The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1912-07-11
PROTECTION FOR
GAME BIRDS
is OBJECT OF A BILL INTRODUCE
ED IN LOWER HOUSE OF
CONGRESS.
NATIONAL LAWS TO GOVERN GAME
This Would Prevent Slaughter OF MI.
gratory Birds.-Other Washington
News of the Past Week.

(Trom Our Washington Correspondent
The question OF better protection
for the migratory game birds In the
United States has been under con-
sideration before congress at the pres
ent session, and the antiquated objec-
ton to the interference with the
rights OF the states has been urged
against the proposition that the de.
partment Of agriculture be given au-
thority in the matter of fixing closed
seasons for migratory game birds,
such as wild geese, wild swans, brant,
wild ducks, snipe, plOver, woodcock.
quail, and wild pigeons. Mr.. Cooper
Of Wisconsin, made the statement on
the floor of the house that he could
recall the time when wild pigeons
flew by millions, and the heavens
were darkened by them He said
that he had read recently of a reward
of a thousand dollars deing offered to
anyone who would furnish a male
wild pigeon. He added that there Is
a female wild pigeon in captivity in
the Geological Garden in Cincinnati,
and that an attempt was being made
to secure a mate. These birds have
been practically exterminated. They,
like the buffalo, have practically sur
rendered their existence tt greedy
hnntarC Tn tho dnhatn ~ NO pnintad
out that the antelope is also rapidly
becoming extinct, and that deer exists
only In certain portions OF the coun-
try. A western congressman took a
rather amusing view of the game
proposition, declaring that under
federal supervision, game, il migra.
tory, ceases to be game when it
crosses a state line wherein 1t Is
now protected by state laws, and by
reason OF it's own movement, becomes
interstate commerce. He further at
tempted to obscure the issue by stat
ing that federal supervision would
make it necessary to prove whether
VI HO VIII ~ WCIc Ic6IuGulS OI tuo
different states, and declared that he
could not see how this could be
brought about unless by afiidavits
from the creatures themselves. The
governors and game wardens of the
cOuntrf have been consulted and most
Of them have approved the proposi-
ton for federal supervision. In the
debate it was clear that the disputed
power Of the government in this mat
ter does not rest upon any valid
foundation.
Characteristics OF some great men
pont Morgan, for instance, seldom
comes to Washington, but when he
does his habit for a quarter OF a CEN
fury has been to stop at the Airing
ton hotel. At the time Is was pro-
posed to interest Mr.. Morgan in a
proposition to tear down the old
structure and to erect one Of the
most magnificent hotels in the coun.
try on its site, the great f%inancier
took a big block of the hotel stock
upon the stipulation that the rooms
reserved for him in the new hotel
should be arranged in exact duplicate
and furnished in the same manner as
the suite which has been at his dis
posal in the old Arlington for many
years.
1t is said that Senator Penrose, who
always stops at the New Willard,
pays $50 a day for his rooms, and
that the senator frequently proclaims
that anyone who pays such a fancy
price is privileged to use or abuse the
furniture and surroundings as he sees
fit, and that he acts accordingly. The
senator Is known to be a very rich
man, and as a bachelor has formed
some peculiar habits, n Of which
Is said to be that he frequently stores
the half smoked butts of cigars in his
trouser pockets where they are kept
handy for use.
The city Of Washington Is shooting
ahead at a remarkable pace, and with
in a radius OF a half dozen square
blocks there are 1000 Office rooms,
half of which have been provided in
the new buildings constructed with
in the last two years. These rooms
are occupied by private business con-
Germs ana are prima facie evidence
that the capital city IL growing. The
(Continusd q - ~