Executive Order 1959 Constitutional Neutral (+0.02)

Executive Order 1959—Establishing Smith Island Reservation for the Protection of Native Birds

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Saturday, June 6, 1914

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1 min read (229 words)

Plain-English Translation & Framers' Constitutional Analysis

Early Statesman synthesis distilling legal jargon into practical meaning, statutory anchors, and structural constitutional impacts.

This executive order, signed by President Woodrow Wilson on 1914-06-06, establishes federal administrative policy concerning "Establishing Smith Island Reservation for the Protection of Native Birds." It is a direct, concise executive instruction delivering focused administrative or military commands to department leadership.

Constitutional Assessment: This action represents an orderly exercise of Article II administrative discretion, managing the internal machinery and personnel of the executive branch without abridging the ancient liberties of the people.

Key Directives & Operative Actions

▪ 6380, in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, about fourteen miles north by west from Port Townsend, Washington, be and the same are hereby reserved and set apart for the use of the Department of Agriculture as a preserve, breeding ground and winter sanctuary for native birds.

▪ This order is not intended to abrogate the order of September 11, 1854, reserving these islands for lighthouse purposes, nor shall it in any manner interfere with such use of the islands, but rather, in addition to such use, shall insure the protection of the native birds thereon.

Constitutional & Societal Entities Impacted

🏛️ Executive Departments & Federal Civil Servants

Total Words

229

1,317 characters

Estimated Read Time

1 min

@ 200 words / min

Flesch-Kincaid

13.7

Post-Grad reading level

Constitutional Polarity

+0.02

Framers' Alignment index

📜

Scholarly & Legal Citations

Exec. Order No. 1959, Woodrow Wilson (Jun 6, 1914). Available at https://executiveordersarchive.org/orders/app-executive-order-1959-establishing-smith-island-reservation-for-the-protection-native-birds.

Official Document Text

Source: The American Presidency Project (UCSB Archive)

Original Source →

It is hereby ordered that Smith and Minor Islands, situated approximately in latitude 48 degrees 19' North, longitude 122 degrees 5O' West from Greenwich, as shown on United States Coast Survey chart No. 6380, in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, about fourteen miles north by west from Port Townsend, Washington, be and the same are hereby reserved and set apart for the use of the Department of Agriculture as a preserve, breeding ground and winter sanctuary for native birds. This order is not intended to abrogate the order of September 11, 1854, reserving these islands for lighthouse purposes, nor shall it in any manner interfere with such use of the islands, but rather, in addition to such use, shall insure the protection of the native birds thereon. It is unlawful for any person to hunt, trap, capture, wilfully disturb or kill any bird of any kind whatever, or take the eggs of any such bird within the limits of this reserve, except under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of Agriculture. Warning is expressly given to all persons not to commit any of the acts herein enumerated, under the penalties of Section 84 of the U. S. Penal Code, approved March 4, 1909, 35 Stat., 1088. This reserve to be known as Smith Island Reservation. WOODROW WILSON THE WHITE HOUSE, June 6, 1914.