Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1902-06-14
The Game Laws

Mr. Elitor:-Will you kindly per-
init me to discuss in the Enterprise a
question OF profound Importance to
the people of the Eastern Shore2 l
refer to the game laws Of that part
Of the State OF Virginia.
In common with twenty-five other
States of the Union, Virginia has on
her statute book in many counties at
least, especially In her two eastern
counties of Accomack and North
ampton discriminating acts against
non-resdents The prominence into
which this peninsula has grown,
owing to its easy access to other por-
tiOns of the country and the unsur-
passed inducements it offers to pleas
ure seekers and sportsmen have
brought the matter of its game laws
to the attention of many men of
wealth and influence. 1t is to be re-
GREETED that the usages of our fathers
in the old Colonial days should still
obtain ia many parts of the National
Union even to the detriment of the
people as we'll as the violation OF the
Constitution of the Federal Govern
ment. The fact ought to be known
and recognized that discriminating
laws enacted in one State against
citizens Of another State are uncon>
stitutional. Wide Constitution U. 8.
Article w Sec. H.
Now, there can be but two valid
reasons for laying any tax on game.
To wit: The raising of revenue and
protecting the game. AS to the mat
ter of revenue, l suppose the defend
ers OF the laws in question will only
contend that the taxes assessed and
fines imposed are incidental to pro
lection and are really not levied to
increase the State or county funds.
The writer contends that this could
and ought to be effected by general
and nonsdiscriminating assessment.
For instance, let the Game Pro-
tective Association make out a bud
get of all necessary expenses inciden-
tai to game protection; the hiring of
good and competent wardens; the
furnishing of boats ETC., paying fair
and living prices for such work,
which the writer understands is at
present not the case, and then assess
all sporting men whether resident
or nonresident sum equal to the
emergency holding over the surplus,
if any, to be related on the next
year or in case of shortage increasing
the tax at the next assessment to
meet the delinquency.
The idea of making non-residents
do this is archaic, selfish and an i'm
position on American Citizenship
Besides all that, such q dilferential
and oppressive tax bars out many
sportsmen and shuts the door in the
face of hundreds that would spend
their money lavishIy among a class
of people that need il, ar in excess
of the amount collected by the
highest assessment.
AS to protection, the resident is
much more destructive than the non
resident. The writer has seen men
holding official positions in the cOun-
W of Accomack with dog and gun
killing and Staying defenseless sedge
hens by the hundred in the month of
September during the prevalence of
gust tides.
The claim that the State owns the
wild fowl is absurd. Property is
something one owns: has a right to
dispose Of and control. 70 attempt
to claim that wild goose flying over
Maryland belongs to that State to-
day the next hour belongs 70 Vir-
GINA and the next half hour 10
North Carolina is preposterous.
Wild fowl are ferae naturae and
belong to nobody until captured.
Granted, the State has the right to
control their flight as far as it has
the ability; to protect them while in
their transit and TO make laws re-
guIating their capture etc, it has no
right under the constitution which
grants to all citizens the privilege of
bearing arms to say that citizen OF
another state shall not have the
same privileges that are granted to
its own since the great charter says
that ~ he citizens of each State shall
be entitled 10 all the privileges and
immunities of the Cit ems of the
several States.n 1t is to be hoped
that the fair-minded and chivalrous
gentlemen who control the affairs of
the Game Protective Association will
consider this matter seriously and ia
that national spirit which has made
US great and prosperous people and
not compel an oppressed class of
American citizens to have recourse
to the court of last resort for an ad-
Indication of their just grievances.
Respectfully,
N. !. w. LeCato,
SO Madison Ave, N. Y.
Deaths