The Penn's Grove record., 1899-09-01
Governor Voorhees, and the Late
Game and Fish Protector.

Game and Fish Protector.
The last report of Mr.. Charles A.
Shriner, Chief Game and Fish Warden
of New Jersey, is the most interesting
and readable document lie has ever CIV
en- to the public in his official capacity.
Mr.. Shriner has been a faithful and
energetic officer and did much for the
increase and proper protection OF the
fish and game of this State. Some time
ago he was compelled in the perform
ance of his official duty to oppose the
election of Mr. voorhees, to the Gov.
ernorship. This action was obligatory,
not because Mr.. VOORHEES, had killed
game or fish illegally, but because while
Acting Governor he is said to have de-
clared himself opposed to the existence
of certain undoubtedly proper game
laws, and announced openly that he
would pardon any person who might
violate them. A man who would give
open encouragement to any type of law
breakers, and hold out TO them the GER
tainty of pardon, was undoubtedly an
improper person to be the Chief Magis-
trate of the State, and il Mr.. voorhees,
was correctly reported it was, therefore,
MI. Shriner's plain duty as a State
officer to oppose his election. Natural
ly enough, Governor Voorhees,, whose
ideas of his duty to the State and Its
laws seemed of such q vague character,
took offence at this, and n of his first
acts on taking his seat was to demand
the removal of Mr.. Shriner as Chief.
Game and Fish Commission was 10th to
do for that body recognized the great
value of his services, but that official
prevented serious embarrassment by
offering his resignation, to take effect
August l. During the interval the
Governor permitted himself to be inter.
viewed, and on that occasion allowed
himself to make some statements re-
garding his reasons for demanding Mr..
Shriner's removal, and at the same time
uttered some observations regarding
fish culture which evidenced his unfa-
miliarity with the work.
AT this time the retiring Chief Game
and Fish Protector was preparing his
report, and the interview of the Gov.
ernor afforded him material for a good
portion of it. Every statement of i'm
~portance is challenged, and every eX'
preston showing ignorance of fish cul-
ture is carefully pointed out by Mr..
Sariner in this public document, and he
does not hesitate to arraign the Gov
ernor for hostility to the game and fish
laws of the State. The attack on tue
Chief Magistrate of New Jersey in this
report is so fierce and holds him up to
Iidicule to such an extent that, al
though a report to a State Board and a
public document, it cause surprise
that it should have been printed by
that body for prudential reasons until
neal the close, when MI. Shriner e X
plains by saying that "lest his friends
might be held guilty of lese ma
ieste, a law at present apparently appli'
cable to office holders in New Jersey,
and their designations be demanded
he has betrayed the cost OF publication
out of his private means. Governor
Voorhees, has succeeded in securing the
removal of a faithful and useful State
official, but the latter has undoubtedly
the best of his distinguished opponent
and exhibited him in an unenviable
light.-Ledger.