The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-14
Geese, Chickens, Mud Hens and
Their Kind Are Only Birds
Available for Decorations
CANNOT EVEN BE SHIPPED
IN AND SOLD BY DEALERS
The Law Is Not Yet In Effect, and the
Prediction Is Made That Feminine
Lobbyists Will Have the
Section Repealed.

Are all the beautiful birds which for
ages have adorned the heads of the
women of Alabama to be rudey plucked
off, and are the millinery stores to be
forced to discontinue dressing their land
scape gardens with the appropriate feath-
cry decorations? This has been a ques-
ton in the mind of many husband dur
ing the last few days since copies of the
recently enacted game law have been
circulated
From the reading of section of the act
it seems as though all of the ladies are
doomed to throw their head pieces in
the trash barrel and proceed to buy an
ordinary thing without feather to make
the wearer look like a winged angel. 1t
will be contrary to law to have in possess
sion or to expouse for sale any part OF
the pumage, skin or body of song and
insectivorous birds.
Game Birds Only Available.
The section which caused so much dis
cussion, and was generally read is here
given: THAT no person shall, within the
state of Alabama, catch or kill or have
in his possession, living or dead, any wild
bird, other than a game bird, or pur-
chase, offer or expose for sale. transport
or ship within or without the state any
such wild bird after it has been killed or
caught, except as permitted by this act.
mo part of the plumage, skin or body
of any bird protected by this act shall
be sold or had in possession for sale, ir-
respective of whether said bird was
captured or killed within or without the
state"
Jere King Is Surprised.
Jere C. King, representative from this
county, approached on the subject yes
terday, FASTENED to explain that the law
was really not in force, and would not go
into effect until thirty days after the adj
journment of the legislature.
lie stated that he had not studied the
bill closely, as he had not been on the
committee that considered it, and he was
not aware of the presence of such sec
ton in the bill, and was quite surprised
when it was called to his attention. 1T
certainly seems" he said, that should
this bill go into effect without amend
ment the millinery business will be great
" affected OF course, the game birds
may be killed in certain times of the year,
but their plumage is used very little OH
ladies' head gear 1t is the bird of song
which owns the plumage that attracts.
.'Now, you may count it sure that,
should this Interpretation not be explained
away. we will have as large a crowd OF
an nitOl the
day we convene as was ever in the city of
Montgomery. By the time the wives OF
the legislators have gotten busy there
will be little chance for the life of that
section
One Loophole of Escape.
There will. however, be one keyhole
through which few feathers may be
slipped. Section of the act provides
Certificates may be granted by the state
game and fish commissioner to any prop
erly accredited person permitting the
holder thereof to collect birds, their nests
or eggs for strictly scientific purposes
only.
..Jn order to obtain such certificates
the applicant must present to the state
game and flSn commissioner "ii'lSii eN'''
n1onials from two well known ornitholo-
gists. one of whom shall be resident of
this state, certifying to the good char
acter and fitness of said applicant to be
entrusted with such privileges.
Must Enforce the Law.
In order that this law may not so with
out enforcement the legislature gave
handle by which jealous old maids or
bachelors, or even stingy husbands may
force the warden to do his duty and make
the arrests Section 16 provides, ANY
official, officer or warden who shall fail
to perform any act, duty or obligation
enjoined upon him by the provisions of
this act shall be deemed guilty of a mis-
demeanor, and on conviction shall be pun
ished by a fine of not less than $50 or
more than $10O."
Alabama thus goes one step beyond
denying suffrage to her women by deny
ing them bird feathers for their hats.
What few feathers drop from the bird
collectors table will be the only ones pro-
durable in the state. These will be at
a great demand and may even reach the