52 LEGISLATION FOE THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS. 



THE LACEY ACT. 



The Lacey bill was first introduced in the House by Hon. John F. 

 Lacey, of Iowa, on July 1, 1897. 1 Its object was to aid in the propa- 

 gation and introduction of new or valuable birds, and the work was to 

 be placed in charge of the United States Commission of Fish and Fish- 

 eries. The Commission was to be given authority to propagate, dis- 

 tribute, transport, or introduce game and other wild birds, and to 

 collect and publish useful information in regard to them. In this form 

 the bill passed the House on December 19, 1898, 2 but in the Senate it 

 was amended by the addition of the Hoar bill, which had already been 

 acted upon. On January 6, 1899, the combined Lacey-Hoar bill was 

 passed and sent to conference, 3 but was not reported before adjourn- 

 ment. 



At the opening of the Fifty -sixth Congress the Lacey bill was reintro- 

 duced in the House, but it had been changed so that the work was placed 

 under the Department of Agriculture instead of under the Fish Commis- 

 sion , and interstate traffic in game in violation of State laws was restricted 

 by a section very similar to that in the Teller bill. Again the bill was 

 modified, was reintroduced on January 17, 1900, referred to the Com- 

 mittee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, and favorably reported 

 with an amendment by the committee on March 1. It was passed by 

 the House by a vote of 141 to 27 on April 30,* and was supported by 

 Representatives from thirty-four States. On the following day it was 

 referred to the Senate Committee on Interstate Commerce, favorably 

 reported on May 17, passed by the Senate without amendment on May 

 18, 5 and approved May 25, 1900. 6 



This act is the broadest and most comprehensive measure of its kind 

 ever considered by Congress. It is intended to supplement existing 

 State laws, and in regulating interstate commerce in game it will 

 doubtless mark the beginning of a new era in bird protection. It 

 contains three main provisions: (1) It places the preservation of birds 

 under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture; (2) authorizes 

 the Secretary of Agriculture to regulate the importation of foreign 

 birds and animals, and to prohibit the introduction of the mongoose, 

 'flying foxes,' English sparrow, starling, or other species which may be 

 injurious; and, (3) prohibits interstate traffic in birds killed in violation 



^ong. Record, XXX, pt. 2, p. 2195; Forest and Stream, XLIX, p. 21, July 10, 

 1897. 

 2 Ibid., XXXII, pt. 1, p. 318; Forest and Stream, LI, p. 509, December 24, 1898. 

 8 Ibid., p. 439. 



4 This is the corrected vote, which was given on April 30 as 142 to 26. (See Cong. 

 • Eecord, XXXIII, pp. 5228, 5307, April 30 and May 1, 1900.) 

 5 Ibid., XXX, p. 6151, May 18, 1900. 

 6 Ibid., XXX, p. 6588, May 26, 1900. 



