The Audubon Societies
Dr. Palmer also offered the following resolution, which, on being duly seconded, was also unanimously carried:
Rem/412m, That five members of the National Committee shall constitute a quo- rum for the transaction of business.
The chairman called the attention of the delegates present to the fact that the work of the Audubon societies and the oppor- tunities for advancing bird—protection were increasing so rapidly that it was absolutely necessary that the services of some person should be engaged who could devote his entire time to tile work, not only in con- ducting the large correspondence, hilt also in VI
ng various sections of the country for the purpose of organizing new Audubon societies and bird clubs, and also to attend meetings of game protective associations, women’s Clubs, farmers‘ and horticultural societies, and, in fact, every gathering of people that could be interested in and aid the work of bird~study and protection.
After a discussion of considerable length, Mrs. Wright, delegate from Connecticut, altered the following resolution, which, being duly seconded, was unanimously carried:
Rzmlmd, That the chairman be directed to communicate with the respective dele- gates of the various state Audubon Socie» ties, who are not present at this meeting, and also with the executive officers of the societies that have not appointed delegates, and inform them that after considerable discussion it was the consensus of opinion of the delegates present that the Audubon movement had attained such force and had broadened to such a degree that it was necessary that the services of some interested and intelligent person should be secured who will devote his time exclusively to and take charge of the work of the National Committee of the Audubon Societies in order that all matters of general national scope. may receive proper and immediate attention.
Rerolrved, further, that the said National Secretary shall be paid such compensation as shall be agreed upon, and also shall be reimbursed for his necessary expenses when traveling in the performance of his oihcial dutiesr
Rem/wed, That all of the State Audubon Societes be requested to concur in the above action and to state approximately the sum that they will be able to contribute for the first iiscal year.
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These resolutions being seconded were duly and unanimously carried.
Dr. Palmer called the attention to the delegates present to two important bills that had been introduced in the House of Rep- resentatives. Both these bills were intro- duced by Mr. Lacey, the author of the Lacey Act. They have been favorably reported by the committees to which they were referred and are now on the calendarr
The Alaska hill provides not only for the protection of game but also of birds of all kinds and prohibits the export ut birds for commercial purposes, It will extend bird protection over a territory twice the size of the state of Texas which now has no laws of the kind.
The Forest Reserve Bill provides for the protection of birds and game on the Forest Reserves in an area equal to the combined area of New York and New England. Under e ’ ing laws there ls no adequate protection for birds on these reservations.
He therefore offered the following resolu» tion which, in vietv of his explanation, and on being seconded, was unanimously
carried.
Rent-12211, That the attention of the sev- eral Audubon Societies be called to two bills ncw pending before Congress, namely, the bill " For the protection of Game in Alaska” (H. R. ".535) and the hill "To transfer certain forest reserves to the control of the Department of Agriculture, to au~ thorize game and fish protection in forest reserves,” etc. (H. R. H.536), and that the societies be urged to take such action as they may deem proper to secure the prompt passage or said bills.
Dr, Palmer also informed the committee that he had ascertained that the fashions for the fall and winter of 1902 would de- mand an increased use of aigrettes, and in view of the fact that in the past women had almost universally oflered as an excuse for wearing aigrettes that they were ignorant of the fact that the grossest cruelty was used in securing these plumes, it was deemed advisable by the delegates present that every means should be taken by the Audubon Societies of the country to make the public acquainted with the methods of obtaining aigrettes; also that the use of them had practically exterminated in the United
