The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-05
WARDENS RAISED IN
PAY IN II STATES
Utah Abolishes Distinction
Between Resident and Nom
Resident Hunters.
FIRST TO ADOPT PLAN
Legislation Advocated for
Many Years by Prominent
Sportsmen.
FIRST TO ADOPT PLAN

WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct. 4.-One OF
the most important features OF game
legislation in 1919. say George A. Law
yer and Frank L. Earnshaw of the Bio
logical Survey In their review OF the work
of forty-one legislatures which made
more or less extensive changes In the
game laws, was the effort to- maintain
efficient organizations for ME enforce
ment of the laws.
A very general effort was made 10
keen pace with the increased cost OF
living. which necessltated the payment
OF a living wage for warden work and
competition with salaries and wages
paid by private concerns.
No less than eleven States-Connect-
icut, Idaho, Missouri, New Hampshire,
New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Ore
gon. Texas Vermont and wyoming
authorized increases in compensation for
State wardens or deputies.
In Indiana and Ohio State game off,
Gals were authorized to fix the compen-
sation Of all their employees. and In New
Jersey the salaries Of certain employees
of the board of fish and game commits
sioners are required to be fixed In ac-
cordance with schedules furnished by the
Civil Service Commission.
Idaho, in keeping with the movement
in many States. created nine departments
I'm which to centralize and systematic
the civil administration of State affairs
and placed the fish and game bureau in
the department of law enforcement
In West Virginia 81 Statewide resi-
dent license law was enacted to replace
the 1915 act requiring SO licenses OF
residents hunting outside their counties
OF residence. The 81 resident license,
with an exemption to landowners. ten
ants and members of their families hunt
ing on their own lands, has proved popu-
lar throughout the country, Is not
burdensome on the Individual hunter
and invariably insures financial support
for adequate warden service. restocking
and other lines of legitimate game con-
servation.
West Virginia made deep inroads into
the game and fish protection fund main
tanned by receipts from the sale of hunt
ing licenses by providing that 20 per
cent thereof should be expended in re-
stocking streams with fishes, and 10 per
cent. set aside for bounties on certain
animals and birds. These diversions, to-
gether with the cost of issuing licenses
and collecting the fees therefor, will
serve to reduce the amount available for
game protection to about so per cent. OF
the receipts from the sale Of hunting
licenses.
South Carolina made the resident
hunting license law applicable through
out the State.
Texas increased the fee for resident
hunting licenses from s1.75 to SO, and re-
pealed the provision permitting hunting
without a license in counties adjoining
the county of residence.
Maine prescribed % cent registration
certificate for residents, good so long as
the holder remains citizen of the State
Utah abolished the distinction between
resident and nonresident hunters and
prescribed a 80 license fee for citizens ol
the United States hunting in that State
Legislation along this line has been ad'
vocated for many years by prominent
sportsmen, but Utah is the first State tc
| adopt II.
In Indiana the fish and game interest.
were placed under the jurisdiction of the
| newly created department of conserva.
ton. The four conservation commits
| sioners and the chiefs OF divisions are
empowered to administer oaths. subpoena
| witnesses and to REQUIRE public officials
| corpora lions, associations and individu
| ais to produce books, records and infor.
nation for lawful purposes under the
| act
The FISH and game protection and prop
| agation fund wac continued. but fund:
| therein in excess of $4,000 are to revert
to the State treasury at the end of any
i fiscal year