The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-06-03
The Raleigh
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Side Show
The Times News Bureau
o. 81" Walter Hotel
RALEIGH, June 3-Rabbits and
catfish almost wrecked the game
laws of the state and incidentally
the State Department of Conser-
walton and Development during
the recent session Of the 1888 gen
eral assembly. The boys that have
wanted to hunt rabbits when and
where they pleased and to fish for
catfish under the same conditions
have been riled ever since the
statewide hunting and fishing
laws wore NasSed. They had more
strength and support in the gen.
eral assembly that just closed than
in any previous assembly for sew
eral years and were determined to
do everything possible to tear these
laws to pieces or to wreck the
Conservation Department in order
to be able to hunt and fish again
without any regulations.
The most determined stalker Of
the game and fish laws and the
most tireleSS enemy Of the De-
partment Of Conservation and De-
velopment was Senator Ingram of
Randolph in the senate and Rep
resenative Tam G.. Bowie and his
followers in the house. They dump
ed in bill after bill aimed at the
game and fish laws in one way or
another, all havinr the ultimate
intent and purpose to reduce the
revenue of the Conservation De-
partment to the point where it
would become impOtent and 'un.
able to enforce what laws were
left. The department alSON had Il
hard time to escape almost COM
plete Cmasculation al the hands
of the Joint Committee on ReOr-
ganizatiOn Of State Government
early in the session. But for few
friends Of the department on this
committee, it would undoubtedly
have recommended the complete
elimination Of the department. AS
it was, it's friends had to agree to
an appropriation Of only $25, 900
year instead Of the more than
100000 a year it had been get
ting, in order to save it from COM
plete destruction.
The chief complaint against the
Conservation Department came
from the rabbit hunters and cat
fish anglers who objected to pay
ing any kind of a state license fee
for the privilege Of hunting and
fishing, it is now generally agreed.
The real SpOrtSmen Of the state,
though at first somewhat dis
gruntled at the Conservation De-
partmrnt, were among the first to
come to its defense and rescue
when they at last saw that it real
ly was in danger. They had en-
ough sense to realize that unless
the state continued to exercise
some supervision and regulation.
there would soon be no game and
fish for anyone to take.
Most Of the credit for saving
the fish and game laws and the
Conservation Department from the
attacks Of their enemies in the
house must go to Representatives
O. p. Makcpeace of Lee, W. c.
Ewing Of Cumberland, Bruce Eth
cridge of Dare, Laurie McEachern
of Hoke. Ernest Graham of Robe
son and a few others who stood
together in repclling every Of
fensive of the rabbit hunters.
| Makepeace, us chairman Of the
committee on game, was ON the
alert to catch every unfrlendiy
| bill introduced pertaining to the
hunting and fishing laws and not
one got by the committee. Ew-
ing. as chairman of the commit
tee on conservation, also main
tanned weather eye for any
! bills aimed at the conservation
department-and thew were manv.
But few OF those aimed at the
| department in an unfricndly man
ner ever came out. Bruce Eth
eridge, though not on either OF
these committees, was member
/ of the board of conservation, as
was Ewing, and assisted material
, " in warding off unfriendly at
tacks. Representative Barden of
! Craven. also was among the able
defenders of the game and fish
laws.
In the senate, the game and
fish laws were ably defended
from the sniping attack led by
Senator Ingram and joined in by
Senator Larry Moore of Craven,
by Senators Burgin of Davidson
county, and Bailey of Washing
ton, two Of the most Influential
members Of the senate. They fl
nally brought out the fact that
Migrants chief interest in get
ting" the conservation depart
May Be Next i. S.
Envoy to Reich