REPORT OF THE FOREST COMMISSION. 



three of last year's offenders resisted the imposition of penal- 

 ties until court proceedings were under way. This argues well 

 both for the commission's policy in proposing settlements and 

 for the assurance given every offender that the power of the 

 State is not used to enforce an unjust judgment. 



Three instances have been reported of men who refused assist- 

 ance to a warden requiring their servi'ce as firefighters. In two 

 of these cases it was found that while there was an actual refusal, 

 the circumstances did not make the offense such that the imposi- 

 tion of a penalty was necessary. In the third the warden was 

 at fault. The attitude of those called to fight forest fires has 

 been noteworthy from the start, and it is a matter for comment 

 that in so few instances has serious objection been made to 

 service of this sort. In almost all communities the danger from 

 a burning forest is too well realized to permit debate on the 

 necessity for its control, and the fact that there may be some- 

 one authorized to take charge of such work is giving satisfaction 

 and not creating discontent. 



Three violators upon whom guilt was fixed are still unpenal- 

 ized, because they have left the State and are, therefore, outside 

 the jurisdiction o>f the law. Such cases are kept open indefinitely 

 in the hope that the offender may return and thereby permit 

 the impartial administration of the law. 



Table VI gives in condensed form the status and disposition of 

 all violations in 1911. 



TABLE VI. VIOLATIONS OF THE FOREST FIRE LAW, IQII. 



* This total does not include claims withdrawn, etc. 



