144 MAJOR JOHN F. LACEY 



traffic in birds and game killed in defiance of their state 

 laws. 



Take the state which I have the honor in part to rep- 

 resent — the state of Iowa. A few years ago it was filled 

 with prairie chickens ; quails were abundant. A careful 

 protection of the quails has recently resulted in an in- 

 crease of those beautiful little birds ; but the shipment of 

 prairie chickens has still been going on until they have 

 well-nigh become extinct. This bill if enacted into law 

 would enable the local authorities to prevent the trans- 

 portation of these birds. It is perfectly evident, how- 

 ever, that such a law might be abused unless suitably 

 guarded. Persons might make use of it for the purpose 

 of blackmailing the carriers. Therefore a provision has 

 been inserted in this bill by which carriers will not be held 

 responsible for the shipment unless they have knowingly 

 carried the forbidden articles. But the shipper can not 

 plead ignorance, and when complaint is made against the 

 carrier, he will transfer the responsibility of the crime to 

 the shipper, and the result will be that the whole traffic 

 can be broken up. 



As to insectivorous birds, I saw an article going the 

 rounds of the newspapers the other day purporting to 

 give an interview between my friend from Illinois (Mr. 

 Cannon) and myself. Whilst the interview was not 

 stated with entire accuracy, the general facts are true, 

 and I will repeat it now as an illustration of one of the 

 features of this bill. 



When the bill was up in the House before on a motion 

 to suspend the rules, my friend from Illinois raised the 

 question of "no quorum." Two-thirds of the House 

 were in favor of passing the bill, but there was not a 

 quorum present; and the gentleman from Illinois raised 

 that point and prevented further consideration of the 

 bill. The next day I came to the House with my pockets 



