The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-01-19
THE GAME LAWS

HE present laws 90 ~ AAAN
the hands OF the board OF supervisors OF
each county the power To name the open
season for the killing oi game Is was
thought that this would effect the de-
sired results OF stopping the slaughter ~
the birds which. IN some sections. are
nearly exterminated. This. Il would
seem, would effect the result desired OF
allowing the birds TO multiply. And II
would. except for the fact that the law l.
completely ignored. Dlligent inquiry
has been made and this Is the Informs
ton received. BOYS and men OF a CON-
munity 20 into the field. AZ any time
their own fields generally -and shoot any
sort Of game that may be- IN sight. Who
would modest them Strange TO say, the
farmer who would profit most by the
protection. l. ordinarily Indifferent
about Il. He would certainly not report
his own sons or his neighbours sons
Magistrates are lew and FAR between.
and unless somebody made complaint
they would take no action. And thus II
goes. A good and desirable law is de
fested In its purpose because nobody
takes interest enough In II Ia see that II
Il enforced. The grand Jury in each
county should make a probing investi-
cation. for II the law viii not accomplish
the purpose for which Il was enacted II
should be abolished. What + really
needed is a game warden who would
make Il his business 10 see that the law
II enforced-Roanoke News.
We are glad our contemporary Is
taking up the question oiprotecting
she game. We have long fought
along this line. The News is 10 error.
however, in stating that the board
OF supervisors can name she open
season. The open season IS fixed by
the general law, but it can be short
ened, but not heightened. by county
boards. Over In this part OF the
State we have game wariens and
each county should see shat they
are appointed. The law pro
hibiting the sale Of certain game has
helped wonderfully and she worst
menace to the increase OF game at
this time is the hawk. These die
tructive birds are catching thousands
Of pstridges and rabbits, 80 say
nothing OF the destruction they
cause in the barn yards each year
Each board OF supervisors should
place bounty on their scalps and
farmers should capture all possible
by means OF the pole and steel trap.
The preservation OF our birds and
wild animals should appeal 10 every
one, and, as ourconsemporary says.
the various grand juries should
probe violations Of the game laws.
IL Is said shat no action will b.
taken by she L. 5. Senate in refer renee
TO the charges made by President
Roosevelt against Senator Tillman
and shat no resolution looking 10 an
inquiry into the matter will be intro
duced In the Senate unless Senator
Tillman introduces one himself. The
reason given for this attitude is that
1t is the practically unanimous
opinion OF Senator'S that Senator
Tillman has violated no law and
that the indictment OF she President
does not even charge the commits
sion OF a crime. This appears to
be about the status OF the matter
and II is is so, what satisfaction has
Mr.. Roosevelt secured TO himself by
the exploitation of his charges
Obviously nothing more than 81,
personal satisfaction OF bringir s
some temporary discontinue TO &
personal enemy. The President q
too smart TO have imagined for {
moment that be was launching
criminal charge against Senator Til
man. His action, therefore, can [,
conceived OF in no other light tina
that OF an exhibition of petty spite
This view is strengthened by she fac
shat he coupled with his main chart
one for abuse of the ranking priv.
lege. Senator Tillman was indiscre,
In reference to the Oregon land mat
ter and he probably misused hi
ranking privilege, as possibly man
other members Of both branches ,
Congress have done time and again
bus whatever OF rebuke and censul
he deserves for these seeming laps,
has been lost sight OF in the surpril
caused by man whom the peoT
have elevated to the chief magistra,
oil the land resorting to such littl
ness.