Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-06-18
FISH CODE GETS
GOVERNORS HOOK
CONTINUED from First Page

that while organizations favored the
code, many individuals object to it,
"A multitude of individual citizens
many of them by their own state
ments, of limited means who on holi-
days and when unable to obtain work,
fish for food strongly object to GER
tain features of the new code" writes
the Governor. "They particularly OBJ
ject to the regulations relative to bait
fish and point out that only rich peo-
pie able to purchase live bait in ad-
vance could fish under this code.
They also object to the taking of trout
under six inches on the ground that
this Is slaughter of the babies, and
in opposition to sound conversation.
They vigorously combat the idea that
trout once hooked and returned to
the stream cannot survive. They also
object to other features of the bill on
the general theory that 1t was drawn
| in the interest of those who fish for
| sport and regardless of the cost of
the sport, and that it discriminates
! against the poor man who fishes for
food. There is much in the code to
warrant these protests. But the vital
matter is that we are so regularly
changing the fish code OF Pennsyl-
vania that few know the law and
many unwittingly disobey it. Con-
servation is a matter of vital concern
our natural resources. 1t ought not,
however, be done against the will of
the common people, and by laws tAet
deny to all equal favor and opp6r-
| tunity. The solution of this whole
matter is a campaign of education for
| two years to the end that a new code
of conservation and of administra-
| tion may be drawn and that when
drawn it may have the united sup
port of our citizenry. To arrive at
the best, to study in n broad way our
/ fish, game, forest and water prob
lens and to legislate at the next as
sembly upon all these topics in
comprehensive and effective way will
be better than specific acts that will
only tentatively serve and that are
not favored by the great body of peo-
pie who toll and to whom recreation
such as fishing is a blessing"
Not For Jurymen.
The Governor also used his axe on
the Senate bill empowering 1uries in
| first degree murder cases to fix PEN
atty at death or life imprisonment
! 1t has been vetoed several
times in the last two decades. "The
! jury and the court ought not to have
this power and would not welcome
this obligation" says the governor.
1.-The tendency would be against So
cial justice. Much as one may OBJ
posed, and this law does provide that
it may be imposed, it is not wise to
place upon persons set to secure jus
tice this responsibility. The present
statute gives court and jury the duty
to find the facts and declare verdict.
The law-an impersonal public will
fixes the penalty and 1t should until
we see our way clear to abolish cap
ital punishment. There is a growing
sentiment in this direction and it
would seem wise to let the present
law operate until an enlightened pub
lie sentiment brings about the de-
sired change from capital punishment
to Imprisonment"
The governor also vetoed the reso-
luton requiring the Board of Public
! Charities to report to the next legis-
lature a method for the state to take
care of all it's dependent insane. The
| Governor says the best results would
come from an open rather than d.
receive study of the needs of the de.
pendents. ''It is a matter so VITAL"
he said, THAT the Board of Charities
will at once be requested to make
this study and report to the executive
in time to formulate bills in advance
of next session"