The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-03-01
VETOES GAME WARDEN ACT.
Act of Governor May Mean Richard
son Will Be Ousted.

broke loose today in the senate when
| Governor Manning sent in his veto
message on the game warden act.
| The act as submitted to the governor
provides that the chief game warden
| shall be elected in the general elec-
| ton. but the rub came in the clause
that incumbent chief game warden,
| Mr.. Richardson, shall retain the Of
| flee until the election in 1918. Gov
| ernor Manning has announced that
he will not reappoint Mr.. Richard
son. The act came back to the SEN
ate body with veto and message
that was decidedly out of the usual
hum-drum. In returning the act
| with his veto here is what Governor
Manning had to say:
State of South Carolina-Execu-
tive Chamber-Columbia, Feb. 21,
1917.
Mr. President and Gentlemen of
the senate.
l return herewith without my ap-
proval S. 3. 179, H. B. 766, "An act
to amend sections TAT and 74S Grim
inal Code of 1912, relating to the ap-
pointment and duties of the chief
game warden"
When it was requested that the
legislature relieve the Audubon So
ciety of the duty of recommending
the chief game warden, it was my
hope that friction and ill-feeling
would be avoided by submitting the
proposition for your consideration
on the grounds of public policy
rather than the particular facts re-
lating to the actions of the present
incumbent, and to the part of the Au-
dubon society in recommending him.
The grounds of public policy, to my
mind, were compelling. The time
has passed when a private society,
subject to private interests and pri-
vate motives, should be instructed
with a public function in naming a
State officer; but in view of your pas
sage of this bill, feel it my duty to
lay before you specific facts.
i have information that before the
incumbent, Mr.. A. A. Richardson,
was recommended for reappointment
by the society, he or his friends
brought about the admission of about
fifty new members of the society, and
through them was able to direct its
action. This regrettable incident re-
veals much to be criticised; and be-
sides this, the passage of this bill
would legislate into Office as chief
game warden Mr.. A. A. Richardson
by means of the boldest lobby that
this legislature has ever been sub
jected to. The chief game warden
now has great power in appointing
and paying his deputies; directing
their important activities and de-
termining the expenses of his office.
Even these great powers have been
exceeded. From many sources, by
letters and by word of mouth, l have
rectived complaints that Mr., Richard
sons deputies, with his approval,
have made illegal collections of
money; that they have held up pre-
sumed violators of the game laws, in
the field, and demanded cash pay
ments of fines, without process pro-
vided by law.
About thirty thousand dollars was
collected by this department during
the year 1916, and about six thou
sand dollars has gone to the public
schools, as shown by the report of the
assistant bank examiner. The bal
ance of this fund collected has been
expended by MIR. Richardson in the
expenses of the deputies he appoint
ed, and in the administration of his
Office. Mr.. Richardson's travelling
expenses have exceeded the amount
prescribed By law. That limit is one
thousand dollars. He has spent on
this item alone S1,264.56 plus mile
age books, s120; incidentals, $184;
automobile and boat hire, $1,598.41.
This alone would show the necessity
for restricting and safeguarding the
expenditures of this department, and
requiring a compliance with the law.
The effect of your bill would be to
continue the beneficiary of this sys-
tenn in Office beyond all restrictions
and safeguards, till after the elec-
ton Of 1918.
do not withhold my approval be-
cause the bill provides for popular
election, though I believe a better
plan would be to put this office under
the control of the fish and game COM
mission. The conduct of the office
ooo,o wanda, 1,dar Mr. Pichar6.