The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1909-06-18
A SQUARE DEAL FOR FARMERS
Commissioner Thomas Explains How
His Department PAYS for Damage


Editor of The Reformer | enclose elm
ping from the Sunday Globe, of June 18th
in relation to complaints of farmers il
your vicinity for not receiving full
amounts for damage to crops by deer
Much criticism has been heard among tn,
| farmers of this section with regard TO the
small amounts paid to them by the state
fish and game commissioner, H. G.. Thorn
as of Stowe, for damage to their crops
through the ravages OF deer. According
| to their statements the money paid tC
those who have entered complaints with
| Mr.. Thomas has been less than half the
amount of the damage caused by the
| deer. This in measure is true. but
through no fault of Mr.. Thomas who has
been compelled to bear the brunt of these
criticisms. The appropriation made by the
legislature was insufficient to cover the
numerous cases of damage, and in order
to exc out the year on this appropriation
he has been obliged to reduce payments
to a minimum.
There is hardly any foundation for such
statement from your, county In the
first place, no claim has been entered from
Windham county this year. Section 533
provides that a person suffering loss or
damage to crops, ETC., may, within ten
DAYS notify the chairman of the board of
selectmen of the town in which the an
plicant resides, and If he is satisfied the
damage was done by deer, he shall call
on the county fish and game warden
The two are to determine the amount Of
damage done. The claim shall be an
proved by the Fish and Game Commits
sioner and forwarded the State Auditor
for payment. Following is list of claims,
giving the amount of claim as well as the
amount paid, in fall of 1908:
j, Tyler Payne, Londonderry, claim S.
for damage to garden truck. Paid in full.
Clarence S. Ryder, Marlboro, claim slO,
Mrs. John Jacobs, Rockingham. claim
SIS, damage to buckwheat. Paid in full.
+. Thompson, Guilford, claim So dam
age to garden truck Paid in full
Ira NJ Ingraham, Newfane, claim S.,
damage to garden truck Paid in full
Z. H. Richardson, Newfane, claim S.,
damage to garden truck. Paid in full.
George r. Temple, Newfane, claim S.
damage to garden truck. Paid in full
o. E. Peck, Westminster, 81, damage to
garden truck. Paid in full.
ULYSSES G.. Davis, Dummerston. 45
square rods beans, claim SIS. This claim
was paid at the rate of $40 per acre, and
he received SLIPS, which was approved bv
Walter F. Walker and r. L. Frost.
John Blanchard, Marlboro, put in
claim for $40 for damage to garden truck.
This claim was examined by Geo. w.
Ames, chairman of the board of selectmen,
and R. L. Frost, county warden, who
state the damage did not exceed SO, and
his amount was paid as their affidavit
states.
Claim of j. D. Luce, Marlboro damage
% garden truck, at $40. Ames and Frost
this claim, and swore under
oath that the damage was not more than
3, which was paid
A. L. Reed, Dummerston, claim SIS for
lamage to garden truck. The claim was
Examined by Walter f. Walker and R. L.
Frost, who swore under oath that the dam
lge was S., which was paid.
As long as these claims are adjusted by |
he chairman of the selectman and the
ounty warden, they are approved by the
in full, unless it is for beans
nd the rate exceeds $40 per acre. The
armers are getting the square deal from
his department, but that is not at all
lines satisfactory.
Very truly yours,
H. G.. Thomas,
Stowe, VT, June IA. 1909 Comr.