Peer An Ur DEO BAOsN =) BLU Liles e-Tr N 5 
Conservation News and Notes 
By RAYMOND MOSTEK 
THE ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY has ended another hectic and, in some 
ways, disastrous session. Our Legislature, which has never demonstrated 
sympathy for matters of outdoor conservation, has this time been aided by 
a governor who evidently is even less interested. Over 2100 bills were in- 
troduced into the Legislature, and even the best men have confessed that 
at times they hardly knew what they were doing. If this is true for legis- 
lators, it makes the situation even more impossible for the average citizen. 
But if John Q. Public is not sufficiently interested in changing the system, 
the bills will continue to be okayed in the lobbies of the St. Nicholas and 
Leland Hotels in Springfield, and ‘formally’ passed on the floor of the 
State Capitol on the last day of the session, after the usual practice of 
stopping the clock on the wall. 
On the wholesome side we can list the following: 
Hawk and Owl Bill: In the spring of 1956 the Illinois Audubon Society 
originated correspondence with the Illinois Department of Conservation, the 
Natural History Survey, the Illinois Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, and 
the Illinois Division of the Izaak Walton League, seeking support for legis- 
lation to protect all Hawks and Owls in Illinois. In 1929, the state passed 
a law protecting all species except the Great Horned Owl, Goshawk, Sharp- 
shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Duck Hawk, and Pigeon Hawk. Now, thanks 
to the fine cooperation of the previously named groups, and the unceasing, 
unflagging efforts of our Vice-President from East Moline, Mr. Elton Fawks, 
Illinois has one of the best bird protection laws in the nation. All Hawks 
and Owls are now protected in Illinois. Another advance has been made 
toward more complete appreciation of the total living community. 
New Illinois State Museum: The Legislature passed enabling bills which 
give permission to the Administration to build a new building for our IIli- 
nois State Museum. In its entire history, it has never had a home of its 
own. The construction of the new edifice will depend upon a decision by the 
governor as to the availability of state income. It is slated to cost about 
$3,000,000 — seemingly a large sum, but at least one million dollars less 
than the Department of Conservation is spending on the monstrous lodge- 
motel at Illinois Beach State Park. (It is a sad commentary that our state 
can “find” so much money to construct an ugly building but is “unable” to 
find funds to hire a permanent ranger-naturalist for conducted tours through 
this northern park.) 
Highway Billboard Controls: The Garden Clubs of Illinois led a spirited 
battle for the enactment of the Burk bill to establish limited billboard con- 
trols on our new Illinois Interstate Highway system, but it failed in the 
House. It was never brought to a vote in the State Senate. A surprising 
feature of the vote was the large number of House members who favored 
controls. A little harder work by more conservation groups, and the sup- 
port of a public-spirited governor, would have put the bill over. Governor 
Stratton has never lifted a finger to end the roadside blight in our state, 
and his apathy deserves severe condemnation. 
