New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-04
THE MILLINERY LOBBY
Feather Men Are Deceiving the Sen
ate, It Is Asserted.

ate, It Is Asserted.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The Finance Committee which has
been working on the tariff bill has recon-
mended TO the United States Senate that
the proviso which prohibits the importa-
ton Of the feathers OF wild birds for
commercial purposes shall be all but de-
stroyed. Needing the opportunities of the
hired agents OF the wholesale milliners
and feather importers who have been
waxing rich by the slaughter of wild bird
life throughout the world. this committee
has agreed to change the bill as passed
BY the House OF Representatives so that
the feathers OF those species OF birds
which are killed for food or are killed as
pests may be imported.
At cs8Ial glance this may appear TO
be a perfectly fair provision, but what
does 1t really mean?
First-It would permit the importation
OF the feathers OF birds usually killed for
food
If We make a list OF the various birds
legally regarded as game birds In the
various states OF our country, We find that
It includes all species and varieties OF
snipe, sandpipers, plovers, oystercatchers'
grebes. looms. ducks. geese. brant swan,
rails, coots. gallinules, quail. grouse, Wild
turkeys, doves, pigeons, robins. and bobo-
links; also the chewink, meadow lark,
and. in Ohio. a court decision has de-
claTed herons 10 be game birds. Note
however, that the provision OF this
amendment does not refer TO birds legally
regarded as game birds, but refers to
birds usually killed for food purposes.
This being the case. we Will have to add
to the above list the nighthawk. roseate
spoonbil,. limpkin. sandhill crane. cormo-
rant. white ibis. pieated woodpecker.
flicker and others. The above catalogue
contains the names of a number Of the
most valuable forms OF wild bird life In
the United States for many OF them are
among the most ravepous consumers OF
injurious insects and noxous weed seeds
which are to be found on earth. lf
feathers OF these birds can be imported, 1t
will be easy to substitute the feathers OF
the same species killed In the United
States. With the exception OF few small
countries In the world. where Il is con-
trary 10 the religion of the people to XIII
birds. there is not a nation In the world
which has such strong sentiment against
the slaughter of birds or such restrictive
measures for their protection as 10 be
found In the United States.
To the above list OF birds we must.
therefore. add the names OF all the birds
In all the countries throughout the world
which are usually killed for food pur-
poses, and the resultant list is simply
enormous.
There is another matter to which we
would call attention. Feathers to be OF
value 20 the millinery trade must, as
class, he collected during the season of
the year when the birds are engaged In
nesting and caring for the young, for II
is at that season that their feathers have
their brightest hues and are In an unworn
and unfrayed condition. Let no one be
misled with the idea that game birds
taken during the legal season for hunt
Ing possess feathers which are TO any
marked extent attractive to the millinery
trade. We know OF no evidence tending
to show that the plumage OF birds killed
for food purposes is used to any extent
In the millinery trade. On the other
hand. we would call attention to the
fact that Hen. William l.. Finley, Game
Warden of the State OF oregon, found
that the Chinese pheasants which have
been acclimated In that state were being
killed out OF season for the feather trade.
lie found that the plumage of the cock
Chinese pheasant in good condition was
worth 81 50 in the local market at Port
land. which was far In excess Of what
the dead bird would bring In the market
few months later
Second-The amendment would allow the
importation of the feathers OF birds killed
as pests.
No authority. however, is cited as to
who shall determine what may be re-
garded as pests. Clearly this matter