Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-02-07

! for the protection Of game and fish in
| the county from which paid in. 1T Is
I, fact" said he, that in many sections
men who have hunted and fished all
their lives have never met a warden
and he thought this might be because
there was not money enough. Under his
| law no hunting certificates would be is
sued to children under 16 unless axsur-
ance was given that they would always
| be accompanied in the woods by COM
petent older persons. Females and
children under 16 might fish without a
license.
J. Putnam stevens OF Portland and
Robert j. Hodgson OF Lewiston, both of
the Maine Sportsmen's Fish and Game
| Association. spoke in favor of the bin.
Opposition
The first speaker in opposition was
George l.. Thompson of Bath, who de-
clared that there was. in the bill ia.
Vored by the commission, no Justice He
| said he yielded to no man in desire to
see the game protected but there is
something here more important than a
game law he said something tina,
the American people have fought 70,
before and may have to fight for again.
and that's every day justice There ism,
any of that in this bill. Is there any
reason why, because there are some tin
horn sports who come into our State
| from outside without getting a license
that you should make a goat out of all
| the Sportsmen of the southern section OF
the State.
| He spoke of the difficulty of enforcins
SUCH q law. and of the people in the
cities who could not afford to pay A
/ license fee.
! He also spoke of the large amount OF
money spent for the propagation o,
nsh and asked what is done for game.
Ii the hunters have to pay for a IL
cense the fishermen should also be com,
/ PEELED to do so, he said
IN conclusion he spoke for the Amer
lean boy, and asked the members of the
committee to remember their own boy
hood days. Would you by act or deed.
ne asked, take away from those boys
the same privileges. God given rights >
L dont want this committee to pass leg
lslatlon mat VIII drive boys into the
streets, bowling alleys or pool dives"
questioned by Senator Merrill Mr.
thompson said it was not the amour.
OF the fee he objected to. nor the pro-
lection OF hsh and game, but the prin-
| ciple.
Rep. Washburn Of Perry mada n
s'rong speech in opposition to the pass
age OF any resident hunters license act
whatsoever. He didn't think the time
had yet come when the State should i'm.
pose upon its citizens such restriction
| IN the enjoyment of field and forest. He
1elt that he would not be doing the
/
| tailed to appear in opposition to such a
bill.
1t was not the price of the certificate
he explained. that he and his friends
OBJECTED to. but the principle, whether
fee were one cent or one thousand
The farmer who has half a day'to hum
| cannot bother to hunt up the town
clerk Tor license, and neither can the
mill worker who has a half day off.
| is II not just as WELL" he asked. for
! our boys to be in the woods on Satur
| Gay as on the street corner or in tn,
| pool room or blacksmith shop: We arc
learning that We should know how t..
handle hrearms. The young sportsman
| OF today may be defending his Country's
| flag tomorrow
Inc provision that a farmer could nor
hunt on his own land does not amour,
10 anything, he said for unfortunately
crows and other depredating animals
ana blrds do not respect farm lines.
hunting predatory animals has not en-
tHeiy ceased and the men hunting bob
cats should not be penalized by being
| required to get a license. After all he
sald' the pest argument against the law
is that the people of the State do no,
want 1T. He said those opposed TO n
resident hunters license would oppose
! just as vigorously a resident fishermen.s
| license law.
The committee on inland fisheries
ana game also gave q hearin on the
resolve appropriating ss44.54 in favor
or John f.. Sev-all and c. f. A. Phair
20 reimburse tfem for expenses in
screening Squa Fan lake in ArOostook
county
Rep Greenlaw of Pressure Isle and
4 n. r. Pipes of Pressure Isle appeared
IN favor of the resolve. It was ex
planned that the lake was much in
need Of screening. and that the work
had been done at the advice Of the de-
partment Of inland fisheries and game.
with the assurance that the expense
or some part of it would be borne bv
the State. The residents Of the section
have raised 5000 of the cost bv popuIar
subscription. An appropriation of $500
or $500 was made for the same pur-
pose four years ago but was never
used.
Commissioner Austin said he belicv-
ed the claim entirely equitable but
said the assurance about the States
bearing the expense had not been given
ny himself or Mr.. Briggs. He thought
it may have been by former Commits
sioner Neal. Asked by Senator Merrill
OF Somerset if he thought it was good
policy to make such propositions with
out authorization Of the Legislature.
Mr.. Austin sai6 it had never been his
policy but he die not think it proper
for him to criticise the policy Of a
former commissioner
The Deforest Reyes Claim