Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1913-03-18

put protective laws on their statute
books giving protection to certain
birds for certain periods, but in many
of these cases it is found that the
birds do not occur in the states dur
ing the periods in which protection is
provided. In other words, there is no
protection at all.
As things are to be in the future,
the department OF agriculture will
adopt regulations prescribing and fix
ing closed seasons, having due regard
to the zones of temperature. breeding
habits and times and lines of migra-
tory flight thereby enabling the de-
partment to select and designate suit
able districts for different birds of the
country and it shall be unlawful to
shoot or by any device kill or seize
and capture migratory birds within the
protection of this law during said
closed season, and any person who
shall violate any of the provisions or
regulations of this law for the pro-
lection of migratory birds shall be
guilty of misdemeanor and shall be
fined not more than s1o6 or iInpris-
oned not more than ninety days, or
BOTH in the discretion of the court"
Support Almost Unanimous.
The influences for this federal legis-
lation for the protection of birds
which it was feared rapidly were be-
coming extinct, we're exerted from
every state in the Union. There was
no sectionalism in it, and few persons
raised the plea of states rights in or
der to defeat the measure. 1t is said
that public opinion all over the United
States had become so aroused because
of the diminishing game birds and
song birds that all bubbles were put
aside and virtually unanimous senti-
ment exerted itself for the measure
There were only fifteen votes against
il in the house of representatives
National and state oranges, state
and local game protective associa-
lions. bird societies of all kinds, and
other organizations worked for this
measure. 1t is declared to be the
most important event in the history
Of bird life conservation in the United
States.
Wilson Likes Taft's Idea.
There is a belief among Demo
cratic members of congress that
President Wilson may take up
| the suggestion made by ex-Presi-
dent Taft and urge legislation which
will enable his cabinet officers to ap-
| pear on the floor of the two houses of
congress when matters pertaining to
| their departments are under consid-
! Grafton, to answer questions and to
give information which may enlighten
on the points at issue
Such a course would be in entire
keeping with Mr. Wilson's intimation
that he may go to the capitol on oc-
casion to be within easy reach of rep
resentatives and senators who care to
consult him. 1t is all part of plan
to bring the administration and con-
gress closely together in conference
on matters of legislation.
| Mr. Taft's idea was that if the mem
bers of his cabinet could go to the
house and the senate. especially st
times when appropriation bills were
under consideration, the actual need
| for money in this case or that case
would be more clearly presented, and
the doubts of members who did not
know how to vote could be cleared up
and a more intelligent consideration
could be given to each item in every
appropriation bill
The former president did not in
tend, however, to limit the appear
ance of members of the cabinet to APP
preparation occasions He wanted con-
gress to provide that whenever cab
met officers presence seemed advisa-
| BILE he might be summoned, given a
seat on the floor and allowed to an
swer all questions and 20 vouchsafe
such opinions as suggested them
selves to him as being pertinent to
the subject matter in hand.
Influence" Is Feared.
1t is the fear of some congressman
that the admission of cabinet mem
bers to the floor would bring about a
condition of administration influence"
with the legislative branch and that
this ought to be avoided especially
in q Democracy. 1t was the fear of
this same influence which has made
many members of congress oppose the
suggestion of Mr. Wilson that he
might come to the capitol himself on
occasion, suggestion which has been
treated of in another dispatch.
There is any amount of personal in
fluence used to sway legislation in
congress and some Of this personal
| influence has been condemned by the
public and the press ever since the
| first congress convened. This inHu-
ence is that of the lobby which in
times past and even today has a
strong representation in Washington
The lobbyists are nothing like as i'm
| Fortunate as once they were, nor do
they carry on their opportunities with
the same disregard of publicity and
of the actual decencies as once they
did.
| A good many members of congress
say that the Legislative lobby which
comes here from a distance is more
inimical TO Democratic institutions
than the presence of the president and
his cabinet officers in the capitol pos
sibly could be. but those who are OPP
posed to the appearance of the repre-
sentatiyes of the administration say
the constitution davis the line SO
sharply between the executive and the
| legislative branches that the line
| should not ha erossed evep in sn,Doar
ance.
If the world is round. how can Il