The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-10-15
MIGRATORY BIRDS
FRIENDS ACTIVE.
People From Various Parts Of the
Country In Movement to Pro
tect Feathered Friends
by Law.
CASE IS PRESENTED
Brief ls Taken up by Attorneys Be
fore United States Supreme
Court In Test
Case.
CASE IS PRESENTED

| Evidence that the people Of the
country irrespective Of section or oc-
icupation are deeply interested in the
! forthcoming test Of the constitutions
atty of the federal law for the protec-
tion of migratory birds. is furnished
in the list OF representative organiza-
tons of farmers, stock breeders, forest
conservatfonists,s portsmen and others
that have joined with the American
Game Protective association in the
brief that its counsel. William S. Has
kell, will ask leave to file, in defense
of the law when the case is called be-
fore the United States supreme court.
The case comes upon appeal from
the United States court OF the eastern
district of Arkansas in which. on May
10, 1914, the law was held unconstf-
tutional :
The brief above referred to constt-
tutes impressive evidence Of the widA-
spread belief on the part Of the people
OF the country that its continued eco
nomic welfare is closely related to
the sustaining of the measure that
provides absolute protection the year
round for the large majority of birds
that war on the insects which cause
annual damage to the nations crops
alone estimated by the United States
/; department Of agriculture at one bill
T. lion, two hundred million dollars.
! Thirty-eight states are represented
!! in the organizations signing the brief.
| Following is reorganization Of the
s.gners:
State conservation commissions -. 26
State agricultural experiment.
/ stations ............... ;
National agricultural organiza-
tons ...........
Rational live stock breeders asso-
| clat1onS
Forestry organizations .......... :
National conservation organizations ;
lSportsmen's organizations - local.
state and national ............. As
Miscellaneous .............- :
| OF the above may be mentioned
/ such representative organizations as
the Farmers National congress, u. s.
"a. OF Omaha; Farmers National Goa,
gress of the United States, Kendalia,
w. Va: National Association of Gard.
ners, American Cranberry Growers
association, National Association OF
Exhibitors Of Live Stock; American
Academy OF Arborists and many 9TH
lers equally prominent.
The brief holds that the federal gov
eminent has right to assume con.
troll of birds which by nature migrate
from state to state because
/. The interests OF the people re-
quire such a law.
2. It is impossible for the several
states to enforce their joint rights.
8. Migratory birds are of great as
sistance in destroying the insect foes
of crops and forests.
| 4. Congress has the power to pro.
tect the agency which preserves the
property of the United States from
damage and destruction.
| 5. Migratory birds are the property
Of the nation.
| The law whose constitutionality Is
called into question was passed March
a, 1913, and became effective October
! / of the same year. It's passage was
brought about in large measure as the
result Of a campaign Of the sportsmen
iof the country. conducted through
their national organization. the Amer
lican Game Protective association.
The regulations prescribe seasons
as follows:
open Seasons for Migratory Birds In
1915, Under Federal ReguIa-
! lations-Zone No. I.
Waterfowl, Sept. 1-Dec. 16.
! Exceptions, Massachusetts,, Rho Il
Island, Oct. 1-Jan. /.
! New York, Connecticut, Pennsyl
wanna. Oregon, Washington, Idaho
Oct. 1-Jan. 16.
New Jersey, Nov. 1-Feb. 1.
| Minnesota, North Dakota. South
Dakota, wisconsin, Sept. 7-Dec. 1.
! Rails, coots, gallinules, Sept. 1-Dec
/ Exceptions: Massachusetts,, New
Hampshire, Rhode Island, Aug. 10
Dec. !.
! Connecticut. Michigan, New York
Long Island, Sept. 16-Dec. 1.
! Minnesota, North Dakota, South Da
!kota, Wisconsin, Sept. 7-Dec. /.
| Oregon, Washington, Oct. 1-Jan. 16
Woodcock, Oct. 1-Dec. 1.
/ Exceptions: Connecticut. Massa
Ichusetts. New Jersey, Oct. 1o-Dec J.
! Rhode Island, Nov. 1-Dec. /.
Pennsylvania, Long Island, Oct. Is
Dec. /.
Shore birds-Black breasted and