Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-03-06
PLEA FOR BIRDS REACTS UPON THE
 BOY WITH RIFLE
Council Decides That Ordi- nance Prohibiting Use of
 Guns in City Be Obeyed.

The little boy with the air rifle and his bigger brother also-are going to be haled into the police court for violation of the ordinance prohib iting the discharge of such weapons | within the city limits, for the city council, at it's session last night, de- cided that the ordinance must be eL 1 forced. E. 1 The matter came before the council in the form sof a petition from the City Beautiful club, asking the coun- cil to stop the. custom of the boys, of killing the song. birds for which the South is famous, and the constant de- struction of which is rapidly bring | ing about a condition where there are no birds except the. pestiferous English sparrow. ..
 The communication reads as fol- lows: i1
 'To the City Council of Pine Bluff:
 "At a recent meeting of the City Beautiful club of this city it was re- solved that we come before this coun- Gil and ask of you the enforcement Of the law against shooting of. guns in ; the city limits, that we may protect and cherish our already diminishing number of song birds. Boys of every age roam the city with guns, some- times in squads of four or five, shoot the song birds from the trees, so | that places that were once the habl- 1 tat of the beahtiful mocking bird and the gorgeous Kentucky Cardinal, to say, nothing of other beautiful and useful birds that have made our Southland famous the world over, are now only inhabited by the parasite English sparrow.
 "These boys with guns will always say they are. hunting sparrows, but they go home with bags of song birds and cook them. The sparrow is not bothered. They have no right to shoot anything in the city limits, yet they come into our yards, open the gates even, and come and have shot one COW that we know of. and one horse. And, of course, we need not remind you of the terrible tragedy of a child losing his life not many months ago from a gun in the hands of his brother.
 "A recent article in the Graphic. entitled Law Breakers in the Max ing, we would ask you to read before the council. Please give us rellel from the menace of the boy with a gun. Help us save our incomparable mocking bird, and all other beautiful and useful birds, who pay us so richly by their warbling for the privilege or life amongst us. We are, yours TOT more beautiful city,
 "CITY BEAUTIFUL CLUB" nolo Dra cfi0oI View
 Alderman Bahlau spoke in behalf of the movement to stop the use of such weapons by the boys, basing his argument on practical grounds, anu stating that he knew of conslderapte actual damage that had been done py the use of such guns, principally Tn broken window panes and the damase to goods because of rain beating m through such broken windows. Alderman Clement spoke along the Isame lines, and stressed the danger of the practice. He likewise told of damage done to window panes and other property.
 f Alderman McGibbony said there is already an ordinance prohibiting the discharge of such weapons within the city limits. and calling attention to the small police department. he urged that residents telephone police headquarters whenever they saw boys shooting the guns. that the police might be able to hurry out and arrest ?, the boys.
 l The mayor participated in the dis. I cussion, also stressing the danger of the practice, and suggesting that the best means of stopping the practice would be to prohibit parents from all lowing the children to posses sucn