The Detroit times., 1915-03-26
FERRIS PUTS
HIS VETO TO
ODELL. BILL
Republican Grab Mea-
sure G e is
lQuietus
TWO OFFICES
AXE NOT RELATED
Expense and Ineffi-
cheney Would Be
Result of Bill
From a star Correspondent.


Ferris today. vetoed the Odell bill,
transferring the duties OF the state
game fish and forestry department
To the public domain commission.
In his message the governor de-
clared that the work of the game
warden's department and the public
domain commission was In no way
related. the enc being simply of a
protective nature while the other
was constructive and creative in its
scope.
THE inevitable result will be an
increase in expenditures, decrease
in efficiency and marked dimuni.
ton OF the state wide influence OF
both departments" says one section
OF the governors veto message.
The Odell bill Is the pet Repubil.
can grab" and was drawn with
the idea OF removing the department
from Democratic control.
The message in full is as follows
To the President OF the Senate:
State Capitol,
Lansing Mich.
Sir--l here with return without ap
rroyal--Senate bill No. ia. (file No
124, enrolled No. e. entitled:
To provide for the transfer Of the
lowers and duties OF the State
Game, Fish and Forestry Warden tc
the public domain commission and
to define the powers and duties oil
the public domain commission In re
lation thereto, and to repeal ell acts
or parts of acts, which conflict there
with.
Are the duties of the State Game
Fish and Forestry Warden and the
duties OF the public domain commits
sion, by their very nature, SO inter
related that the work of the two de
fpartments Is duplicated? II the worl
is SO interrelated why has the public
domain commission failed TO ask FOL
this transfcr-why does the public
domain commission disapprove o.
the transfer? find no demand or
the part of the citizens In any par
of the state for this transfer.
1.-THE duties OF the state game and
forestry warden are essentially DO
lice duties and apply to all parts Of
the state.
The duties OF the public domain
commission are constructive. crea
tive, scientific, and apply chiefly tr
the newer sections of the state. In
the two departments there is. nc
harmony in their ideals, no uniform
ity in their methods OF work, and nc
similarity in the qualifications neces
sary for successfully administering
their respective duties. The newt
able results will be an increase in
expenditures, a decrease in efiici
ency, and a marked diminution in
the state wide influence OF both de
pGrtments. There is, therefore nc
logical reason for combing the
two departments.
THE experience OF other states Il
worthy of consideration. A writer in
a recent issue of the American For
estry" magazine says;
"Such plans have failed OF effec
,.iyeness under trial. and tended tC
loss of efficiency and interest in for
est on the part of the commission.
All OF the New England sta,e'
have separate commissions for for
estry service together with New Jer
gov Maryland, Ohio, Idaho, Montana
washington and California.
Alabama after eight years trial o.
combining the two departments, Is
now considering a separation; like
wise Texas. Reference is frequent
ly made TO New York. but in this
state the two classes or work main
tain entirely separate sets OF war
Tdens overlapping in the same terri
tory. In other words, New York haI
never attempted to combine the field
work OF the Fish and Game Wardens
Gov. Whitman in his recent message
to the legislature says:
THE work OF the divisions of the
forestry and OF fish and game mus
be kept entirely separate"
This bill was rushed through
both houses without adequate discus
sion. II this act was necessary fol
the preservation OF public peace
health or safety and given immedi
ate effect, why this absence OF dis
cussioa? I object TO this act be
cause I believe II is Injurious to the
hest interests OF the State OF Michi
gan.
Yours very truly,
WOODBRIDGE N. FERRIS.