The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-06
CARROLL'S BIG JOB.
Efforts to Secure a Local Coy
ernment for Alaska.
a characteristic Speech Before the House
Committee on Territories.
EX-Judse Keatley Severely Rebuked "A
Substitute Bill Likely to Be
Passed.
speciai to THE MORNING CALI

"A9hlNGToN, FEB. 5.-Delegate James
carroll OF Alaska appeared before the
House Committee on Territories to-day and
delivered rich and racy speech, as fol-
lows: EXJudge Keatley appears to be
opposed to Territorial form of govern
ment for Alaska. One of his objections
is to the Supreme Court that would be Or
ganHed, at an expense of $4,000 annually.
Inc abuses heaped upon the citizens of that
territory are getting unbearabe. Some of
our jealous and over officious Government
every change of the Administration, in
order to show to their superiors what faith
ful and efficient officers they are very often
lntrude upon the rights of the citizens. I
know OF one particular case where some
citizens had expended several thousand dol
lars on improvements. when some Govern
meht othclals, who were not on friendly
terms with the above citizens, thought they
were encroaching on Government rights.
Inc consequence was they were taken into
court, and as is generally the case the court
decided i'll favor of the Government (our
court In Alaska has always decided in favor
oil the Government for fear of displeasing
the appointing power if they should do
otherwise), and took property away from
the citizens which had cost them several
thousand dollars, and gave them no recon-
pense for the same.
There is no appeal from the decisions
made by the Alaska court. The Govern
ment at no time since it has owned the Ter
ritory has expended one cent on improve
ments. Ex-Judge Keatley is not willing
to spend $500 extra per year to assist the
citizens of Alaska in having justice dealt
out to them fairly and squarely, but at the
same time he is willing to take $50, 600 out
of the Treasury at the very first grab to
build yacht for the Government officials
OF Alaska, to enable them to enjoy them
selves and to entertain their friends by
giving yachting parties among the 10000
Islands in the placid waters of Alaska,
under the plea of looking for some criminal
to serve warrants on, aud all at the expense
OF the Government.
The Government has q gun-bOat sta
toned in Alaska waters with full compile
ment of naval officers and crew. AS l under
stand, she is there for the purpose of aiding
the Government in executing the laws; she
has nothing else to do. If Alaska had a
GONeTuLltuL ltltIG Wbutu DC lO
necessity of bringing juries, witnesses and
criminals a distance of from 200 to 1000
miles to Sitka to attend court As Alaska
is governed to-day it costs the Government
S37. 500 20; this is fully as much as it would
cost if we had Territorial Government as
proposed.
Great Britain says Alaska has no righ Is
and she carries her saying into effect, for
her subjects go into Alaskan waters and
slaughter our seal indiscriminately and
there is nothing done to them. But If a
citizen Of Alaska catches any fur seal in
those waters the American citizen is taken
prisoner, his vessel and sealskins confis-
Gated and he mas no redress.
Alaska is about the only Territory that
the United States ever had that pays a
yearly revenue into the Treasury She was
purchased from Russia at a cost of 81, 250, ,000
and up to the present time has returned to
the Treasury of the United States from one
in dustry alone SS,694,e65. She shipped last
year out of the Territory fish, OIL bone,
furs, gold, etc. amounting 10 about S1l,-
100000. The fact of the scarcity of popula-
tion does not justify neglect of it by the
National Government nor can IL ever be
peopled unless the land laws Of the United
States are put in force therein, and Govern
settlers. The operation Is none the less
accessory because it is expensive.
Ex-Judge Keatley made statement be-
fore this committee to the effect that
neither Sitka nor Fort Wrangel, the only
two white settlements of any degree of
population besides Juneau and Douglass
Islands, participated in this request ior
new system OF government. He says he
personally knows for fact that the memo
rial demanding change originated wholly
iah Il Il
egates or people from any other part of the
Territory participated. l am AT great loss
to understand why ex-J Judge keatley should
make such deliberate false statement. 1t
is only necessary for the committee to read
the memorial from juneau to be convinced
that ex-Judge Keatley's statement is false.
keatley says he has not dollars interest in
Alaska iu ANY shape, directly or indirectly.
This is usually the case with all Govern
ment officials, appointed from other States
to that Territory to administer justice in
Alaska. They have nothing but carpet
bag, and very often it is not very we'll filed"
At the close OF CarrolPs speech the COM
mlttee held "a conference and decided that
there was little probability OF securing
Territorial Government for Alaska at this
session. Captain Carroll thereupon offered
a substitute for the Territorial Bill, by
which the Governor of Alaska, by and with
the approval OF the Secretary Of the 1nte-
rior, may establish precincts and commits
sion Justices of the Peace and Constables,
to be invested respectively with the jursdc-
tiOn and emoluments of similar officers in
Oregon, provided that appeals from JUS
ticeS, as prescribed by said general laws,
shall, IN each case arising, go to tho nearest
OF the four Commissioners created by the
fifth section of the act providing for Il civil
Government for Alaska.
Section 2. Town and village corporations
may be formed in Alaska upon the applica-
ton of the citizens concerned by a commits
sion consisting of the Governor, District
Judge and Surveyo or General ex-officio un-
der the rules prescribed by said commission
and approved by the SecretrTy of the Inte-
rior; the powers and procedure of such cor
poratlons to be conformed by said regula-
tlons to and applicable to the provisions of the
Oregon law; provided that the Justices of the
Peace and Constables shall be respectively
ex-otticio Recorder and Marshal of their
precincts. The former shah be eX-oificio
Commissioner of Streets, and the Board of
Trustees shall choose one of its own men,
bers to act as Treasurer; provided further
that upon the village the laws of the United
States public lands shall be extended to
such municipal corporation under such reg
ulatious as the Secretary of the Interior
may prescribe.
Sec. 3. The inhabitants of the District OF
Alaska may take timber from the public
lands for necessary industrial and domestic
uses upon the payment of reasonable stamp
age fees to the United States and under
such regulations as the Secretary of the In
terror may prescribe.
This bill was considered by the committee
and favorable report ordered. 1t Is posi-
Bile and even probable that the bill may slil
through this Congress.