The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-03-03
FISH and GAME COMMISSION
Was STRONG IN POLITICS
CONTINUED From Page One.

/ VI It's ildQS anu
contracted for salaries to be paid
which the committee In many cases
thinks unnecessary and excessive A
proper system of reports of the district
and the specially paid wardens to the
state wardens and the state wardens to
the board Of control has not been de-
vised and by reason of this failure the
board of control is without knowl-
edge of the appointments of its agents,
the extent or the place OF their activity
or the efficiency of their services at
any time.
The board of control has failed to
| see that provisions of law have been
carried out in the matter for the state
wardens having no other occupation or
business, 1t appearing from evidence
that both of the said, state game war
dens had more or less other business
than that Of enforcement of the game
| laws of this state, and in case Of the
game warden for the northern part of
the state it is apparent on record that
during all the time of his appointment
he has been receiving from other
sources for the same occupation in
which he had therefore been engaged,
the same salary that he had received
prior to his appointment as the said
game warden.
1t is in evidence that during a great
part Of the summer of 1910 such game
warden was absent from the state of
North Dakota, but it is also apparent
| that during such absence his bills for
salary and expenses were allowed and
paid with the same regularity that
they would have been had he been in
the state doing business for which he
was being paid.
The committee believes that suffi-
cient supervision was not exercised by
the board of control over the accounts
| for the expenses of the various war
dens, it appearing that the game war
den for the southern part of the state
was allowed Office rent in the sum of
$40 per month for desk room in an
office of another person. The game
warden for the northern half of the
state was allowed SIS for desk room
and $25 per month for the use of a
stenographer, while the evidence of
two witnesses above mentioned as
having been examined on collateral
matters discloses the fact to be that
for entire Office rent the person from
whom the state game warden rented
the office room paid $40 per month and
paid for the stenographer when a part
of her time was employed by the game
warden.
No funds were directly used for no
litical purposes but it is the opinion
of the committee, based upon evidence
of some witnesses who either had a
clear knowledge thereof or were more
frank than others, that the time of
some of the paid employees or agents
of thu game and fish board of con-
troll together with such influence as
they might have, was directed along
political lines, and the committee be-
lieves the political bias of certain per-
sons who were appointed in the fall of
1910 was at least a material and
weighty argument and the cause for
the appointment.
While very little direct evidence
could be secured on this point the at
tention of the legislature is called to
the testimony of MIR. Stenwiek district
manager, and the testimony of the
vouchers of Mr.. Hendrickson, and to
the fact that Mr.. Hendrickson's vouch-
ers and testimony disclosed that he
was extremely active every day from
including Nov. 8, 1910, election day,
and after that date there is no evidence
of any activity whatever on his part.
1t is recommended that appropriate
legislation prescribing stringent rules
for handling this money and the proper
safeguards against the Improper use
and prescribing suitable handlers for
violation of such rules and regulations
be enacted.
1t has been the practice of the board
of control. when passing on these bills
to require, so far as we can see, no ex-
animation of the vouchers, sub-vouch-
ers for expenses.
The committee believes that improp-
er persons were appointed as district
wardens and especial attention is call
ed to the fact that one Deichert was
appointed district warden by the board
Of control at it's first meeting when
the board and the members thereof
knew that said Deichert's regular oc-
cupation at that time was that of
travelling salesman for a wholesale Ii
quor house and that such occupation
continued to be his occupation at all
times during his employment and so
far as your committee has been able
to ascertain Is now his employment.
Mr.. Deichert was notified to appear be-
fore the board and testify, but waited
to respond sending in lieu offering a
telegram from his home that he was
sick and unable to come.
The expense account of some Of the
district wardens appear larger than
necessary, reference being particularly
to the livery hire of Fitzmorris, which
in some cases was $12 per day, and
for eleven days of his activities as
shown by his trip in one month
amounted to $109
Some district wardens appear to
have Travelled excessively by train
from one corner Of the state to the
other. Generally more railroad fare
was charged by these wardens for the
reason, as explained by witnesses, that
the mileage was furnished free in re-
turn for certain nonresident permits
issued without fee.
In so far as your committee is able
to ascertain every state, district and
special warden or deputy had other
and additional occupation than that of
protecting the game and fish Of this
state.
Great discrepancy is observed in the
two districts of state, between the
number of paid employees during the
year 1910, although there is no evil
dence brought to the attention of your
committee which would indicate more
thorough enforcement of the law in one
district than in another The second
of the state being the year 1910.
there were seventeen paid deputies
while in the northern half Of the
state there were forty two paid depu-