The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1923-06-23

beneficiary Of the favor OF Sherm.
Bailey, titular chieftain Of the no.
torfous Bailey gang, was arrested
by federal agents for unlawful sale
Of Illicit liquor. The better class
OF sportsmen contend that a game
warden should have character as
well as knowledge Of the work.
The legislative committee in the
late session developed considerable
evidence that failed to reflect credit
upon Carlos Avery, chief of the
commission. Among other things,
proof was offered that M. N. Le-
pinski, wholesale and retail fish
de Ter at Winona, Mimi, was fore
ed to take former state senator
Knapp into partnership in order
to fish In Lac Qui Parle lake. That
arrangement was most unsatisfac-
tory to Lepinski, but he was forced
to put up with 1t for couple of
seasons in order to get his permit.
During that time, too, the state
board Of control had considerable
to do with the operation of the
fish and game department and /:
was only by threatening to expose
the enforced partnershinp with
Knapp that Lepinski was able to
secure personal permit from COM
missioner Avery and Ralph Whee-
lock, Of the board Of control.
Various charges of illicit sale of
fish were presented at the legis-
lative hearings. Testimony was in-
troduced to prove that Carlos Avery
sold spoiled fish to the board of
control. The question next arises,
were those spoiled fish fed to the
unfortunate inmates of the state
institutions, something as spoiled
meat once was fed to the tuber-
cular patients at the Walker cana
torium? IL there was financial
profit in selling spoiled fish, who
received TT.
George Cline, formerly in charge
OF the distribution of state fish
In st. Paul, testified that shipments
of spoiled fish frequently had been
received in the SANITY City and
that spoiled fish had been shipped
from st. Paul to Duluth, where 1t
went into cold storage. Other wit
nesses told OF having received
spoiled fish from the state depart
mert.
George Goldberg, q Minneapolis
fish dealer, testified that it was
difficult to get state fish in the
years 1919, 1890 and 1921, yet
evidence was introduced to prove
that over 100000 pounds Of fish
had been shipped out OF the state
In 1919, and that largex quantities
had been shipped out in other years.
There was one member OF. the
Investigating committee who over
looked no opportunity for showing |
his partiality for commissioner
Avery, and he: was Rep. George
Herried, Of Deer River. Several |
times during the investigation the
attorney for the compliments |
forced Rep. Herried to apologize
to- witnesses for insulting remarks
and a brow-beating manner. Other |
members OF the committee were !
Charles ]. Salmonson, w. e. Nc
Nelly, George o. Lockhart and Err
ing Swenson.
{ That the investigating committee
Thought in a "whitewash" verdict |
was not a surprise to those who
attended the hearings. Politics,
personal fayoritism, appointment Of
men with unsavory regulations as
deputies, neglect and even refusal
Of commissioner Avery to investi-
gate charges, including those OF
were only q few OF
The serious charges made during
the hearing.
The men who asked for the in
of the fish and game
claim that the report
,f the committee was far from
being right. At the time, they de-
.lared the intention of keeping up
heir efforts to prove to the people
)f the state of Minnesota that there,
e much, very much room for inn
in commissioner Avery's
conduct Of the game and fish de-
partment.