The San Francisco call., 1909-02-26
MEADOW LARKS GET
UNFRIENDLY REPORT
Senate Committee Favors Bill
Giving Farmers Right to
Shoot Birds on Sight
Lewis of Stockton Overc0mes
Opposition of Vogelsang and
Gains Commission
Especial Dispatch 10 The Call

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CALL HEADQUARTERS, CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE BUILDING, SACRA-
MENTO, Feb. 25-It was natural his
/ tory class in the committee on fish and
game today when Senator Lewis of
Stockton dropped in to see about the
larks. Lewis wanted the bill passed,
but Vogelsang of the game commission
did not
Experts, scientists and ladies'" said
Lewis, scornfully, confuse the meadow
lark with the English skylark. From
my mothers description of the flight
and song of that bird over the downs
of England, nobody could get me to
kill it.
But 1 know Mr. Meadow Lark I've
lived with him for 25 years. He's a
lazy bird. He eats Johnny Grasshopper
when he doesn't have to chase him.
In hot weather he hops under the
vines where it is shady and cool
| and reaches up. and. bingoi he pecks
a grape. He's temperance bird,
| though, and doesn't hurt the wine
grapes. He's increasing all the time.
You've cut out the Italian and the small
boy who made war on him, and now,
be merciful. The farmer kills him
with poisoned wheat, which is worse
than shotgun
Vogelsang took issue, instancing
many scientific facts.
"Oh, I've been an expert myself" re-
torted Lewis, for years and years
I've got lots of money by it, too, but
my testimony wasn't worth anything
| because l didn't know any more than
anybody else. What do the people who
sit by the stove in cold weather and
warm their trousers and write letters
know about meadow larks?"
Lewis breezy lecture took with the
committee and they voted to let the
farmers make war on the meadow
larks.
Bill Will Be Opposed
CALL HEADQUARTERS. CHAMBER
OF, COMMERCE. BUILDING, SACRA-
MENTO. Feb. 25.-Although accepting
an amendment to his change of venue
bill today, seemingly making it a good
measure, Grove l.. Johnson will find
unusual rights to defendants seeking
technical defenses. The amendment
provides that in case an affidavit of
bias is filed against a Judge the pre-
siding judge in a county where there
Is more than one judge or the gov
ernor in the event of the county hav
ing only one Judge must designate an
other Judge to try the case. The blu
originally provided that the Judge dis
qualified by affidavit should designate.
The Objectionable feature still remain
ing is that part which allows a de-
fendant to come into court the day
before the trial and secure a change
of venue. The bill was killed two
years ago, but Johnson now hopes the
amendment will save the measure.
Schmitt's Bills Pass
CALL HEADQUARTERS, CHAMBER.
OF COMMERCE. BUILDING. SACRA4
AfEsN'TC1 Eph oH-Tha hlU tndaV
passed Schmitts bills amending the
Torrens land act to simplifying the
esta blishing of title to real estate. One
amendment permits the owners of adj
joining lots to join in one suit, thus
making the expense to each nominal.
Another amendment proposes to dis
pense with abstracts of title whereby
20 years of adverse possession and five
years payment of taxes is proved.
This amendment will also serve to re-
lieve owners in San Francisco of the
almost impossible duty of filing an alb
stract when the records are destroyed.
1t provides that when five years adj
verse possession and payment of taxes
is alleged the abstract which must be
supplied need not cover a period of
more than 20 years.
Will Reimburse County
CALL HEADQUARTERS. CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE BUILDING, SACRA-
MENTO, Feb. 25.-The ways and means
committee today recommended favor
able action on Grove L. Johnsons bill
reimbursing Sacramento county in the
sum of s14,597.39 for the expense of
prosecuting former State Senators
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