Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-23
ASK SENATE COMMITTEE
TO PROTECT Wild BIRDS
Three Appear in Opposition to
Amendment to Underwood
Tariff Bill.

IN the interests or the WIG blrdS OF
this country and other countries DR.. Will
liam T. Hornaday of the New York Zoo
logical Society, e. III. Forbush.. the state
ornithologist of Massachusetts,. and Hen
cry Oldys of Silver Spring, Nd. appeared
before a subcommittee of the Senate
finance committee yesterday afternoon
They vigorously opposed Senator Clapp's
samendment to the Underwood bill. which
would permit the Importation of feathers
and plumes of game birds usually killed
for food purposes and birds which are
killed as pests" The bill as it stands
prohibits the importation of the feathers
of all wild birds.
The importers of feathers and repre-
sentatiyes of the millinery trade told the
subcommittee that it would be an eco
monte waste to prohibit the importation
of the feathers as provided in the Clapp
amendment. They were represented by
Emil Goldmark and Benjamin F. Ffener
of New York.
Fears Extinction Of Birds.
DR.. Hornaday said there were 154 spe-
$cies of game birds in this country. and
they. together with some $50 species ma
tive in foreign lands. would be threaten
ed with determination for the sake OF
their feathers If this amendment was
accepted.
He spoke of the slaughter of wild birds
for their feathers. which has gone on in
sthe past, and told of instances where
species had been wiped out. He mention
led the slaughter In great numbers Of the
by Senator Hoke Smith as to the value
of preserving these birds. DR.. Hornaday
replied that the arguments advanced by
those interested in the birds was for the
most part purely sentimental
Senator Smith pointed out, however, that
the wild birds were or inestimable value
in preventing pests of insects He spoke
Of the fact that the quail In the south
were doing good work killing the boil
weevil. He said he was particularly IN
tsrested IN this. LEGISLATION because as
Governor sef9 Georgia he had seen to il
that the most stringent kind Of laws were
enacted to protect the wild birds. When
birds became q pest. however, he said
that they should be killed
= Dr. Hornaday declared that II the mat
ter was put to a vote of the people OF this
country IT would be found that 60 per
cent of them would support the leeisla-
birds of this and other lands. Not more
than 8 per cent Of sthe women except
those thoughtless or uneducaxed In regard
TO the birds countenanced wearing feath-
ers in their hats. he said.
Argument of the Other Side.
1 Emil Goldmark. speaking for the i'm
porters. declared that they desired con-
servation of the birds. but not prohibi-
ton OF Importation. He argued that 1t
WAS to the interest OF the importers and
the milliners that the wild birds should
not be exterminated. He urged that the
matter of regulation be left to an inter-
national council. He pointed out that
the bill at present permits the importa-
ton of the feathers Of tame birds. Mr..
.Goldmark declared it would be impossi-
BE to make q distinction at ports Of
entry.
Mr. Forbush Of Massachusetts, said that
II II was desired to exterminate a spe-
cies of birds all that was necessary was
to place a bounty on Its head. This
would be done in the case of the wild
birds II their feathers were continued in
the millinery trade, he said.
Mr.. Oidys spoke Of the enormous de-
struction of birds which had been brought
about when their feathers became FASH
fonable for hats.