Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-07-16
REGISTRATION OF GUIDES.
Something About the Cases of Twt
Recalcitrant 0hes.
Commissioners Have Refused License to
Mathers0n Palmer.


ton law which, since the two well
known eases of Guides Palmer OF
Moosehead, and Matherson of Range
ley. have become the subject of so
much talk among sportsmen.
The case Of the former has, the COM
missioners say, been the subject of
to answer the statements variously
made would exceed their opportunities
and furthermore, they say, lay them
selves only the more open to misrepre
sentation--for those who have done this
before would doubtless find an oppor
tunity to do the same again
The situation is thus represented. on
May 10 and 20 it win be remembered,
Commissioners Carleton, Stanley and
pany with State Treasurer Simpson,
Councillors Freeman and Mayo, Insur-
ance Commissioner Carr and Attorney
General Haines. At that time a meet
ing of the guides was held and these
gentlemen were all present. They say
that at that time that the commission
ers not only did not use any disrespect-
full language but We're very conciliatory
with Palmer who had been asked to
guide the party on a fishing trip. He at
first refused. But, afterwards, of his
own accord, offered his services as
guide for the 10Th. This engagement
the commissioners say, Palmer did not
cancel, and the party knew nothing
about his having changed his mind un-
til they were ready to start on the fish
ing trip and Palmer's failure to appear
was discovered.
Palmer had made the statement that
he did not care to register; but, on
July $, sent his application for a
license Then. Commissioner Oak wrote
Palmer letter, very conciliatory in
tone. in which, after recalling the cir
cumstances to which allusion has been
made. Mr. Oak wrote: 1--WE had with
ns as you know, some of the most dis
marked disrespect az this appeared TO
he to them, occasoned comment which
seems to demand an explanation at
least"
Then Commissioner Oak asked Pal
mer to make an explanation of this in
cident before a license could be granted.
Palmer's only reply to this was dis
patch which read: Return dollar OF
send register, as You please"
The commissioners claim that only
one course was open 10 them-to re-
turn the dollar, which is the charge to
defray the expense of the papers, etc.
This was done Now. it is asserted
that some of the guides will break the
registration law and make a test case.
The commissioners are making M
threats as to what they will or win not
do, but simply say that the law will ba
enforced.
The people opposed to the registra-
ton law claim that in the region about
. Moosehead Lake. especially at Spence.
Pond, aud Concomg0moc Lake ana
other well-knOwn feeding grounds,
there has been a big slaughter of game
and that parties have gone into the
woods with guns and no one knows
what they have been shooting, and that
there have been no wardens in that
section of the State to see that the
game has been protected. They blame
the commissioners for this
The commissioners say the only
answer necessary to make to this is
that two Of the most competent war l.
ems in the State are at MoOsehead in
Vesiigating these alleged wholesale
slan8hters Of game and if there is any
truth in the reports. those guilty of
breaking the laws will be brought to
justice
During the past week, the commls-
siohers have refused a license to Guide
Mati1erson, the president Of the Range
commissioners say a license was re-
fused him because he absolutely re-
fused to say that ME would answer Ger
tain questions which the registration