The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-27
.Long'-Debated Measure
Goes Now to House
for Concurrence.
LEVIES GUN TAX
ON LOCAL HUNTERS
Prohibits Hunting Game Except
Under License Costing ST. for
County and So for State.
Act Creates Office of
Game Commissioners
at $2,5OO Salary.


tcrdRy passed Senator Hart'B game BILL
which has been on the Senate calendar
as special and continuing order since
February IS. If the action Is repeated
in the House 1t will put into effect IN
Virginia for the nrst time. compre-
hensive law for the protection OF the
states wild life.
Tho bill was placed on It's passage
ut o'clock after continuous con-
sideration OF an hour and quarter.
IN the courBe OF which tho Senate en-
grated numerous committee amend
ments and minor uncontested amend
inents offered from the floor. None
OF tho changes affected the integral
features of tho bill. and the measure
Rs finally amended remained prac-
tically what 1t was on Wednesday af-
ternoon. when the Senate voted down
tho proposal to strike from the bill the
81 gun tax. Tho vote on tho bill fol-
Iowa:
Ayea-Senators Blanks, Bowers.
Brock Buchanan. Cannon, Drewry. Ed
mondson. Fletcher Gayle. Hartman.
Hart. Holt, Lesner. Mapp, MaRsie. Paul.
Rinehart, Saunders. Smith. Thornton.
Watkins. walker and Wendenburg-23.
Noes-Senators Catron. Early, Feath-
erston, Gravatt, Garrett Montague.
Parr. Rison, Sowder and Tavenner-1o.
Votes Against His VIII.
Al the roll call Senator Gravatt, OK
Caroline. arose 20 explain the vote he
WAS about TO cast. II was his PERSONA
conviction. hc said. that the game bill
was n desirable piece OF legislation and
that 1t should be made law in the in
terest Of the wild life OF the State.
II nave always favored game protec-
tion." said Senator Gravatt, and have
given what assistance I could 70 the
patron OF this bill. About ten days
ago was Informed by the State Farm
crs' Union. which has a membership OF
about $4,000. that that organization
had adopted resolutions condenining
the bill. The hostile movement. I'M
derstand. was very pronounced in two
of the counties represent where the
union has a large membership.
II made an effort 10 induce tho or
gahization TO adopt more favorable
attitude, but have been informed that
II has declined TO recede from &c po-
sitiop. The development has placed
me In an embarrassing position, and
shall reluctantly be obliged TO yield
the bill as my constituents appear TO
desire mo to do"
The announcement, which was made
before the roll was called. was re-
ceived with regret b. friends OF the
bill. who feared It's effect upon the
munities Tho fears. however. were Ill
grounded. and the bill was passed by
an Overwhelming vote.
Lays Down New Principle.
The bill contains many features OF
the Alabama game law. and repeats
several sections relative to game pro-
lection now contained In the Code In
its entirety, however. II represents a
wide and progressive departure from
the state game and bunting laws as
now constituted.
The Keynote OF the change Is struck
in section aosoa, which lays down this
new principles:
'The title and ownership to all Wild
birds and game In the state OF vir-
ginia are vested in the State for the
purpose Of regulating the use and dis
position Of the same in accordance with
the laws OF this state"
With the communal ownership Of oil
wild life thus established. tho act out
lines, in a bill comprising twenty six
printed pages. the regulations under
which citizens OF this State and other
states may hunt and kill the various
birds and animals specified infthe law
as wild game.
Levies 81 Gun Tax.
Tho central provision of the law, and
the one which is counted upon to sup
ply most OF the revenue with which
to maintain the game protection sys-
tenn, is county license tax of ST.
which will. be collected from every resi-
dent OF the State over twenty-one
years OF age who desires to hunt any
Of the game protected by the bill. Such
a license will permit the holder TO hunt
In his own and any adjacent county.
Owners and landlords and members OF
their families are permitted to hunt
on their own lands without tax
The county license will be issued
only to persons who have attained their
majority. and have been residents of
the State for at least one year. Minors
s will be issued license upon the ap-
proval OF parents or guardians. When
the minor applicant has neither parent
nor guardian he will be granted a
license upon the recommendation OF
tile Justice of the peace OF the magis-
terial district in which he resides. Per-
sons under twenty one years old, liv-
ing with a parent who holds a license,
will be permitted to hunt tax-freo In
(. the confines covered by the license.
Two other forms OF license are pro-
vided. A bona hde resident OF the
State for one year past will be issued
State hunters license for SO. which
Will authorize him to hunt In any coun-
ty In the Commonwealth. Nonresi-
dents and aliens will be charged $40
for a license. authorizing them to hunt
anywhere in the state.
From the licenses and from tho fines
and penalties collected for violations
OF the several sections of the act It'll
Is proposed to derive all tho revenues'l
needed for the maintenance OF tho game
protection machinery.
Creates Game CommissiOner,
. Tho bill creates the office OF State
gamc commissioner ut n salary OF s2,-
A600 year with mileage allowance
Continued On Second Page5
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