Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-18
PRESIDENT HERSEY JUMPS Tn
Defend Johnny AND HIS GUN"
IN HEARING ON A RESIDENT
HUNTERS LICENSE MEASURE

can have it done for Is cents it certainly
r"eap enough. He urged those inter-
ested. if they did not like the bill under
consideration TO get together and work
one out that would be most satisfactory
to the majority
Too Many Bail Features
representative Wasnburn Of Perry
"H4!e admitting that the bill might as
slst IN enforcing the nonresident license
law, thought it had too many bad fea-
lures. He declared that in his county
Oh washington there was much hunting
Cor food and that the license would ne
great hardship on this class. especially
where there happened to be several bows
IL Inc IafnllE. He characterized the
feature allowing farmers to hunt on their
own land as ridiculous as Maine farms
as rule are too small to furnish any
good hunting and any hunter who hap
pened 20 chase any game onto the land
OF a neighbor would be liable to a fine
There are now about 100 wardens in
the State but if this number should be
doubled each man would have about go
square miles 10 look after in enforcing
the new law. and that would keep him
to-erably busy on a Sunday afternoon.
SAID Mr.. Washburn. The majority of
the people Of Washington county opposed
to this bill said the representative in
conclusion, "as We believe there are still
a few things the people should be al
lowed to do in their own way"
President Hersey Objects
President Ira G. Hersey Of the Senate
jumped into the arena, as he said, in
defense of the Johnny and his Gun.
They tell us, said he. that 80 states
have followed the French method in
handling this proposition, 10 others the
English method. Good Lord: Have we
americans got down TO that, English
method, French method! In those coun-
tries few men own most of the land
and all the birds Of the air and beasts
Of the field. The constitution gives US
the right to carry arms and our boys
should have the chance to learn to han
die guns. But if this bill becomes a
Law Johnny can't even keep a gun"
President Hersey then scored sever
al provisions Of the bill and especial
ly the one which provides that any
hunter caught without a license can
be hailed into court and if the prose-
cutiCn fails the costs are to be taken
out Of the fund provided by the IL
cense returns. He argued that this
would give the constables and other
officers 4 bigger graft than the old
one when they were allowed a fee for
arrestins c1unhs. Hunters, he thought,
would have TO show their tags SO Off,
en- they would have no time to hunt
ing and he objected to having them
tagged anyhow. Even the man carry
ing gun from place TO place would
he subject TO a fine unless he had a
license.
Other Objections
Representative Comedian of Port
land also objected to many Of the le-
gal features of the measure and de-
clared ii TO be a bill for revenue rath-
CT than in the interests of conserva-
ton. He favored the preservation Of
wild life but did not see how this bill
could help.
John T. Sprague of Dover thought
that Johnny and his gun" could be
left out Of the case entirely and he
favored a resident license for the
hunting Of big game alone. Later, If
II is found necessary, the scope of the
license can be extended.
Representative McCarty Of Lewis
ton thought that Johnny and his gun"
was a small matter in proportion to
the importance Of the whole PROPOSE
ton. 1t is not so much Johnny and
his gun that is doing the damage
said ne, "as Tony and his gun. " This
vas received with applause. 1T makes
no difference to Tony" he continued.
whether he kills game birds or song
birds-they all go into the same soup
pot He believed the Legislature owes
a duty to the State in conserving wild
life. He ridiculed the idea that hunt
ers would forget their license if one
were required. Il notice, said he,
that Johnny can pay nickle often
for the movies and the big 'Johnnies'
cap pay a dollar for show they think
they will like. If they can do this
they ought TO he able to get dollars
worth Of hunting in Whole year and
If Johnny can't do this his little gun
should be taken away from him"
n. r. Hill of Augusta
H. F. Hill Of Augusta, who said he
had five children, thought the tax
would be too great for him. Il don't
run automobiles" said he, Il run
more to children" He explained that
he had been hunting five times in the
last year and shot one rabbit which
would have been costly game had he
paid a license fee Of s1.15. In reply to
Chairman Allen of the committee, Mr..
Hill said he did not object to the
principle Of the license but only to
the cost.
Representative Smith Of Hampden
objected to the license and in the
course of his remarks declared that
probably 40 per cent. Of the wardens
of the State are not fit for the work.
He suggested that each poll tax re-
cent bear the payers signature and
that this be accepted as hunting Ii
oapza Far Si5anfS