The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-03-04
GAME AND FISH
INVESTIGATION
WAS REPORTED
No Money Used For Political
Purposes But Deputy Was
Active
ALLOWANCE TO SECRETARY
NOT ACCORDING TO LAW
Improper Person Appointed Deputy
Board Of Control Did Not Exerrdss
Sufficient Control Over Wardens-
Legal Advice From Office Psrtnsrs.

Bismarck, N. D., March 4.-The re-
port OF the committee which investi-
gated the game and fish board OF
control made its report to thestwo
branches of the legislature last nisht.
The report follows:
ine resolution, under which the
committee was appointed, made no
provision for the payment Of expenses
OF witnesses. called in regard to It,
conferred no power on your commit.
tee to enforce the attendance Of wit.
nesses, neither did It furnish the I'd.
ministration oath Of compulsory fur
nishtng Of books and papers and It
was the consensus Of opinion on the
part OF the committee that an at
tempt should be made to obtain the
presence OF witnesses voluntarily and
that they should be examined without
being sworn, the intention being on
the part Of the committee, In case Of
refusal by material witness to ap.
pear and testify. to ask Of your body
the necessary authority for compell-
Ing the appearance Of such witness.
Certain witnesses, requested to ap-
pear before the committee, have fail
ed or neglected to appear, some on
account Of the refusal to advance the
necessary expenses in making the
trip to Bismarck, others on account
Of claimed inability through illness.
and others have freely ignored the
requests of the committee. Certain
necessary delays in obtaining Wit
nesses and the pressure Of other bust.
ness delayed the taking Of such testi.
mony as was obtainable, until 80 late
day In the session that It became
impracticable to ask this assembly
for the necessary authority to compel
such an attendance In time to obtain
the testimony and report before the
close Of this session. We. therefore,
have decided to make such report as
the evidence we obtained will war
rant. and accompany the report by the
Transcribed testimony Of the Wit
nesses which is hereto attached.
Game Enforcement the Best Yet
It is the general expression Of opin-
ion on the part Of all the witnesses
examined, all but three Of whom are
either members of the board Of con-
troll, state or district wardens, also
the opinion Of your committee that
the game enforcement under the pres
ent law is far better and more efficient
than under any other prior law on the
same subject in this state. We find
on computation based on an exam
ination Of the wardens. filed in the
Office of the state auditor, that for the
year 1909 there was expended in the
enforcement of this law less than
$12 900, and up to the first Of Decem-
ber. 1910, there was spent for the
same purpose, over 100000.
Law Should be Continued.
In the opinion Of the witnesses gen
orally. excluding the three above mem
toned, who testified on minor and col
lateral matters, the law with very
few amendments. which amendments
your committee believed to have been
embodied in legislation already pre-
sented to this assembly. should be
continued, and is we'll calculated to
preserve the game and fish Of this
state.
Some Laxity.
1t is the conclusion Of your commit
tee, based upon an examination Of the
representatives Of the game and fish
board of control, and the testimony
of the various witnesses herewith