The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-03
LAWLESSNESS In ALASKA.
John G. Brady Says the Country Needs
Legislation.

John G.. Brady, who has for twenty
years been a resident of Alaska, has been
spending a day or two with his old school
chum, Harry j. Milligan, of No. 1876 North
Delaware street. Mr.. Brady is on his way
back to Alaska, having been to Washing
ton in the interests of some much-needed'
legislation Mr.. Brady says his country is
being grossly neglected by the United
States although Alaska is part of the gov
eminent posse ssions. He complains OF
great many things which he says the ad-
ministration should look after. Mr.. Brady
is resident of Sitka. The chief complaint
he has to make relates to the present style
of government of the Alaskan territory.
THE act passed in 1884 by congress Ior
the government of Alaska, says Mr..
Brady gave us a district judge, attorney,
clerk United States marshal, a collector
of customs and four United States commits
sioners. The law provided that the laws
of the State of Oregon were to apply 10
our country That was all we'll enough, but
what we object to now is the manner in
which these appointments are made; since
1884 we have had forty-seVen people APP
pointed to federal positions in Alaska.
These appointments were made by the oil
ferent Presidents and confirmed by the
Senate. Out of this number of appointments
three of them have been bona fide residents
of Alaska. These were two commissioners
from the States of New York, Michigan,
Wisconsin, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana,
Tennessee Minnesota, New Jersey, Ne
braska Colorado, Oregon, Texas and Wash
ington. These men were sent from both po-
litical parties. Few of them, II any, were
in sympathy with the people of Alaska.
they knew little of our peculiar form OF
government and had little idea of the re-
quirementS of our people. Now we want
these appointments made from the ranks Of
our people and it is not asking too much.
The trouble is that this government mas
no idea of the vast resources of our coun-
try. We have the finest gold mines in the
World-Or at least we are among the pest:
Last year our mines yielded 100000 or gold
and there is millions more of this buried
treasure We have great coal heldS that
are as yet undeVelOped. We can furnish all
the beef, butter and cheese our people need
in the world. What we want is a commits
sion by act of Congress to sit in Alaska
and prepare laws applicable to the people
of that country
sadly in need of some temperance legisla-
ton. He says in parts of the country there
are no officers of the law to enforce the
laws they have. Last winter on the Yukon
river two thousand men lived and worked
the mines without the presence of an oth-
GER of any kind. Not even a constable was
to be found There is no law authorizing
the presence of a saloon in Alaska, but
saloons are plentiful. There is no one to
interfere" says Mr. Brady, except the
revenue collector and so long as the gov
eminent stamp is exhibited he is satisfied.
There are very few prosecutions. Thou
sands of gallons of Canadian liquor are
struggled into the country.
Mr.. Brady also complains of the land
laws. The act creating a judicial district
for the country declared that the general
land laws should not be extended except
by further act of Congress. No one can
system and, the country is full Of squat
terS,'