The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-21
MORE GOVERNMENT
NEEDED FOR ALASKA
Crude System OF Pioneer Days Not
Adapted to Changed COndi-
tiOns of the Present.

territory has induced ee1grvss - consiier
the mIch-needed reforms in It's govern
ment. Until the last few years I had been
given over 10 the Indians, trappers. fisher
men and salmon Gamers seal hunters. the
missionaries and 3 small coter!e Of Fed
eral officials The only part OF the terri
tory which received any attention from
the officials WAS the narrow ssr.p Of South
eastern Alaska. the coast settlements
where the fishermen and Gamers made
their headquarters. the Aleut!au islands
and the seal islands In Boring sea.
Throughout the whole domain which
forms the western boundary Of Boring
sea there Was no representative OF tina
government and nothing 70 bind il 10 the
United States except he patriotism Of the
miners who explored fts w.'ds- The laws
were the code which ruled Oregon before
its rise 10 statehood and this furnished
the merest skeleton OF government
There Were b governor, judge OF the
United States d.stric: court. Il collector OF
customs a marshal. a superintendent of
education who devoted his attention 10 the
Indians, a few Enited States commission
ers sea Tered a3pnx the -Goas, and among
the islands, ana that was All. There was
no title to land. and occupants had only
squatters' rights. which they could convey
by quit Claim deed, all men who GU. tim
Der being legally trespassers. There was
no authority to build road. grant right
of-way 70 a railroad. pat or incazporaie
a town. Nor was there any person spsrep-
resent the territory before congress. the
only manner In which that body could be
approached in its behalf being by petition
ana by the annual report Of the governor.
which was transmitted 10 congress by the
secretary OF the interior and promptly
buried in committee.
Not Thought Worth Attention.
sd 4rx- IL.
Indians and a sprinkling OF white people
could worry along with such lack OF
goveiane1 and law, although this con
dition OF sirS was serious bar TO lis
further settlement and the development
Of its resources. But It was supposed 70
be worthless for anything but rs fish,
furs and seals, and the general opinion
was that it's purchase was merely a blind
10 cover a cash payment 10 Russia for her
secretly holding her feet ready 70 defend
the coast OF the United States during the
civil war in case OF an outbreak OF nos
Titles With Great Britain. Nobody
though, that the territory was worth hav-
ing by itself.
The miners have gradually forced the
government to pay some attention 70 this
long neglected possession. The nrst step
was the extension of the United States
mining laws to Alaska. Within the last
year the law has been changed so that
patents can be obtained 20 townsites. and
the towns OF Juneau ana Wrangel have
been patented
The Governors views.
Since the great northwaTd movement set
IN better government for Alaska has beea
one Of .ha live political questions. pdrlNs
,he first blush OF enthusiasm il was pro-
posed 10 cut of western from southeast
ern Alaska and erect 1t INTO a separate
territory, but this scheme has no. met WIN
favor. it being argued that tie present
ponulat.on - too rowing, changeah.e ara
unsettled Gov John g. Brady opposes
any elective government for these reasons
bat recommends that a commission be p
pointed 10 draft system % laws for
the territory and particularly recommends
the extension OF the Fedora land laws.
an Increase IN the number OF judges. ine
abolition OF the Zee system n Federal
offices The zubsst tuition OF high license
for the farcical prohibition which = now
law hut not fact and the creation Of a
steamboat Inspection office for the Yukon
river.
Extending the Laws.
S,ct,s are now being taken IN congress
70 carry some ~ these recommendations
INTO effect. biz has passed he house
and - now pending III the senate extend
ing he homestead law 10 Alaska IN
certain notifications and granting right
~ way TO railroads on practically the
same terms as 1t - granted through the
public domain IN other parts OF the coun-
try Tut with the option 20 purchase by th@
government at the cost price 81 the end of
twenty years Another bill Is ander coh-
sheraton. enlarging the powers Of The
governor, and creating three district
courts. the Judges Of which arc 10 nave
,na power ~ appointing commissioners
having the powers OF justices Of the peace
United States commissioners ard deputy
n,srshals were stationed hast SIMMER at
skarway and Circle before these measures
hat heen drafted
soldiers in Control.
TIE urgent need 81 s7rn- measures 10
x,reSetye order on the Yukon and asong
-. x.vera} routes To the interior was 80
fat-v realized il the summer ana faA CT
fs,7 mat a detachment - Federal troops
"a. sent TO 81 Michael ard , military
r.s.~vattou vas created, comprising ne
terr't-ry within 4 radius OF li3 niles from
~. stand and .nri aairr the delta IF the
yixon- TIE officer 81 command Of the
r.sr wha .. present = Mai George r
pa~.fsu. hss twenty-five men with AIM
AMI - the governor % aha reservation with
,,fv,er 10 srant perm = TO- TIE erection ~
buildings and The occupation % ground.
To- Gathering Of great numbers Of Fsl-2s~
1.rs ard gamblers a SkAgway and Dysa
rsusef foor companies % she Fourteenth
s-e,rtsx To e4 sent 20 thos@ towns az "A
,.-,, af,;toa asa-us, disorder. taeFe beng
ro vi authority except a 3eTa,y mar
sNa-
Incorporate tse Towns
To e,sa3er wvow1 % t1ese towns. az
We a. Juneau. < vi! -naal, Rampant. IT,
-.e and sarr;se has ugoye3 tse necessity
- law allowing them 10 Incorporate
fer .-a rsgruct.on - public improve
.s-eo,s aoE va 9-esr~-a'sf - --'ar SHn-
~-s = r1.f45 fs 't~es- -..r e.t-ftt tF