Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-04
TO STOP POT. HUNTERS
Proposed to Eliminate Them in
the District.
SENATOR GALLINGER'S BILL
Killing of Wild Birds and Wild Ami
mails Prohibited.
MEASURE GENERALLY ENDORSED
Result of Suggestion by President
Roosevelt-Warmly Approved by
Audubon Society.

10 tAic icS vi ii movement TGGGntiy started
at the suggestion of President Roosevelt
and warmly Endorsed by the members Of
the Washington Audubon Society, the So
ciety for the Preservation of Fish and
Game in the District of Columbia and by
others interested in the protection OF birds
and animals and concerned in the effort
to clrcumscribe the activities of the pot
hunter. whose indiscriminate aim and de-
vastating raids, it is declared offer mem
ace not only to birds and beast but to the
life and property,of residents
Two sides to the question are apparent
from the general comments. Some take
ground in opposition to the measure, alleg-
ing that it is an unusual proceeding and
unfair to those who enjoy a few hours with
the gun end who are unable to make trips
to one of the adjacent states every time
they wish the pleasure of hunt. 1t is
also charged that the bill creates an I'M
desirable condition in the game market
General Sentiment for the Bill
On. the other hand volume of testimony
arises almost spontaneously in favor of the
proposed law The advocates of the bill
hail it as the means not only of preserving
game but of protecting life and property.
1t also offers to them the welcome prospect
of eliminating the pot-hunter in the Dis
trict. On the whole the preponderance of
sentiment seems to be strongly in favor of
the bill
The bill provides that no person shall a
any time or at any place in the District OF
Columbia kill or attempt to kill any game
bird or any other wild bird whatever ex
cept the English sparrow, under a penalty
of five dollars or imprisonment in the work
house for not more than six months, or
both, for each bird killed or for each at
tempt 1t is stipulated, however, that birds
or eggs may be collected for strictly scen-
tific purposes under written permits issued
by the superintendent, of police of the Dis
trict, in accordance with such regulations
as the secretary of the Smithsonian 1nstftu
ton may prescribe.
Section 2 prohibits the trapping, catching.
pursuing, killing injuring of any wild
animal in the District and provides the
same penalty for infraction. 1t is provided
that wild animals suffering from disease
may be killed. Section 3 prescribes that a
written permit shall be obtained for the
killing of injured animals or English spar
rows by means of firearms.
A Sportsman's Opposition.
The following statement made to Star
reporter by local sportsman may be taken
as representative of the arguments used
by the opponents of the measure:
ST wish that the attention of sportsnen.
and thinking people generally of this Dis
trict were directed to the utter uselessness
and atsurdity of the bill now before Con-
greSS
while this bill will be benefit to none
(as our song birds and insectiyorous feath-
cred friends are at present. well protected,
it will deprive great many or privilege
enjoyed by our brothers in the states, who
have a voice in the making of their laws
and who would resent any attempt by
their legislatures to prevent the legitimate
sport of killing certain game during GER
tain seasons.
There are many persons within the
District who either cannot afford to pay
the license fee required to hunt in the sur
rounding states, or who have not the time
to spare from their work for prolonged
trip, but who manage each fall to get in
a few days on the marshes and the sur
rounding country, and who look forward
with anticipation to that time. With the
exception of few quail and woodcoci1,
all of the game killed within the District
is of migratory character, and often fair
bags are made. OF what benefit is it to
any one to preserve this kind of game for
our neighbors in Maryland and Virginia?
Does it help the Audubon Society?
Present Law Criticised.
81 wish TO illustrate the intelligence
shown in the making of our local game
laws Under the present law quail can be
killed until March Is, permitting birds that
have weathered the cold and storms of
winter to be killed off at mating time, and
also giving the market hunters of the
states adjoining the opportunity to bring
in birds which have been killed during the
close season, as the quail season ends in
both Maryland and Virginia before Janu-
airy l.
This Is a fine. intelligent ~ law, isn't
it? Can our lawmakers answer this ques-
ton? Why is this so? / can. 1t is so in
order that they may tickle the palate
during the session of Congress with sgame
lawfully obtained in the close season of
other localities. All the nearby states have
clause in their game laws prohibiting
the shipment of game for foreign consump-
ton.
ALSO, the proposed bill repeats all pre-
vious laws of similar character, making
no mention Of the sale and possession of
game, leaving the District an open market
for the disposal of game at all seasons.
This may be wise, but l fail to see it.
And, it prohibits the killing of any
feathered creatures, the truck farmer In
the suburbs may see his early corn or
tomatoes being devastated by crows, and
instead of driving them away with his shot
gun he will have to keep to the letter of
the law by sending the hired man with
broom to shoe them away. And possibly
he will hang out signs inviting all stray
hawks to help themselves to his chickens.
1T also permits collectors to gather eggs,
those of native birds, mostly song and
insectivbrous birds. about the only kind
that make our limited territory breeding
place. and thus destroy what delights the
eye and ear Of bird lovers, but which has
no use as a table food. The Audubon
Society has done and is doing noble work,
and all true sportsmen Chose who do not
kill for the mere sake of destroying) will
give the society their hearty support, but
the members OF the society assume pre-
rogative which is not theirs when they
assume the right to stop legitimate sport.
Game was created for mans disposal. The
Lord sent the children OF Israel quail as
food during the march to the promised
land.
Now. II our Commissioners and the
District committee in Congress would get
together and frame an intelligent game
law, taking as a model those existing in
the surrounding states and making the
laws of the District as similar as possible,
the sportsmen and those interested would
voice their hearty approval, because it will
be a law for the people,.
Equally as emphatic are the numerous
testimonials to the merits of the bill in all
of its provisions.
Explained by Author Of the Bill.
Mr.. E. II. Thomas, who drafted the bill
as presented in the Senate. explained the
purposes OF the proposed law to a Star re-
porter He said the provisions of the bill
were framed with q view OF carrying out
the idea OF the President for the protection
OF Wild birds and wild animals in the Dis
trict Of Columbia. They wers also framed,