Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-12-30

on the subJ 50
Tor the Real S5Ysa " ss
lG614fahsd for fFss s ~
Mass. the lpn So, 81
America" ,oH
Warden
However many Vi
are enacted. no sat1
or conservation can
the enforcement OF SUI
hands Of an honest. ed
ficient force Of trained
wardens.
A warden's duties call
Of intelligence. courage
always appreciated by the
we regret to say. not alwaysS
ciated by the warden himself
In order to carry on his wof
,aciently. the warden must. ebov6
realize the purpose and intent Of pty~s
teetive laws and the great importance
of his work not only to the public OF
today but to that of generations to
come; he must be broad enough to
keep in view the real purpose Of
enforcement rather than the technical
letter of the law, and he must. BY fair
dealing and example. be able TO cult
waite the public opinion in his COM
munity, which will be in sympathy
with him and his work. without such
public opinion no warden can do efeec.
tive protective work; finally, he must
have real enthusiasm and love for his
vr,sx Oh "a +
at all times, the true doctrine Of con-
servatiOn.
A warden who has the ability and
energy to meet these requirements. and
the character and personality to scom~
mand the respect of all classes. is tp-
valuable.
In order to build up warden SER
vice of men who measure up to these
standards, decided changes must be
made in the administrative policy OF
this department.. More men of ability
and we'll qualified for this work must
be attracted to the service by an ade-
quate salary and their tenure of once
must be protected by some form q
civil service or merit system. ~
Men who have proven themselvf y
worthy and who have attained q n
degree of efficiency by long sert
should receive salary commensu{
with their worth to the State--l
who have been in the service
enough to prove of value should
ceive higher wage than those j
entering upon their duties. but q
living salary should be paid to eSu
class, and in return for such salary IT,:
State has a right to demand the hes
that is in each man.
The Office of warden no lon
should carry the odium Of politits
job doled out in payment for political /
services and the continuance in. thf
employ. of the State of capable arr
faithful warden should not be depens
dent upon the fortunes of any politlcal
party.
The funds appropriated for thu
maintenance. Of this department cor
from all the taxpayers. regardless
party and the responsibility for
proper administration Of the depas
ment is wholly upon the commiSsie
ers. and for these reasons they shof
be permitted to provide themsely
with the most efficient agents VI
which to meet those responsibilities
Several other states have alr
extended to their warden sers
safeguards Of civil service or
system. policy which has
without exception, In q great q
ment In protective adminintr4t
cause of higher standan4 NttN
f1ciency and the cultivation Of = ~
opinion in sympathy with this imt
tant work.
In the past five years We have -
pended for warden service In this State
approximately $4,000. an average OH
$4,000 annually. During the same!
time approximately $4,000 in t,nss|
have been paid by violators. 4
While the proportion Of dnes pAid "
the amount expended has not bS1h
large. many violations have NO dotbS
been prevented by the activities OF the
wardens. In fact the greatest vslueh 81
the service comes. from it, preserV r.
ton of fish and game rather than frSbu
it's prosecution of violations OF -
protective laws, and fear Of prosek lt9
ton. however. being the only sentI-}
ment which deters q portion OF the
community from such violations. i
In the light Of experience q props*
assumption would be that Z emallel&
force of wartIens comprised only OF
skilled and trained men maintained ~
IA less total cost would not only nave
yielded a large amount in fines but
would have been more effective a. q
fish and game preserver. A
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