The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1909-09-30
Purport of Game Commission Not Understood.

laws do not give general satisfaction. Just where
the trouble lies perhaps is able to say, but
hrmly believe one of the greatest causes for COM
plant lies in misunderstanding of what the Game
Commission expects to accomplish. The average
man wants game protection and is willing to lend
ms assistance to any scheme that will insure prac-
teal results
We often hear men speak an unwillingness to the
81 license 1t is not the money wish to violate
the law, but the system is new, and many feel that
an immemorial liberty is being snatched away and
in its place an imposition levied; that the hunter
who wishes to spend few days shooting must pay
equal with the man who spends the entire season
saughtering game for speculation.
The present system may be good one Il do not
say it isnt) but do think that some steps should
be taken by those in authority to bring the masses
into clearer understanding of the results to bel
expected
Game preserves and fish aquariums can do much
IN teaching US to appreciate our game but it takes
time to establish these things, and if some member
OF this commission who is prepared would take the
time to write expricative article, sure the
papers of the State would be glad to publish it, and
II would no doubt cause great many who now
oppose the system to work in harmony with the
officers and warders for game protection.
l agree with Mr. Mercer and think we should be
interested in raising quail as well as protecting
them. Very respectfully, w. P. ALLEN.
Plain Dealing, La, Sept. q, 1909.
Mr.. Allen thinks that the people whole are
be and that the Game Commission would be more
popular in the State if it's work and final aim
better understood. He is doubt in a great
measure correct. AS to opposition to the payment
Of 81 for license, that will wear away. Most of
the states Of the Union now have laws requiring
both resident and nonresident hunters to secure
licenses The resident fee in majority of the
states is ST. The nonresident fee varies in the diff
ferent states, and of them issue licenses for
both small and big game. publication entitled
Harm Rull in Ia 1909
may be had free of charge by applying to the Sec
rotary of Agriculture, Washington, D. c.. Those
who did not familiarize themselves with the several
game laws recently published in the Banner and
those who are curious to read the game laws of
other states should secure copy of this pamphlet
! We show below excerpts from address recently
made at Opelousas by Hon. Amos L. Ponder, attor-
ney for the Game Commission, and which was in
part a reply to an attack upon that body. Partc
ular attention is called to the last paragraph which
refers to the chief work now before the commissions
'sThe State (Which is the peope) says to the
hunter, you may hunt my game, you may enjoy the
benefit of my birds, but in order to do this you
should contribute to its conservation. If you desire
to participate in this support and desire to partake
of this delicate food supply you should pay for its
protection In other words, those who enjoy and
participate in dancing ought to pay the fiddler
/ 6 It is only necessary for me to discuss
to night whether the local method whether State
control is the most effective in the conservation of
this natural food supply. The proposition that it
can best be protected by the police jury cannot
stand the scrutiny of human reason. In fact, ex-
perence in the past disprOves it, 1t is no longer
experiment, but proven fact that local protection
is equivalent to protection. Forty-one states OF
this great Uuon have tried and repudiated the idea
of local protection and have adopted state control
Mississippi and Florida are alone contented with
the local idea.
''You tell us that one warden for the parish can
not enforce the laws and cannot be everywhere at
the same time. We answer you this is true, and we
still assert that forty wardens for each parish could
not be omnpresent, but where enc people cooper
ate and stand by the enforcement of the laws OF
their country, warden whose special business il
is to see after these endorsements be just as
effective as warden in each ward. In fact, Ten
nessee and several other states have wardens fol
each precinct but this is not necessary where the
public conscience is sufficiently aroused to the
necessity of the enforcement of the game laws tc
see to it that they enforced. No law can rise
higher than the people and law be effective
unless the people cooperate with the oncers TO lt
! enforcement. They tell that local control is
cheaper. Measured in dollars and cents this may
be true but measured in efficiency it is absolutely
. disproved by human experience and by reason
'Now, my fellow citizens, time will not permi
me to 90 into full discussion of the objects ant
b purposes of this commission. But l say, ant
do say, that if this State through its Legislature
will give this commission the law that it expects tt
: ask for will not only protect the game that W
S now have, but we propose to restock the vast
r places throughout the State, the practicbility
y which has been so thoroughly demonstrated il
other states of the Union. With that law this com
mission can pay the expenses of its warden system
It and its office expenses, replensh the waste place
v and give to the people of this State surplus Q
s $50 900 per year We do not intend to ask for a.
increase of the voluntary tax the amateur sports
man, but we do behave that the market hunte
should be taxed at least S25 year, that the trappe
? of the fur bearing animals should pay reasonabl
license and that all people who fish for the marke
/! should day a reasonable license, whether the
catch salt or fresh water fish, and at the same tim
save for this commission the of S25, 900 a yea
to replenish and restock the waste places with bot
| game and fish. We do not propose to ask the Leg
isature for all the surplus because that would ne
be needed, but we do propose to ask for an amp
] sum in order that this State can be restored to il