The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-10-23

recognized the sovereign right Of the
stae Cite section 1 of the act, quote:
"No money apportioned under this
act to any state shall be expended
therein until its legislature, or other
state agency authorized by the state
constitution to make laws governing
the conservation of wildlife shall have
assented to the provisions of this act
| Enabling act required) What are the
provisions of the act? They are num-
erous. Section 8 contains the mi
gratory Bird Conservation act" the
act which Montana refused to "en-
able" in 1935-37-39. Section / "All
projects SHALL conform to the stand
ards fixed by the secretary of agricul-
ture." II the Secretary SO desires he
can refuse all projects as submitted
by the state and by the act is auth
orized to expend the money in carry
ing out the Migratory Bird Conserva-
ton Act, cite section 8, "Any amount
apportioned to any state under the
provisions of this act which Is unex-
pended or unobligated at the end of
the period which it is available for
expenditure on any project is author
lied to be made available for expendi-
ture by the secretary Of agriculture
in carrying out the provisions of the
Migratory Bird Conservation Act"
There is no language in the Act ex-
pressed or implied whereby the state
will own and control the acquired
areas unencumbered by federal laws
or bureau regulations. The power Of
control is provided in section 10:
"The secretary Of agriculture is auth
orized to make rules and regulations
for carrying out the provisions OF this
act" Therefore if and when Montana
"enables" the Pittman-Robertson act
it by LAW consents to federal con-
troll of the states wildlife."
The Hon. A. Willis Robertson, u.
S. representative from Virginia, and
co-author of the Standardization
act, was asked: what is the Pittman-
Robertson act?" and he replied: well
I will tell you in the words of
former chairman of our Ways and
Means committe, Charlie Crisp Of
Georgia, who said the tax laws OF this
country are what the Treasury depart
ment say they are, and so the provi-
sions of the Standardization act
will for the most part be what Mr..
Day and the other worker of the bio
logical survey say they are, and I
do hope for your benefit and mine
they will say the right thing"
In an associated Press dispatch un-
der date of May 10, 1889. the Gov
ernor was quoted as making the fol
lowing statement: 81 AM A STATE
MAN"
Let's review some letters.
Helena, Montana,
December 27, 1887
Hon. H. A. Wallace,
Secretary of Agriculture,
D. c.
My Dear Mr.. Secretary:
Under the so-called Pittman-Robert-
ION Bill which is Public No. AS, Of
he 18th Congress, First Session, beg
o advise that it is the desire of Mon
ana to come within the provisions
# this bill and to qualify under 1t,
nd it is the policy of my office and
he Fish and Game department. OF this
tate to ask for legislation to that
fleet at the next session Of our legis-
ature.
Most respectfully yours,
GOVERNOR OF MONTANA.
Note-The above letter Of record,
linute book 9, page 1856 minutes OF
leeting of Fish and Game Commits
ion
Lewistown, Montana,
March rs, 1898
| am very much in favor of the
act as now drawn,
ut hope later on to be further en-
ghtened on quite few OF the pro-
isions- l expect to support this
easure at future meetings OF the
Continued on Page Three)