106 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [P. D. 4. 



In the meantime, the treaty moved slowly, but it came back 

 from Canada, having been ratified there, was signed by Robert 

 Lansing, Secretary of State at Washington, and by Sir Cecil 

 Spring-Rice, British Embassador, on August 16. It went on 

 the 17th to President Wilson who signed it and sent it to the 

 Senate with a note of approval. It went to the Senate com- 

 mittee on foreign relations August 24. The committee trans- 

 mitted it to the Senate August 25 where it was finally ratified 

 August 29. This expeditious action on a State paper in the face 

 of a vigorous and bitter opposition was not secured without 

 effort. Senators Lodge and Weeks of Massachusetts were active 

 in promoting the treaty, but much of the credit for its ratifica- 

 tion so near the closing of the session is due to Senator Geo. P. 

 McLean of Connecticut, whose industry and tact were con- 

 stantly exerted for its passage. It has received the signature of 

 King George of England and is now an accomplished fact. An 

 enabling act by Congress and adequate appropriations will be 

 required to secure its enforcement in this country. Thus, so far 

 as the treaty is concerned, the work is only begun, but it is a 

 good beginning. . 



An Attempt to nullify the Plumage Law. 



In December, 1915, a specious attempt was made to nullify 

 the present Federal regulation prohibiting the importation of 

 wild birds' plumage into the United States. The Paris Chamber 

 of Commerce, instigated by the millinery trade of the French 

 capital, addressed to the Secretary of State at Washington, 

 through the French Embassy, a letter pointing out that the war 

 found the French manufacturers in possession of large stocks of 

 feathers, and requesting that a temporary tolerance permitting 

 all kinds of manufactured feathers to enter the United States 

 during the war be granted as a relief to the feather manufac- 

 turers of Paris who could no longer sell feathers in Europe. 

 This, it was asserted, would provide employment for a large 

 number of women in Paris. 



This communication reached the Department of State and 

 was said to have been referred to the committee on commerce 

 of the Senate and the committee on interstate and foreign 

 commerce of the House of Representatives. If it ever reached 



