Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-02-16

drawal of the payment of any fee would
do away with the objections to the bill
in his section but that did not satisfy
Halbert +. Gardner of Patten or Reps.
Clarence Goldthwait and Henry Desco-
teauX of BiddefOrd. who opposed the
| measure in any form.
GO to Patten and talk to my people
about it and you'll find what they think
about it; I'm 'agin' it, said Mr.. Gard
ner with emphasis Mr.. Gardner secuted
the ideat that the proposed registration
was needed or that there was any con-
siderable violation of the present hunt
er'S registration law so that registra-
ton of hunters would be required, or
fishermen in the case of nonresident
license. He differed sharply with Chair
man Harry T.. Austin of the inland fish
cries and game commission, who thought
that at least % per cent. of the non
resident hunters violated the laws of
the State.
The hearings before the committee
this afternoon had dealt at the outset
with specia! Aroostook and Washington
county matters and had been milder
than Quaker prayer meeting until the
Clason and the Flint bills for the reg
istration of nonresident fishermen and
the Clason bill for the licensing of res
ldent fishermen came up. Then the fun
began, with opposition all along the
line and committeeman, proponents and
opponents all talking at once
Rep. Clason of Lisbon explained his
nonresident fishermen's bill, saying that
he believed the nonresident fishermen
should pay for the privilege of taking
fish from the State. He was not insist
ent upon his own bill. There was a diff
ference in the fee and some other differ
ences between his bill and the Flint bill.
The Flint bill placed the fee at 81 fiat
and his at s2,15. The penalty in the Cla-
son bill was a fine of not over 500 or 60
days in Jail. Mr.. Clason explained that
the optional Jail sentence was put on IL
order that the situation might be made
unpleasant for some whose means would
make it easy for them to pay fines as
often as they were caught.
You believe that with nonresident
fishing license you would have the same
difficulty as with a nonresident hunters
license unless you also provided for the
registration of residents?" asked Chair
man Austin of the commission.
Il believe they should go hand in
hand" replied Mr.. Clason. He went on
to explain how the nonresident hunters
law was evaded by people declaring that
they lived in Maine when they did not,
and said that registration OF residents
was necessary. Mr.. Clason said that he
would withdraw the bill now before the
committee providing a registration fee of
Is cents and introduce new bill which
would provide for the registration fee
the amount received from nonresident
fishermen.
''Do you think anybody would object To
paying the 15-cent registration fee?" ask
ed Chairman Austin.
"I do. That's Just the trouble. and
that's why am going to introduce the
other. bill replied Mr.. Clason.
Then they had better not 20 fishing
interposed Senator Merrill of soroerse,
of the committee.
II tell you we are crowdine tb;ngs zoo
fast. interjected Rep. Berry of Water
Vile Of the committee.
THESE things ought all to have been
Gone years ago., replied Mr. Clason.
i object to the principle of regulation
whether fee is charged or M. /" -,
rep clarence Goldthwait of Biddeford.
rep. Goidthwat pressed Mr. Clasor
70 what proportion of violations of n. !
hunting law by non-residents occurred, |
eeause OF no registration Of hunters
ana this brought out the s+a+ax,.,. go.