Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-24
the matter of licensing lobster fisher

the matter of licensing lobster fisher
men was contained in the bill.
Senator Wyman remarked that judg-
ing from the number of people present
he thought that the bill had peen pref
ty well advertised.
Mr.. TretetheE was about to make
another speech against the bill when
Senator Wynlan informed him that as
the bill had been withdrawn his re-
marks We're not in order. A moment
later Senator Walker asked the South
Portland man if the general impression
had gone abroad that the committee
was plejudiced IN regard to the bill,
ard Mr.. Trcfethen replied that SO far
as he knew there had not been such
an impression.
Fish Commissioner Donahue appear
ed in favor of the act increasing his
salary from $500 to $4,000 per annum,
and stated that the duties of his po-
sition had SO increased that he was
obliged to devote nearly all his time
| to it.
Representative Thurlough--Do you
| think you do as much as the finland
| fellow does?
| Mr. Donahue-I don't want to make
any comparisons between my Office and
any other.
Fish Commissioner Donahue also
explained the need of a deputy COM
missioner in his department. He said
| that the only clerk the department now
| had was a stenographer getting $12
| a week and that the mail of the de-
partment accumulated when the fish
commissioner was away from his Of
| flee. With deputy commissioner to
have charge of the office he could give
| better service to the fish interests OF
| Maine.
| sir Thurlough-What would the sal
airy of the deputy commissioner be?
MI Donahue-$1200.
Mr.. Thurlough-With your raise of
| $500 you ask for that would make your
Office cost in salaries $17O0. would it
not?
MIR Thurlough-What appropriation
| did your department have last year?
Mr. Donahue-s15,00 with an addi-
| tional appropriation of $4,000 for seed
| Holsters. I am asking now for an In
| crease of about $4,000.
Mr.. Donahue then explained that a
deputy commissioner would take the
place of head warden and that while
the head warden gets 81 a day and ex-
penses, the deputy would only re-
ceive about $500 more.
Mr. Trefethen stated that the tax
| payers and fish dealers of the State
were opposed on general principles to
| such an increase in the appropriation
| for the department. He had served as
| mayor of the city of South Portland
and spoke as a fish dealer and tax
payer.
William Brennan of Port Clyde and
Fred B. Higgins of Boothbay Harbor
also spoke in opposition.
Frank S. Willard of South Portland
said that he believed the fish commits
sioner was doing good work and that
he ought not be hampered in the work
by too small appropriation.
Mr.. Trefethen--Nicker was a
good fish commissioner and he never
asked for an increase in appropriation
like this. l have read Mr.. Donahues
report and I do not like it as well as
I did Mr.. Nickerson's
Mr.. Willard-We should have suf-
ficlent officers to enforce the law.
Fish Commissioner Donahue protest
ed that he had no designs on the pub
lie treasury, but it did not please him
to have men who ought to be interest
ed in sea and shore fisheries oppose
progress. When the department Of in
land fisheries and game asked for an
appropriation that department had a
united backing. He continued: eff I
do rot get an increase in salary, if I
do not get an assistant I shall still
continue to be fish commissioner, and
shall perform my work to the best of
my ability just the same
Representative F.. W. Hyde of Bath
asked what the amount of the fisheries
catch was the past year
Mr. Donahue 81, 900, 900, and yet the
sea and shore fisheries department is
handled by a commissioner at a sal
airy of $500 a year, with 81 a week
clerk.
Augustus A. Percy of Path said that
the lobster dealers of Maine ought to
support a fish commissioner. who was
trying to enforce the law, and that he
ought to have sufficient appropriation
to do it with.
The matters on increase in salary
and the appointment of a deputy COM
missioner were tabled for executive
session.
A number of other matters of minor
Importance were considered and re-
ferred for executive session.
SALARIES AND FEES.
Sheriff of Aroostook County Wants