The Oregon Sportsman 



Volume 11 APRIL 1914 Number 4 



IS IT GRAFT OR GAME? 



The Salem Journal takes occasion to find fault with the 

 administration of game laws and the spending of hunters' and 

 anglers' license money. In a recent editorial entitled "State 

 Fish and Game Graft," it has the following to say: 



"What is needed most is a law requiring all the revenues 

 from fish and game licenses turned into the general fund of the 

 state. Then a specific appropriation could be made for the ex- 

 penses of the fish and game department, which should not ex- 

 ceed $75,000 for the biennial term. 



"If this were done, there would be a net income to the 

 state of nearly $100,000 a year. As it has been in the past the 

 game warden has made a valiant attempt to spend the entire 

 income of the department and has practically succeeded in doing 

 so. Last year $137,000 was expended by the commission, a large 

 part of it being squandered in useless officials and employes. 



"The next legislature has a duty to the people to perform 

 in this matter, and it is to be hoped that the members will have 

 the business sense and integrity to do it." 



How Is the Money to be Spent? 



The present is a very favorable time to discuss how the 

 Game Protection Fund should be handled. We have always con- 

 tended the more interest and general discussion of these matters, 

 the better. In 1912 the sale of hunting and angling licenses 

 amounted to $85,770.00. In 1913 the license money increased to 

 $108,800.00. The increase was on account of the opening of the 

 Chinese pheasant season. As more and more people are inter- 

 ested in hunting and fishing each year, the Game Protection 

 Fund is sure to increase annually. 



If a law is needed requiring all revenues from hunters' and 

 anglers' licenses turned into the general fund of the state, this 



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