Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-22

A L the legislative session of 1907 an
n innocent appearing measure of
- large possibilities was introduced
and became a law. 1t provided that
no citizen of the state should be per-
mitted to hunt in California without
first paying 81 for hunters license.
Under the terms of the measure citt-
zens nonresident of the state are re-
quired to pay $40 and foreigners $25.
At the time the highest estimate
placed upon the proba bic revenue to be
derived from the hunters tax was
$4,000 a year The first year that the
law was in force, the fiscal year end
ing June 30. 1908, the total tax collect
ed amounted to $l16,579, almost five
times the estimate
1t was found, too, that in practice
practically the whole tax was paid by
residents of the state.
Under the law the money thus col
lected is turned over TO the fish and
game commission. With the state APP
preparations placed at the disposal of
the commission and the fines collected
and turned over to it the $116,579 tax
! money SWelled the commissions in
! come that year to $1Si,46770. Previous
to the fiscal year ending in June, 1908.
the commissions work had required an
| expenditure of about $4,000 a year.
With this amount the commission did
very good work,
| funds an era of prosperity dawned for
| the commission Elaborate offices
were opened in San Francisco. Sal
aries We're generously increased; that
| of the chief deputy, for example, being
raised from $2400 to $4,000 year At
| Che time the state officials under the
! rank of governor were receiving only
of bn
fish commission received for some time
$500 a year more than the secretary Of
| state or the controller.
Costly game birds were brought into
| the state most of which vanished in
| a day. Deputies were employed at
/ generous salaries, elaborate expense
! accounts were presented and allowed.
! 1t soon became evident that the $1S4.
1910 income of the commission was
being used to build up a political ma
chine of great possibilities. And,
! finally, as the last count against the
commission, that body failed to file in
the September before the legislature
of 1909 convened the biennial report of
its activities and expenditures. as is
! required of all state officials and COM
missions. These reports are required
| that the governor may be prepared to
make his biennial report and recon-
mendations to the legislature. Governor
! Gillett wrote his message of 1909 with
out the advantage of having the report
| of the fish commission before him.
The reform olment demanded an ac-
counting from the fish and game COM
mission, and to that end an investiga-
tion was instigated. But the machine
/ had prepared for such emergencies by
fortifyng itself on the fish and game
committees-p particularly the assembly
commttee-to which all measures
touching upon the game laws were re-
ferred So notorious was this that bit
ter complaint was made of it on the
floor of the assembly,
When the resolution for investiGa-
ton of the commission was introduced
it was referred to. the assembly fish
! and game commission Assemblyman
Greer sprang to his feet in protest.
lit is useless to refer the matter to
the committee on fish and game said
| Greer. "for we all know what that
committee will do. Wen get no action
I there. Let the resolution go to some
committee that will give it considera-
/ ton"
Greer was right. The committee, in
the face of the strongest evidence that
the fish commission should be made
subject of legislative investigation
refused to recommend that such IN