390 



Q. Who were your colleagues appointed at that time? 



A. Townsend Cox and Mr. Theodore B. Basselin. 



Q. You have all continued in office up to this time, Mr. Basselin. 

 having been reappointed ? 



' A. We have; Mr. Basselin was reappointed three years ago; Mr. 

 Cox's term expired last year, and he has held over a year. 

 • Q. Hpw long after your appointment did you organize and enter 

 upon y6ur duties ? 



A. Very soon thereafter; we met in Albany, organized and drew 

 lots for the terms; upon my motion Mr. Cox was appointed president 

 of the commi-ision; for the convenience of the transaction of business, 

 I consented to act as treasurer and auditor of the commission. 



Q. What was there with regard to the office of president; were 

 there any duties assigned him ? 



A. Neither by statute nor by resolution were any special powers con- 

 ferred upon the president; his function was to preside at the meet- 

 ings, and be the medium of communication, whether oral or written, 

 where the commission had occasion to make any formal com- 

 munications. 



Q. Did you select other officers at or about that time ? 



A. Mr. Fox was appointed as clerk of the commission; subse- 

 quently Mr. Train was appointed secretary, and Mr. Garmon, warden, 

 and Mr. Fox was appointed assistant warden. 



Q. By whom were these respective officers nominated ? 



A. Mr. Garmon was nominated by Mr. Basselin; as to Mr. Fox, when 

 his title was changed and he was made assistant warden, I don't know 

 who nominated him. 



Q. Was he "unanimously selected for that office — assistant warden ? 



A. Well, I should suppose not from what Mr. Cox has told me, it 

 isn't within my recollection, I understand Mr. Cox voted against him; 

 I see by his testimony he voted against all the appointments we made 

 then. 



Q. What did you proceed to do in the way of discharging the duties 

 of the office of commissioner, yourself and your colleagues, and what 

 have been the duties you have taken upon you from the time of the 

 existence of the commission ? 



A. We have done our best to carry out the declarations of the act 

 creating the commission in maintaining and preserving the forests; 

 do you wish to know about the order of business ? 



Q. Yes, as to your methods of doing business, what you have done 

 for the purpose of protecting the forests; as to whether your duties 



