The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-03-08
Brumbaugh's Conser-
walton Measure Has
Sweeping Ripper"
Provisions
FULL DISCUSSION
CALLED FOR
Proposed Law Would Do Away With
Several Departments and Boards
and Combine Their Functions Un-
der One Commissioner

What is regarded as the most sweep
ing 'sripper'i bill of the present legis-
lative session is the Conservation niii
distributed Saturday night from the
Executive Department and known as
Governor Brumbaugh IS Conservation
bill. 1t creates Department of Con-
servation and charges its head with
the enforcement of all laws heretofore
enforced by the Departments of Fish
cries and Forests; the Board of Game
Commissioners; Water Supply Commits
sion, and State Forestry Reservation
Commission, and abolishes these re-
speetive bodies as whole.
1t was announced that the bill has
been sent to interested persons in all
parts of the State, the object being to
get their views on the various changes
proposed. According to the bill there
would be at the head of the new de-
partment Commissioner of Conserva-
ton, to be appointed by the Governor,
and he would name deputy. The de-
partment would be divided into four
bureaus to be known as the Bureaus OF
Game, Fish, Forestry and Water, and
presided over by Game Commissioner,
q Fish Commissioner, Forestry Com
missioner and Water Commissioner, to
be appointed by the Conservation Com
missioner, who would also appoint "a
suitable number of game commissioners
and fish wardens, and fix their eompen-
sation.'' The salaries of none of the
officials of the department are named in
the preliminary draft of the bill.
The duties of the Department of
Conservation. as defined in the bill, are
as follows:
Provisions of the Bill
"Protect and preserve and aid in
propagating the game animals, game
fowl. song birds and insectivorous birds
in PENNSYLVANIA, and collect, classify,
preserve and make available to the pub
lie information conducive to such pro-
lection, preservation and propagation.
Establish and maintain game pre-
serves within the State forest reserves
and elsewhere.
Encourage and promote the devel-
Opment of the fishery interests of the
State
''Protect and preserve and aid in
propagating food fish in Pennsylvania,
and collect, classify, preserve and make
available to the public information con-
ducive to such preservation and pro-
pagation.
Encourage and promote the devel
opment of forestry in Pennsylvania.
''PEotect and preserve and increase
the tfAs of Pennsylvania, including
.their protection against fire. and col
lect, classify. preserve and make avail
able to the public information con
dueive to such protection, preservation
and increase and conducive to a more
widespread knowledge of trees and
their uses.
Manage and control forest lands
owned by the Commonwealth and pro-
vide for the education of forest war
dens for the care of State forestry re-
serves.
"Collect, classify and make available
information respecting the economic re-
lation of geology to forestry.
Make complete inventory of the
water resources of Pennsylvania. and
classify, preserve and make available to
the public the information so obtained;
ascertain where waters should be i'm
pounded for any purpose, including pro-
lection against floods and the inereas-
ing of the low water flow in streams
establish ami maintain gauging sta
tions, publish results of information 80
obtained, and give timely warning of
approaching floods.
"Devise and provide for the prac-
teal application of methods of con-
serving, utilizing, purifying and dis
trihuting the waters of Pennsylvania.
9 Adopt and enforce regulations for
the proper performance of any duty i'm
posed on the department of law.'i
May Be Offered This Month
1t is not proposed to have the bill
introduced for some time, or not until
its plan and scope are fully understood
by the State. 1t will probably be in
troduced in the Senate the latter part
of the present month, the Governor in
the meanwhile having such alterations
made as to meet his views when sug-
gested by those to whom the bill has
been sent for examination.