Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1925-05-22
PROPOSED CHANGE
IN GAME LAWS
Next Legislature VIII Be Asked To
Amend Present Statutes

i Plans have been perfected b
|, sportsmen of the state for tn
launching of a statewide campaig
for the adoption by the 1926 Genera
Assembly of bill to change the ad
ministration of the game and fisl
laws of the state The bill, draw
by Director Morrissette of the Stat
Legislative Reference Bureau, at tn
request of the organized sportsmen
and approved by the latter at meet
ing recently at Charlottesville, is pat
termed after the Pennsylvania law
which has worked so successfully il
that state. The new measure ere
ates the Department of Game ant
Inland Fisheries as a department
separate and distinct from the State
Fish Commission, the chairman O.
which is by law ex-officio Commits
sioner of Game.
The bill also provides for a non
salaried commission to be appointed
by the governor to be known as the
State Game Commission. Members
will receive no compensation whatso.
ever, being allowed only their actual
expenses while attending the sessions
OF the Commission. The Commission
will be composed of five men. an
POINTED one from each of the five
grand divisions of the state. The
Commission will have entire charge
of the affairs of the department and
control of all monies received by the
Department.
The Game Commission will appoint
an executive secretary, who will be
the chief executive officer of the
Commission. The executive secre-
tary will be the only salaried official
in the department, except the game
wardens.
appointment of Wardens
The new measure provides for a
merit system in the appointment and
advancement of game wardens I'm
der its provisions the wardens. not
more than rs in number, will receive
minimum salary of 500 per month
and will be required to devote their
entire time to the duties of their Of
fce. They will receive no fees for
making arrests nor any part of fines
imposed for violations of the game
laws. The bill also prohibits game
wardens from taking an active part
in politics.
Provision is also made for the ap-
pointment of a number of superyi
sorry wardens, to be selected for their
peculiar fitness for such positions. A
graded scale of compensation, based
on the faithful and efficient per
iormance of duties is established by
the new bill.
Sportsmen all over the state are
said to be solidly behind the new bill.
various organizations having en-
dorsed its provisions. All three of
the candidates for governor are un-
derstood to have endorsed the bill in
principle.
The general belief among sports
men is said to be that the new bill.
If enacted into law, will make for
greater efficiency in the administra-
ton of the game laws of the state
and do much in the way of removing
the cause of conservation from the
influence of politics.
The plan of those behind the new
bill, headed by Col H. l.. Opie.
of Stanton, widely known sportsman
of Staunton, is said to contemplate
movement, statewide in its scope,
before candidates for the House of
Delegates are nominated in tn Au-
gust primary. A poll of the men,
bership of the Senate is said to show
a majority in the upper branch in
favor of the proposed measure.
Cooke Enthusiastic
Charles B. Cooke, president of the
Virginia Game and Fish Pro-
tectiye Association, is enthusiastic
over the provisions of the new bill.
In recent statement to the press.
Mr.. Cooke declared adoption of the
measure would put Virginia to the
forefront in the matter of game con-
servation and insure a strict enforce
ment of the game laws. Mr.. Cooke
pointed out that the new bill does
not change existing laws pertaining
to the protection of game, merely
changing the administration of those
statutes.
President Cooke also took occa-
sion to deny rumors to the effect that
those behind the new measure ia
vored the the abolition of the Roam
oke Office of the Game Department.
He said he was at loss to under
stand how such a rumor gained cir
culation, and declared that he had
heard no one express opposition to
this branch office. So far as he was
advised, he said, opinion among
sportsmen was in favor of retaining
the Roanoke Office.
Sportsmen may obtain copies OF
the new bill from C. B. Cooke. Is
North Governor Street, Richmond
or from r. T. Corbell, Secretary, For.
est Hill Park, Richmond.
SALE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY