Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-24
American Eagle Endangered
AS Press Debates Its Morals

Bills for protection Of the bald eagle
which have been introduced in both
houses of Congress at the request OF
the Audubon societies, are debated not
entirely without levity In view Of the
charges which have been made against
the character Of the bird. Despite
these charges, most commentators feel
that the prototype Of the national en-
blem should not be permitted to become
extinct.
Those who feel that fine considera-
ton Of moral values should be weighed
against emotionalism quote q statement
by Benjamin Franklin to the effect that
the bald eagle els bird of bad moral
character and does not get his living
honestly" Franklin also said: "You
may have seen him perched on some
dead tree, where, too lazy to fish for
himself, he watches the labors Of the
fishing hawk; and when at last that
diligent bird has taken fish, and is
bearing 1t to his nest for the support of
his mate and young ones, the bald
eagle pursueS him and takes 1t from
him."
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But the San Antonio Express is not
one Of these. 1.-THE bills should be
passed at this session." 1t says and then
points out the Importance Of the eagle
in American history: when the Ameri-
can Revolution was drawing to a close
the Continental Congress considered
providing q great seal Of the United
States. The matter had been discussed
at intervals for several years, but all
designs submitted had been rejected.
A committee appointed m June, 1882,
entrusted the task Of devising O ma
tional seal to VIII Barton, brother of
Benjamin s. Barton, q naturalist. He
offered design in which the American
or bald eagle was prominent, and with
few changes it was adopted on June
20, 1882. So far as known, the great
seal was used for the first time on q
commission dated September 16, 1852,
thortty to arrange for exchanging pris-
oners OF war with British commanders.
In 1T95 the United States began coin
ing gold eagles and half~eagles, re-
spectively. valued at ten and I'VE dol
lars. These coins were followed by
quarter. eagles Q7so) and double-eagles
THE majority of Americans" In the
opinion Of the Canton Daily News,
would welcome favorable action by
Congress on the bill. It might be q
much more dimcult matter 70 bring
back the eagle from near.extinction
than 1t was, for instance, to rescue the
buffalo and other species OF big game.
The legislators at Washington would
be wise to avoid such O possibility.
What would the rest Of the world think,
incidentally, Of country with nothing
but pictures Of its national bird?" The
Daily News also states: Alaska en-
courages the hunter by q bounty of a
dollar a pair for eagle feet. In that
territory the eagle Is accused, undoubt-
edly with justice, of capturing salmon.
The salmon industry is the life Of
Alaska, but the catches Of the eagle
are negligible in comparison. At least
they are a poor excuse for externina-
ton Of the bird. which Is inevitable
under present conditions. The eagle
fares little better in the United States
where protective laws do exist, they
are disregarded with slight chance OF
punishment. The nests are rified and
the birds slain ruthlessly."
4
Il Is recalled by the Erie Dispatch
Herald that this species Is specifically
protected by law in 5 States, and IN
80 others IL Safeguarded by inference
under the Audubon law which protects
non-game birds" That paper con-
cludes: enactment Of the law at this
session Of Congress will be taken for
granted, but whether It can get by the
Supreme Court Is another question.
Previous Federal laws to protect birds
have been declared to conflict with the
Constitution. It would seem anomalous
to suggest that the Government does
not have the power to protect the
American eagle. At any rate, there Is
no question about the authority Of