Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-04-24
United States Department Ag-
ricuiture Gives Out Bulle-
tin Relating to Migra-
tory Bird Law
INSURANCE TAXES
Gifts and Requests to Maine
Public Libraries-State Lii
brary Wants Third Edi-
ton of maine Civil
Officer"

1t will be remembered that it was
stated on the floor of the House of
Representatives in the closing days of
the 18th Maine Legislature, that the
Federal Migratory Bird Law had been
found unconstitutional. This statement
was made when a fight was on to save
or kill q Maine bill in which there We're
provisions Of law intending to make
certain Maine game bird statutes con-
form with the federal law. The state
ment apparently had some weight at
that time. The fish and game depart
ment has received some information
concerning the decisions as to the
constitutionality Of the federal bird
law from the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture. The bulletin
which has been issued for general pub
LEGATION reads as follows:
Many Of the press comments on the
decision of the United States District
Court, rendered March 90, at Topeka,
Kansas, holding that the Federal Mi
gratory Bird Law is unconstitutional
according to the United States Depart
ment OF Agriculture, are erroneous and
are apt to mislead the public concern
ing the real situation in this matter.
The Kansas decision, like a former
decision to the same effect in the East
ern District Of Arkansas, is limited in
its operation solely to the district in
which it was rendered. Neither de-
cision settles or nulliees the law, and
the exact contrary has been held by
the United States District Nourt for
South Dakota. The Arkansas case has
been appealed to, and is now pending
in the United States Supreme Court.
The Act of Congress protecting mi
gratory birds stands effective until the
Supreme Court finally decides the
question Of it's constitutionality. In the
meantime. it is incumbent on every
law-abiding citizen to observe its pro-
visions and the regulations It is the
duty of tie Department Of Agriculture
to enforce this law and the officials in
charge will endeavor to do so as long
as it is in force. Reports of violations
will be carefully investigated and when
sufficient evidence is secured they will
be reported for prosecution. In this
connection it should not be forgotten
that an offender against this, as in the
case Of other United States laws, is
subject to prosecution any time with
in three years from the date the Of
tense is committed.
Library Notes
Mr.. c. c. Harmon of Portland has
donated to the State library an early
edition Of the Maine Townsman toward
the completion Of its set Of different
editions Of the publication. This edition
is entitled 1.-THE Maine Townsman, or
laws for regulations of towns; with
forms of judicial decisions adapted to
the Revised Statutes Of Maine. By
John p. Lord, Roston: Printed by
White, Lewis & Potter. 1882. The Sec
ond edition, with~the same general title,
was published by Sanborn and Carter
Portland, in 1916.
The State Library wishes to complete
its set Of the seven different editions of
the Maine Civil Officer. It lacks now
only the third edition. and is DESTROYS to
secure 1t. This edition was issued in 1874
with the following title:
MAINE Civil Officer. A guide for JUS
tees Of the peace, trial justices. sheriffs
and their deputies. coroners and con-
stables, with an appendix. containing a
large number Of miscellaneous forms,
alphabetically arranged. BY Hon. Will
liam Writ Virgin. Revised and adapted
to public acts down to January /, 1874.
BY Byron D. Verrill. attorney at law
Third edition. Portland: Loring, Short
& Harmon. 1874" II mo. PIP. XXxIv,
62i.
The first edition of the Maine Civil
Officer was complied by jeremiah
Perley. Hallowell. 1925; the second
edition by Edward S. Morris, revised
and corrected by Esther Shepley, Port
land. 1851; fourth edition. by Byron D.
verrill, Portland. 1880; fifth edition, by
Byron d. Verrjll, Portland, 1885; sixth
edition, by B. .. and H. NJ. verrill, Port
land. 1888: and seventh edition., by H.
NJ. verrill and c. D.. Booth, Portland,