Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-28
MAINE LEGISLATURE,
Continued from Page Five.)
cur with the Senate in the indefinite post
pOnement of the bill

ponement of the bill.
On motion of Mr.. He'll of Monticello.
majority and minority reports of the
joint special committee reporting on order
TO investigate the fish and game depart
ment, was taken from the table.
Mr.. Hill moved that the majority re-
port be accepted.
The motion was agreed to.
Mr.; DONIGAN Of Bingham-Mr.
Speaker. in presenting the minority re
port of the committee appointed to in
veestgatc tile fish and game department.
will say that 1 have endeavored to be
fair and present matters strictly accord
ing TO the evidence given ait the hearing,
and believe l am justified lin every word,
line and sentence Ihave uttered. 1t has
been stated by members of the committee
that the investigation was political
move and the order was presented to
make political capital l show you a
bunch of about 100 letters from my con-
stituents which show whether or not this
statement has any foundation. I do not
wish to cast any reflection on the honor
able members of the committee. but I
read every word of the testimony before
deciding for or against my report.
would be the last person, 1 hope, to do an
injustice to airy member of the fish and
game commission, but do believe when
a member accepts a position on such a
committee he should put everything one
side and act for the best interests of his
State. Mr.. Carleton testified that for
eight years he rode on passes and charg-
ed fares to the State. amounting to $3.50
The majority of your committee put this
TO one side by reference to his former
testimony. Let me read what the StetsOn
investigating committee said: CTestimony
of Jan. 2D Without expressing any
opinion as to the legality of charging to
the State travelling expenses not actually
incurred, We feel that the practice is
wholly repugnant ito the moral sense of
the people of the State, and SHOULD be
condemned whenever ard wherever
found
What difference in committees. Oh.
Tor committee on education to in
vestigatc and report on this depart
ment.
MIR. Carleton stated that he charged
for writs and legal papers and for set
Ting cases which he said he and his
wardens had a right to do. In one case
he charged $1,000. Here is what the He
vised Statutes states on page SO Chap
ter 80, Section 50, after giving 20 pages
of the game laws, it says: Each county
attorney shall prosecute all violations
of this chapter occurring within his
county when such cases may come to
his knowledge or when he may be 50
requested by the commissioners or any
officer charged with its enforcement"
Does this warrant his charges? He
stated that he spent two weeks cam
paigning and deducted nothing from his
pay as commissioner. Do the Democrats
or Republicans of the House approve
of this. even if the majority of the COM
mittee did?
I will read a clipping from the Ken
nebeC Journal of a few days ago 10
show the working of this department.
calais. Me-, March 24-There has
been an interesting case on the docket
here for the last. day or two. the result
of the activity of Game Wardens
George U. Dyer and Moses Kneeland,
who dropped unexpectedly on the Lam
bert Lake House, run by former Game
Warden BILLY" Hodgkins. and found
there, so they say, six deer hearts,
three deer heads. d quantity of venison
and part of d moose.
"Hodgkins. who is one of the best big
game hunters as well as among the best
known guides and camp proprietors in
Maine. was brought to Calais for trial.
The trial has been postponed by order
of Chairman l.. T. Carleton Of the COM
mission. who says he wishes to make a
more thorough investigation before pro-
ceeding with the prosecution.
Added interest is given to the matter
because Hodgkins for many years was
Mr.. Cartoons favorite guide in his trip
to Schools and SchoOdic lakes. and for
several years after that gentleman be-
came commissioner was one of his
most active wardens.''
1t is rumored. Mr.. Speaker. that this
man Hodgkins will never be prosecuted
for reason best known to he and Mr..
Carleton, but this | personally know
nothing about.
Game Warden Ross testified that he
charged 20 days pay to the state in Jan.
1905, and received this letter from the
clerk Of courts of Washington county.
Bingham, Maine, Feb. rs, 1907.
Clerk of Court,
Machias, Me.
Dear Sir:
viii you kindly inform me the num-
Der of days Geo. Ross was attending
court in Washington county in Jan. and
Feb. 1905?
Yours truly,
(Signed A. +. Donigan."
s Scott St, Augusta. Me.
'MahciaS, March 2, 1907.
Replying to the above will say that
the only record in this office relating t.
same is the Sheriff's bill of the days
attendance of the court officers, and in
the bill he has II days attendance cred
tied to Geo w. Ross at the Jany. term
1905, of S. J. Court.
Yours, truly,
(Signed) +. II. LOngfellOw,
Clerk, Per. H. Asst
A true copy.
Attest; (sdD II. II Thompson.
Here is little Of Ross testimony,
Question. Will you give to the commit
tp pypla at ion Won have in regard