Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-04-20


ber of the fish and game commission
of the state of Oregon, and now draw
ing salary as biologist for that COM
mission, is also between official acts
editing monthly magazine printed at
the expense of the state. 1t is sold for
cents copy or 30 cents year.
When Mr.. Finley was appointed biolo-
gist for the commission, with a salary
of $4,000 a year, it was supposed he
would get busy and go to biologising
with the same energy he a. .ayed in
spending $4,000 last year, without a
cent 3 charge to the state for doing
it. Had he done so he would have
no time for editorial, or any other
work. However, he tears himself
away from his arduous laDors of set
ting few hen pheasant long enough
to. take the Capital Journal to tnsk
for daring to criticize him and his
work. He not only criticizes the Cap.
ital Journal but everybody, and every
thing else that does not fit his ideas.
II is probable this general criticism
by him is in accord with his state.
ment that: "Since the world began it
has always been the case that the man
WIS.,. the least brains can find the most
to criticize" Finley is a critic of
large dimensions. After squandering
money ON magnificent suite of rooms
in Portland, and managing in some
way to get rid of more than $4,000
month for a year he cheerfully as
serts "that not one cent of this money
comes out of the general funds of the
state. 1t is paid in by hunters, anglers,
etc.
OF course, it is not tax it is o
fund created by license instead, but
we fancy it would smell sweet and be
as palatable to the persons who pay
it under one name as the other.
Then Mr.. Hndley gets indignant and
adds:
"The fish and game commission has
been criticised for spending large
amount of money during the past year,
Ii there is any graft connected with
the fish and game commission why not
publish the factsi The records in the
state house and the records Of the com
mission are open to every citizen of
the state. This money has been spent
during the past year in the purchase
of fish distribution ear, in the pur.
chase of property for hatchery pur.
poses and other permanent equipment
which was need in stocking the lakes
and streams of the state with over g.,
100000 game fish, in raising and dis
tributing over 5000 game birds in var
ious counties, in the payment of boun
/ Akiao In ba. lou, .f 90,
educational and scientific work and fol
the enforcement Of game laws.
cit is fact that more has beer
1 spent in game protection and propaga
tion during the past year than in any
previous year, and il is also an unden
liable fact that far greater results hav,
been accomplished. 1t is fact tha'
the sportsmen of the state who ar'
furnishing the entire amount for gam,
protection and propagation are not tn,
ones who are finding fault
From the above one would thiIll
that all that was necessary to get in
formation about the game warden I
business of the past year would bt
to go to the records Mr.. Finley 81
proudly points to This would bt
true, but the gentleman forgot to make
or leave any records that are intel
ligible. We are informed that the only
record he kept was box full Of vouch
ers, receipts and memoranda. These
commission is now, we understand, try
ing to get into some understandable
shape.
When it does we will take Mr.. Fin
ley's advice and examine them, an(
give the results to the public. Mr.
Finley says there was no graft in hi
office. No one has claimed there was
1t was not called that, it was classed a
dam foolishness. Now Mr.. Finley, a
you know or should, how much of tina
$4,000 was spent by you or unde
your direction as game warden for th'
purchase of fish distribution car
Did the money come from the gam
part Of which you had charge, or from
he ash side of the commission. whicl
did not have anything to do with ex
pending a cent OF the S137 900 you go
rid off How much, if any, of tina
sl37 900 was paid ovt for the purchas
of fish hatchery property or equipmen
therefor! How muc@ of it was nni
out for stocking the lakes and stream
with game fisnl
How much was paid for the employ
= ment of men for educational and scier
tific works How much for the enforce
ment of the game lawsl How much fo
those 1900 game birds you say you dis
tributedl You refer the public to. tn
records, knowing few persons eoul
avail themselves of such records, pre-
suming they existed. These records,
they exist, are familiar to you for yo
made them. You can get at them eai
lily, for they are in your office. VIII
not then tell the public what you di
With that public Is money! No one az
cuses you of anything more seriou
than being foolish. Why not get int
print and tell the whole story? Yo
are now an editor with whole mag
azine at your command. Why not Civ
us a story on "That $4,000 Gam
Fund Whence II Came and Whittier
Went7" 1T would prove intensely il
teresting reading And while about
tell us how much those 300 game bird
cost apiece. Allowing literally fC
other expenses the price is as we III
derstand it is about $50 each, which
one reason they are classed as "game
birds Come TO think of it though, NJ
Finley, it would perhaps be better fC
you to stick to your ineubators an
tend to your Matching. You might Il
your eggs get cold if you turned you