TheWeeks–McLean Act was alaw of the United States sponsored byRepresentativeJohn W. Weeks (R) ofMassachusetts andSenatorGeorge P. McLean (R) ofConnecticut that prohibited thespringhunting andmarketing ofmigratorybirds and theimportation of wild birdfeathers for women'sfashion, ending what was called "millinery murder". It gave theSecretary of Agriculture the power to sethunting seasons nationwide, making it the firstU.S. law ever passed to regulate theshooting of migratory birds. It became effective on 4 March 1913 but, because of a constitutional weakness, was later replaced by theMigratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.[1]
Henry Ford supported the legislation, "The only time I ever used the Ford organization to influence legislation was on behalf of the birds, and I think the end justified the means."[2]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) | This United States federal legislation article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |