FIFTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 93 



Now you ask mc what should be clone? I reply as the 

 man did who was asked how to make a rabbit stew. First 

 catch your rabbit. That is, gfet your evidence that the man 

 who mutilated the tree was an employe of that particular 

 corporation, that his acts, or axe if he used one, injured the 

 tree, and that they were done without the consent of the 

 adjoining^ proprietor. The statute says written consent, but 

 I am inclined to think that an oral consent would be sufficient. 

 The corporation has then incurred the forfeiture of $50. 

 Who gets the $50, and how is it to be collected? Our stat- 

 utes provide that whenever any corporation has incurred a 

 forfeiture, the State's attorney in the County wherein such 

 corporation is located, or has its principal place of business 

 in this State, may bring- a civil action on the statute in the 

 name of the state to recover such forfeiture. (General Stat- 

 utes, Sec. 1488). 



The proceeds where the forfeiture is $50, as in this case, 

 would, in my judgment, belong to the town wherein the 

 offense was committed. To punish the offending corporation, 

 you must then, my dear sir, ascertain the County where it is 

 located or has its principal place of business in this state, and 

 make your complaint to the State's attorney of that County. 

 The Grand Juror or prosecuting officer of your town has 

 nothing to do with it. The policy of Connecticut seems to 

 be to remove from local control the persons and corporations 

 who have a right to maintain structures in the highways. It 

 is an anomalous condition. Each town and city has to main- 

 tain its owm highways and is liable for damages if one is 

 injured in person or property by reason of defects therein. 

 It is to be hoped that some more satisfactory condition may 

 be developed in time. 'But, says my tree warden, is it my 

 duty to see that this forfeiture is collected? Most assuredl}'- 

 it is. What other officer is there in the town who has that 

 duty? Is it not important that our trees be preserved and 

 that the laws be enforced? America is just waking up to 

 the fact that the loss of trees may turn a paradise into a des- 

 ert. The commercial spirit is responsible for the devastation 

 of our forests and the indifference to arboreal ornamentation. 

 Manufacturing, as it has been and is, tends to eradicate from 



