National Republican., 1880-03-10
A Littla Gmne In AInnItn.

Alaska Is n remote and detached portion
of this Nation, which was acquired from Rus.
sia by treaty and purchase. 1t has 1000 lies
of stormy and tempcstuous sea coast, has uu
exceedingly sparse population scattered for
thousands Of mileI along n broken and rocky
coast mud npon sterile islands, where fish aud
oil furnish almost the only article of diet
combine to make the proper care Of that por.
tlOn Of our common country aud its populu
tion ono of tho most debatable Problems In
tho economy Of our Government.
At the present time Alaska Is under the
control of tho Treasury Department, its rulers
forming its only laws. This sort OF govern.
ment ha' always been and doubtless will bo
sufficient in the western and northern nor
tions OF the Territory, which is Inhabited by
semi mi-barbariau Alents, while the southern
portion of Alaska contains two settlements ol
whites-Sitka and WrngcI. which are really
in a condition to conduct representstiv We
form Of government. In no other village of
the vast area Of that region can n sufficient
number Of persons bo found competent to act
rs juryhon or to furnish Intelligent election
officers.
Uuder this condition OF affairs the question
arises. what sort of government can be devised
that would prove bonefcsl to all the pcople ?
Perhaps none; yet something should he at.
temptGd. Most certainly tho bill introduced
into the Senate by Senator Butler n fow days
since docs rot seem well adapted to that end.
His bill contains what seems to no very absurd
aud cXtavagant proposition that cannot bs
reconciled with any sensible ideas of Repuh.
lican form of government. This bill provides
for the appointment of u Governor Chief. Jus.
tce, Secretary and Surveyor. General, who,
with the Collector of Customs Of the district
of Alaska, shall constitutes Legislative Cuun-
Gill;" three Of whom shall form a quorum, and
Whose acts, when signed by the Governor, shall
have the force and effect of y law. This ooun.
Gil shall appoint -four inferior justices for the
Territory, aud any other necessary onicials
not herelu otherwise provided for; aud they
shall provide for the collection of taxes aud
licenses, the punishment Of crimes. tho regis
trution of voters, and, In fact, do whatever
they please, even TO publishing both In tho
English aud Russian languages such Of their
acts us may be necessary TO be published, and
they may Judge Of the necessity"
This bill not only gives this bandhox Of
government nntocratic powers hut II makes
them superior in some respects to tho Govern.
mont of tho United States. Section II pro-
vidcs that amy Of said officers or the Col
lectOr OF Customs may visit any part of slid
Territory in the discharge OF the duties OF
their respective offices, and avail themselves
of tho means of transportation afforded by any
United States vessel to make such visits"
That is, this pocket edition OF government
emo vessel that happens into Sltka aud con-
vert her into private yacht for their own
purposes, whether she Is under orders olse-
whore from the Government OF tho United
States, or Is or not fitted for the cruise they
havo in view, the officer in command being
entirely subject to these masters.
Then. in tho absence of tho Chief Justice
the Surveyor General aud Collector of Cus-
toms, the inferior Justice 40 Sitka, the Terri
torial Attorney and tho deputy collector at
SiIka may and shall take their places In tho
council, 90 that the ukases OF this petty oil.
gharchy may not cease to flow upon the happy
Alents, "and their authority As u lrgisla.
tive council under this act shall eontnde un.
til otherwise provided"
Now there is another singular feature IN
this little game, 1t received no consideration
in the Committee on Territories, and what is
moro singular STILL it WAS not reforrad, whore
II should have boon, to the Committee on tho
Judiciary, 1t is evident that such amcasure
designed for a portion OF Republic should
die very young.