White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1923-11-11
GOVERNMENT TRAPPING FAKE
SHOWN UP BY UTAH AUDITOR

The bounty system for controi OIL
predatory animals is far superior TO
any other as yet tried, in the OPINION
of Mark futile, state auditor OF Utah,
who has written a personal letter to
the White Pine News stating his posi-
ton.
In the recent EtockTen's meeting
IN Ely Mr.. Tuttle was mentioned as
being an opponent of the bounty sys-
TEN, which he denies. On the con-
trary, he claims to have been a con-
sistent supporter o. the bounty and
an opponent of government trapping.
In support of this he sends a copy
of an interview given by him to the
Salt Lake Tribune in 1922, in which
he shows up governmer: trapping to
a marked disadvantage. He shows
that for $~66,SS3.5O paid as bounties
the state destroyed 16,44S predatory
animals in nine months, whereas for
an outlay of $63,259.03 the biologi-
cal survey destroyed only 4SS7 in a
whole year.
Assuming that the same ratio
would have held for a year as for
nine months the state under thhe
bounty system would have destroyed
2f,92S animals, or seven and one
half times as many as the biological
survey destroyed in the same period.
At practically the same cost the
state destroyed in nine months six
times as many as the biological sur
vey DESTROYED in n year,
Mr.. futile further refutes widely
rumored statements that Utah boun-
ty payments constitute an orgy OF
fraud. In the Ely meeting it was
claimed by a government emplOye
that he personally knew that all the
coyotes trapped anywhete near the
limo were bountied in Utah. Mr.. Tut
tie knows whereof lie speaks in this
matter. He makes the bounty pay
ments for the whole state. The coun-
ty clerks merely issue bounty certi-
ficate, certifying 20 Mr.. futile hat
the skins have been presented and
feet removed according to law, that
he either knows the claimant or has
secured proof that the animal was
killed within his county. This certi-
ficate goes to the auditor and if he
regards the claim as suspicious he
holds it up and requires further
proof.
Under this procedure n Of the
largest bounty claims two years ago
in Beaver county never was paid, an
other was held up for about a year
and finally paid, a hide buyer vas
arrested and lodged in Jail at Provo,
and a Fillmore mar on a plea OF
guilty to bountying Nevada skins in
Utah was sent to the penitentiary.
AS Mr.. futile says, the practice was
practically stopped.
For Nevada trappers to take their
skins to any Utah county seat for the
bounty would be absurd-even sup
pose he could get the money when
there. The distance is prohibitive.
From Ely to either Beaver or Fill
more it is easily 1SE miles, to NepEi
it is more than $50 miles and it is
212 miles to Tooele. Neither of these
trips could possibly he made for less
than $50 in cash, and the chances
are the cost would he nearer $50.
Following is the interview of Mr..
futile as it appeared in the Tribune:
FUTILE DEFENDS
BOUNTY SYSTEM
Close Checks on Payments by Coun-
ty Clerks, State Auditor Declares.
Charges of George F.. Holman De.
nied-Uniform Legislation
Recommended
Any reflection on the integrity
or the ability of the county clerks
of Utah as a whole-if there is any
such refection-ir a statement
made by George E. Holman. pred
atory animal inspector for the Unit-
ed States bureau biological survey.
is refuted by Mark futile, state
auditor. Mr. futile called atten-
ton to a sentence in Mr.. Holman's
report, as quoted in the Tribune,
which says:
From a personal investigation
and knowledge / am convinced that
fully one-half and possibly three
fourths of the stuff bountied in
Utah for some years vas brought
from other states, or, in some cases
the stuff was bountied more than
once
In commenting on this statement
Mr.. futile said:
II feel that it is only just to the
various county clerks throughout
the state that I refute this state
ment. When I assumed office I am
certain there were a number OF
persons who were procuring boun-
ty on animals killed along the Dor
der, and no doubt some of them