The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-01-04
Want Bees Restrained
National and State Governments
Asked 10 Extend Relief 10 Peo-
pie Of Defisnee, Iowa. "a It.

Both the national and state govern
ments are being importuned by resi-
dents OF Defiance. Ia. To restrain the
free circulation and singing activity of
the honey bees. That they are n pest
Is attested by more than 100 Of the lead
Ing citizens who In n petition to Hon.
Walter I. Smith, member of congress.
and to Hon. Omar Il. wyland. member
az the Iowa legislature. implore relief.
The body OF the petition reads:
we. the undersigned. citizens and
residents OF Defiance. Ia. and vicinity.
realizing the great damage doEe each
year by reason OF the common honey
bee roaming about and running at
large I'm our cities and towns by their
continual biting and slipping OF the
precious fruits and beautiful flowers.
and the nauscating deposits To be seen
everywhere. To- say nothing OF their
constant buzzing about ones ears from
early morn till late ut night. and their
frequent singing. do hereby earnestly
and humbly pray you ms our represent
atives. TO prepare and introduce and to
use your best efforts To have passed n
very stringent law forever prohibiting
the running at large and roaming about
the public streets OF our cities and
towns. and especially the town OF De-
hance. Ia. all honey bees OF whatever
variety or species. BY doing this you
will not only be rendering great pub
lie service but will place US under great
obligation to you"
The honorable gentlemen have had
more experience with the political bee
and never having been quite able to
regulate the actions OF that energetic
insect. they hesitate TO undertake to
control the movements OF SO formid-
able n thing as the honey bee. Yet the
a.. ~.
names OF exactly i2i voters OF the town
OF Defiance being appended thereto. the
solons are Mt n loss TO know just what
TO do. Up TO date they have been try.
Ing TO unload the responsibility for &c
curing relief for their constituents on
TO each other. The last communication
bearing on this matter n from Con-
gresham Smith TO Representative Wy
land. The writer resents the repeated
efforts OF the state legislator TO place
the onus OF finding some means OF re-
lief for the petitioners on him. He says
he has not been able to ind ANY sec
tion OF the federal constitution con-
ferrlng upon congress authority TO pro-
hibit bees from running ut large In the
town OF Defiance" He then adds:
should succeed I'm finding any clause
authorizing such n law as that petit.
toned for. I shall insist upon this pow.
ct being first exercised by prohibiting
house flies from running at large on my
premises"
Congressman Smith then points out
the failure OF Pennsylvania congress
man who last session endcavorcd TO
have the flight OF birds from one state
To another regulated by congressional
act. because IL was Interstate com
mcrce. Mr.. Smith points out there IL
no way OF knowing that the bees COM
planned OF are not natives or the local
lily they are annoying. lie concluded
his letter thus:
Resting assured that when you have
properly considered the matter. and
after tho right kind OF "A Law has passed
the Iowa legislature, that 1 will forever
thereafter be safe from being stunE
when I am In shelby county. l am.
with assurance OF my high regard, cor
daily yours, Walter ]. Smith"
Being democrat. Representative
wyland secs no hope oc getting n salts
factory law through the Iowa legisla-
turc.