4. AUTOMATIC horn. SHOTGUN. AUTOMATIC At its meeting October 13, 1905, this resolution was unani- mously adopted: Resolved, the That introduction birds or other enact a law this association and use of game, and we prohibiting the the emphatically so-called respectfully use of such condemns and protests automatic shotgun in request the New York such purpose. weapon for the against hunting of legislature to I have also a letter from the secretary of the Boone and Crockett Club, of New York. I think all of you know of that club, and perhaps some of you are members of it. Its membership is limited to 100 and is full, and it has a large waiting list. The Boone and Crockett Club, at its annual meeting held in New York City, Janu- ary 13, 1906, passed the following resolution: Resolved, automatic ethics of That the shotgun good to endeavor elsewhere. Boone in the and sportsmanship, to have Crockett hunting its use of birds and requests prohibited by Club hereby condemns and other game its officers and law in the State as the use contrary executive of the to the committee of New York and I have here also a letter from Mr. J. Bissell Speer, secretary and treasurer of the Lewis and Clark Club, of Pittsburg, Pa., a society whose object is the protection of fish and game, whose membership list is full, which has among its membership many men of national and even international reputation. He writes me under date of January 19, 1906, as follows: It affords me pleasure to state that at its last meeting the Lewis Club unanimously adopted the following resolution condemning the automatie gun: ‘* Resolved, That the introduction this and association use of the emphatically so-called condemns automatic and shotgun and Clark use of the protests in the birds or other game, and we respectfully request our legislature prohibiting the use of such weapon for such purposes.” to against hunting enact of a law Of the 45 men present, not one raised a dissenting voice. The Lewis and Clark Club is a unit in opposing the use of this gun, so far as I am able to learn. The National Association of Audubon Societies includes 35 State associations, with an aggregate membership oz some 50,000 men and women, all of whom are bird lovers and bird students. This association passed a resolution in substantially the same language as those which I have read. I will not take up your time to read that. Here is a communication from the Women’s Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, ruary 10, 1906, which reads: To the officers of the New GENTLEMEN: Pennsylvania ultimo, At a York stated Zoological meeting of the Society for the Prevention a motion was made and dated Philadelphia, Society. board of of Cruelty managers of to Animals, the “ Resolved, birds That introduction or other this Women’s held on the 9th carried : “That this society send $25 to the New York Zoological Society, in the war which it is now waging against the automatic shotgun.” Furthermore, the following resolution was unanimously passed: the Feb- association emphatically and use of the so-called game, and respectfully condemns automatic requests enact a law prohibiting the use of such weapon the and shotgun to be used protests in the Pennsylvania against hunting of legislature to for such purpose.” T have here also a letter signed by William Dutcher, president of the National Association of Audubon Societies, which, as I say, has done an immense amount of work in the direction of obtaining legislation SHOTGUN. for the purpose of protecting animals and William T. Hornaday, in which he says: 5 birds, addressed to Mr. My Dear Mr. Hornapay: It is with much surprise that I learn through your communication of even date that certain persons are claiming that the National Association of Audubon Societies for the Protection of Wild Animals and Birds is in favor of the use of automatic or pump guns and consequently. is not in favor the passage of laws to prevent the use or sale of such firearms. The statement was made publicly that the secretary of this association had declared himself opposed to any expression or legislation against the automatic gun. | Reading:| I beg officially to state that the National Association of Audubon Societies is absolutely opposed to either the manufacture, sale, or use of such firearms, and therefore hopes that the meritorious bill introduced by the New York Zoological Society will become a law. _ This bill prohibiting the use of the automatic gun was introduced into this Congress and into the legislatures of a dozen States at the instance of the New York Zoological Society and the Audubon soeleties. 1 Mr. Dutcher continues: beg further to add that any statement contrary to the above in effect is unauthorized. This society is working for the preservation of the wild birds and game of North America, and it sincerely should not stultify itself by advocating the use of one of the most potent means of destruction that has ever been devised. You are at liberty to use this communication either publicly or privately. I am, very sincerely, yours, WILLIAM DutcHeEr, President. I have before me the report of the Ontario game commission for the year 1905, in which, in regard to automatic guns, the commission made this recommendation : Both last year and the year before the board recommended that the use of these guns be forbidden, and legislation was introduced last year for that purpose. A most vigorous lobby was, however, conducted in the interest of the manufacturers against the bill, which was ultimately killed. Mr. Powers. Has any State as yet passed a bill prohibiting the use of this gun ? Mr. Surevps. No, sir; and I will explain briefly that the bill was introduced last year in about four or five States and got on the calendar in one State only. In the others it was killed in committee by the manufacturers of the gun and others in interest. Mr. Hicerns. Has this bill ever been introduced into the Territorial legislatures of New Mexico and Arizona, or has any similar bill been introduced ? Mr. Surevps. I think it was in one of them, but I am not sure of that. Mr. Hicerns. Has it ever been considered by the Oklahoma Territorial legislature ? Mr. Surexps. I do not know about that. If it has somebody here will probably know of it. Last year it was considered in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Arkansas, and Kentucky. Those are the only States I know of. Mr. Hicerns. But it was not enacted into law in any of those States ? Mr. Surexps. No, sir; it was killed by the manufacturers of the gun in committee. In fact, they say so; and’ there is no doubt about it.