Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-08

with a view of arriving at the facts as
nearly as possible.
I asked Mr.. Bracket at least a
month before our report was to be
filed with the Governor to write out
anything he wished embodied in it.
He did NOT see fit to do so, and did
not make a single suggestion in rela-
ton to it. Mr.. Bracket comes to the
office but seldom The work has to
be done. It's a work Of weeks to get
the statistics together and embody
them in a report.
1t has to be delayed in its final
makeup as long as possible for the
purposes of tabulation and setting the
financial part with the treasurer.
The report was practically complete
and hearing nothing from Mr..
Bracket, receiving no intimation that
he had any idea or statement he wish
ed embodied in it, and being asked by
Mr. Murphy and Mr.. Clark, news
paper men, to be permitted to make an
abstract from it for the papers. agree
ing that it should not be used until the
morning of Jan. 1st I permitted them
to do SO. This was Dec. 2Sth, Satur-
day. 1 never saw the abstract they
made until it appeared in the papers
Dec. 30th, Monday, Mr.. Bracket came
to the office soon after noon, and was
given a copy of the report SO far as il
was then completed. He made nc
reference of it to me that day what
ever. The next forenoon, the 3lst
(the report must be filed that day.
he told Conn. Ring that he would not
sign it. Mr.. Ring advised him to con-
fer with me about it. He came into
the office. We went over the repor,
very carefully together. When We
| came to that part of it relating &c
deer, we argued it pro and con, in
good natured way, and then Mr.. Ring
was called in consultation After 60
| ing over the matter, and while talking
| it over. DR.. Smith of the Maine
| General Hospital of Portland, came il
and told us that in his judgment deel
were very much LESLIE knew they
We're in the sections where he hat
| hunted for fifteen years. Mr.. Ring
suggested a change, to which Mr.
Bracket and l assented. Now il
| order to see precisely what the
change was, I will give you the repo.
as first written. the report Mr.
Bracket did not wish to sign, a:
follows: There have been less
number of deer taken this year thar
were taken last year. 1t is un'
| doubtedly true that in various local.
| ties they have been more plentiful
| than in recent years, but taking the
State as a whole they are less II
numbers than for several years.
! Now the report Mr.. Bracket signet
| is as follows: There have been {
less number of deer taken this yea
| than were taken last year. 1t /!
undoubtedly true that in varioU:
| localities they have been more plenti
full than in recent years, Ono change
so far) but taking the State as
whole, the majority of the commits
sioners are of the opinion that they are
considerably less in numbers than fo
several years, or, in other words, tina
| they are decreasing"
Now. is a majority report a repor
of the Commission? We act D?
| majorities, and you will see that th'
| only change was to insert the Wort
majority He willingly signed thu
report that there have been a les:
number of deer taken this year thar
| were taken last year." but when W.
| come to the statement taking tn
State as a whole, they are less il
numbers he wanted the wore
majority" inserted, which was done
That's all there is to it.
| Now, in conclusion, permit me t.
+bot mn ioritv of tho comm is
sioners sincerely hope we are mis-
| taken; we hope that there is NJ
danger of there being a scarcity o
deer No one will rejoice more thar
we will if this Is so.
No Legislature meets this winter
there is no necessity of getting eXcite(
over it now.
We have another year to study con
ditions, and we will all. 1 have M
doubt, be better prepared then how u
act-if action seems necessary, than
we are now.
Pride of opinion has no place in thi:
anybody, and as ready to acknowledge
| it.
Let us work together for the good o
| our grand State, follow the light a:
we see the light, giving all due con
sideration to the opinions of those wht
do not think as we do. to the end thai
our fish and big game may be 81
| protected that those who come after
US will not read about moose and deel
| in our forests as a matter of ancient
| history.
The Secretary's Report.
The report of the secretary for 1906
gave the number of members 456. SincE
that date two have withdrawn fWf