The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-03-21
LADIES NEED
 HAVE NO FEAR Hat Ornamentations Not Affected by Law. ONLY GAME BIRDS INCLUDED Measuring Statement Given Out by
 Commissioner Wallace. Declare. women Who Have Feathers On Their Headgear VIII Net Be Bothered By Operation of Enactment.

The ladies of Alamama who have been alarmed lest the new game law de- prive them of the privilege of orna- mentinE their hats with birds and feathers, as some lawyers have con strued the law so that 1t made the wearing ofe bird or feather illegal, need no longer have any apprehension. Such was not the purpose of the law.
 In an interview given out yesterday State Game Commissioner John H. Wallace, gallantly declared Tit is not the purpose of myself, or the game warden of the State to captiously at- tempt to deprive the ladies of the State of a privilege that has for all time been enjoyed by the members of their sex
 The state Game Warden goes even further when he says in common with most Alabamians, I do not construe that the beautiful women of our match less State need the ornamention that CTS of gaudy plunged birds. yet 1T they desire this character of adorn- ment, so far as the game law Ia con- cerned. the wishes Of their heart can still be gratified."
 That ought to hold the dissatisfied ladies for a spell.
 The trouble grew out of curb stone opinions rendered by some Alanama lawyers, in which they declared that under the new game law no Alabama lady would be permitted to have her hat decked out with the remains of a bird. In one way 1t looks as though the law had that effect but the State Game Commissioner does not SC con- strue 1t, He points out, moreover, that the law applies to game birds, which are not ordinarily used for hat ornamentation.
 Interview By Commissioners.
 Here Is the Game Commissioners in- terview in full and any lady that is not satisfied row is certainly hard to please Said Mir. Wallace:
 The proposition that the feathers and skins of wild birds that are not natives Of Alabama cannot be worn on the hats of ladies and cannot he sold by millinery establishments is a far fetched Idea and is foreign to the true intention of the game law of Ala bama.
 While, In common with most Ala bamians. do not construe that the beautiful women of our matchless State need the ornamentation that would be afforded by the fancy feath- CTS of gaudy plunged birds, yet if they desire this character of adorn-
 
 concerned, the wishes of their hearts can still be gratifed.
 The purpose of protecting the song and insectivorous birds of Alabama is very plain. They are of a vast bene- fit to the agricultural interests of the State. The problem of weed de- struction is perennial in every land where agriculture Is practiced. h. deed. so serious is it, that soil cui- furA hA aafH fA ha war against weeds.
 The harmless birds of Alabama do valient service for the farmer every day without pay. They destroy thou sands of tons of weed seeds, besides eating millions of Insects that have proven destructive to agricultural in- terests. Tn fact. the economic value of the non-game birds of the State Is incalculable.
 The Lacey act of Congress pro- vides that immediately that game birds and animals come within a State, they become subject to the laws of that State governing the same. This does not apply to non game birds, and hence, 1t would be beyond the power of the Alabama Legislature to legislate against the use of feathers and skins of birds taken without the State, unless such birds were known as native birds oI Alabama.
 VIII Protect the Birds.
 The Legislature has given us ( | most excellent game law, also one foI | the protection of the song and in. sectivorous birds. and 1t Is not tho | purpose of myself or the game war. | dens of the State to captiously at. tempt to deprive the ladies of tho | State of privilege that has for al time been enjoyed by the members oi | their sex.
 Tt is the intention of the game law | to protect the native birds and thu migatory ones while they are in Ala. ban,a and this we propose to do. 1 The State Game and Fish Commis sioner has appointed to be Count, l Game and Fish Wardens the following onta.
 Chiffon County. J. W. E. Gulledge l Verbena.
 DeKaIb County. A. B. Greene. Ft Payne. Escambia County Rufus Dixon. Pol lard.
 Perry County, J. B. Tendon, Marion
 Randolph County, J. J. Huckabee Wedowee.
 Wilcox County, W. H. Boykin. Cam den.
 Winston County. Fred M. Wilson Elk
 Only ten counties in the State hay, not yet been supplied with Count! Wardens
 Licenses fin Montgomery. The general interest in the law con l tinues uRabated. From every section of the State repeated inquiries ar, made as to provisions of the new law This interest is indicated by the fac that although the law only went int, effect on Tuesday, the Judge of Pro bate of Montgomery County has al ready issued no less than nineteen hunters licenses
 This has been notwithstanding tn, fact that under the law, March Is tn, closed season for all game with tn, exception of snipe and pIover Tn | closed season for them begins or May 1
 Seventeen of the licenses issued fl this county, entitling the holder tt hunt game anywhere in the State, ant two are county licenses, giving tn, privilege of hunting only In Moutgom cry County. The State licenses eos $3 each and the county licenses 8. each, the total amount thus far re l alized by the Probate Office being $53
 State licenses were issued to pr. B 6. Chapman. T. F. Harrison. Charle |. Levy, Julian Gibian. Lee Holmes l Charles F, Chandler, J. E. Brooks Gaston Scott. A. c. Jones, John F. Gay William s. Stickney W. R. Jones. J