The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-02-27

poth the proponents and opponents o.
the bill engaged in considerable lob
Dying in u very customary way.
I'm this connection the statement by
the governor that tho judiciary corn
mittec of the senate passed a resolu-
tion. directed at Mr.. Richardson and
his friends denying to them the privi-
leges of it's committee room, Gun no.
be sustained. The governor was
doubtless misinformed as to this mat
ter. Undeniably tho committee did
pass resolution excluding from its
committee room the public general
~, with certain exceptions, but Meth
er the name of Mr.. Richardson no.
any other individual was mentioned
in said resolution nor In connection
herewith at the time 1t was passed.
As stated by the chairman of the ju
dietary committee at the hearing, tho
resolution was directed to the public
generally who habituaily rcsorted to
the committee room at times when
their presence seriously interfered
with the committee in the perform
ance of Its routine duties.
Third. That the chief game war
den exceeded the expense account al
lowed him by the law.
n; nhu 20,
factory explanation of the fact was
offered by MIR. Richardson. It was
pointed out by him that after the
passage Of what is known as tho
county license law" the activities of
the department were very greatly en-
larged and the expenses of admins
irotion proportionately increased. The
expense account allowed was $1,000
ana Mr. Richardson spent less than
$500 In excess of that amount. The
reasonableness of this excess expendi-
ture is shown by the fact that the
present chief game warden has asked
for and received at the hands OF the
legislature an expense allowance OF
s1.SOO. 1t may be stated furthey
that Mr. Richardson exceeded the IT,
gal allowance only under an advis-
ory opinion from the attorney gen
erals Office. and the amount Of the
excess was drawn on the game pro
lection fund, which under the law is
subject TO the order of the chief game
warden for purposes of game law en-
fcrcement.
Fourth: That the chief game war
den and his subordinates collected
fines in the field without due process
OF law.
Your minority committee find.
that the governor had ample infor-
nation on which to base this state
ment and it is In effect admitted by
Mr.. Richardson. 1t was shown, how
ever. that practically all Of these fines
were collected from non resident
who had violated the same laws O.
this State and preferred to give and
forfeit cash bond rather than 81
into the courts; and it was fulther
shown that Mr.. Richardson relied up
on an opinion from the attorney gcn
erals Office for his authority i'm ac-
cepting these cash bonds and then
exercised such authority in only rare
and exceptional cases. In the case
cited before the committee, it is
found that monies so collected were
properly turned over to the State
treasurer. The committee does no.
approve this method of collectin,;
fines, Notwithstanding the fact that
it is practiced largely by other admin
istrative departments of the State
and notably by the police depart.
ments Of cities and towns
Fifth; Extravaganza and waste
The governor makes no direct charge
Of extravaganza and waste on tn,
part of the former chief game war.
den. yet an opinion to that effect
might easily be inferred from the
language of his veto message. With
out limited knowledge Of the details
OF administering this office, we are
hardly In position to pass intelligent
~ and definitely upon the matter. II
Is realized, however, that the depart
ment is very young; was built up anJ
enlarged during the incumbency OF
Mr.. Richardson as it's head, ami
doubtless. required large expendi.
lures, the propriety and reasonable
ness OF which would not be appar-
ent to those not intimately familiar
with the requirements Of thorough
a0mi N ist ratior I.o.. 49,