Page:Oregon, her history, her great men, her literature.djvu/305

304 more liberties and greater freedom generally. The manufacture of stoves at the prison had been abandoned; and to avoid the evil effects of idleness among the prisoners, other work was necessary. At different times Governor West had scores of prisoners in various parts of the state engaged in many kinds of employment; and while there were some escapes, it ¥ras generally conceded that the greater number of convicts proved worthy of the trust in dieir honor.

The Parole. Upon the theory that the community is better protected and the convict given a better opportunity to reclaim himself when allowed to go out on parole, rather than to be compelled to complete his sentence and then turned loose without restraint, such convicts, as proved worthy were paroled upon the condition that they be law-abiding and report monthly to the parole officer.

Fish and Game Commission Created. At the 1911 session of the Oregon Legislature, a law was passed creating a Fish and Game Commission. This law provided that this ' board shall consist of five citizens, four of these members to be appointed by the Governor; one appointed each year to serve a term of four years. The law also provided that two members were to be residents of that section of the state lying east of the Cascade Range. The other two were to be from the western part of the State. The fifth member was to be selected by the other four, his term of service to be one year. This board was given full power and authority to enforce all laws respecting the protection, preservation and propagation of fish, game animals, game and non-game birds within the state.

Commission Appoints Game Warden With New Duties. The Fish and Game Commission appointed by Governor Oswald West chose William L. Finley, well-known naturalist, as State Game Warden, to carry on the enforcement of game laws and the propagation of various kinds of game.