The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-07-28
OFFICIAL PAPER OF cHoUTEAU COUNTY
WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 1909.
THE GAME WARDEN GRAFT.

The so-called game and fish pro-
lection law now in effect throughout
Montana is probably the worst i'm
position of that kind that has ever
been inflicted upon the public. It's
provisions are so sweeping that an
urchin who seeks recreation by fishing
with a piece of twine and a bent pin
becomes subject to arrest n lm-
prisonment if he has failed to con-
tribute q dollar to the game warden
fund: and the children and adults who
violate the law by INDUCING in limo
cent pastime. without securing a IL
cense therefor, align themselves with
the criminal class.
If any public benefit resulted from
this game and fish protection law-if
it supplied funds for any legitimate
purpose, or is necessary TO preserve
Montana game and fish from total
destruction-some Of, its provisions
would be respected without complaint;
but its application to little children
ADD its success in collecting funds
that provide ''easy money for o lot
of useless public officials have brought
the law into disrepute.
The main purpose Of the law APP
pears to be to provide salaries for a
state game warden and a lot of depu.
ties favored with appointment by that
official. There is at the present time,
according to recent advices from Hell
ena, a cash balance OF about $50, 600 in
the game warden fund, most Of which
was collected from Montana citizens
of all ages for the privilege of hunting
and fishing C.Thi5 fund furnishes reg,
ular salaries to the state game warden
and his numerous deputies, whose
services are of questionable value tc
the community
If this game warden business is no
a graft, it comes pretty near deserving
that designation. In every county
township and municipality Throughout
Montana there are peace officers who's
duty it is to arrest and secure th
punishment of offenders against tn
law. We have sheritfs and thei
deputies, c~onstablea and police off
Gers located in all parts of the state
and if there are viol atoms of the gam
and fish law, or any other Montan
statute, the detection and arrest of tn
culpriL by one Of these public officer
is expected. .lThat is what they ar
here for. Why, then, should Their
BE- employed at fat salaries a lot O
"~wardens' whose alleged occupatiO,
is to enforce one particular state law
to create a state department for tn
special purpose Of enforcing the la'
against burglary, and provide q sep
arate payroll for q number of officer
who would be supposed to give thei
attention to that particular class Q
law breakers?I Why should the gam
and fish law require special officer
for It's enforcement, when there i
already a large corps of public off
cials on The public apayroIl who's
duties call for the enforcement of ev
cry Montana0statute
II the state treasury needs revonu
for the legitimate Expenses of govern
ment, the collection of a license fe
from adults for the privilege OF hun
ing and fishing would not. be resented
but the eXaction Of tribute from tn
children for the benefit of a lot {
useless officials, who do not rende
adequate serviceiinsreturn, is an in
position from which Montana citizen
should be relieved at the first oppor
tunity