wear the plum
age OF birds. Sea gulls are popular
! trimming, and they are slaughtered
| in large numbers on the Chesapeake
bay and along the Atlantic coast dur
ing the breeding season, when their
plumage is most brilliant. But their
nests are left cold by the slaughter OF
the female birds. Last year more
than 100000 gull skins were sold for
the adornment of hats and bonnets
and naturalists estimated that this
meant the destruction of 100000 OF
| 10 900, GOO birds The case has not yet
come to trial but will be watched with
great interest.
1--WE have to treat each case accord
ing to the laws of the state where the
offenss was committed" said Mr.
Palmer, "and have done so little tha
we have no set rules. At present oul
work is chiefly limited to giving infor
nation to those concerned and there
seems to be disposition among deal
ers to observe the law. The state
laws are so complex that it is diff
cult to follow them. We have NJ
funds for the employment o
inspectors, but are receiving
the efficient cooperation of all lover
of game-fsh and game commission
ers, game wardens, ornithologists
members of the League of American
, Sportsmen, the National Game, Bir'
and Fish Protection association, Ma
tional Sportsmen's association an
kindred organizations. There ar
game associations in thirty states
bird protective societies in twenty
three, game commissions and gam
:. wardens in thirty odd. SO you see W
have the country well covered. Al
legal proceedings under the Lacey lay
, are thru the department of justice
Whenever the law is violated, and tn
attention of the department called
the fact by one of our voluntary il
spectors, we make an investigation
:. and If sufficient ground is found, brin
action thru the department of justic,
1t will be noticed, however, that W
have no Jurisdiction unless birds {
game have been subject to interstat
trade. Where the game law Of stat
has been violated in that state and tn
game is not transported to anothe
state we have no jurisdiction.