The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-15
LEGISLATION FOR ALASKA.
BILL. GRANTING RIGHTS TO RAIL
ROADS REPORTED FAyoRABLf.
Homestead Laws Also 10 De
tended 10 the Territory, and ofher
Land Laws TO BE Amended IN fhe
DfxersIea of Facilitating Entries.

WASHINGTON. jan. 1.-THE Lacey ttn.
e.sefssf.,x ne homestead Laws 10 Alaska.
ard granting Tlgas-of-wsy 10 raifo&as,
wszs FaYoyasly rsDsgrssG 70 the aouse 1o1a.
frery1 fsae pu6fie lands committee TIE o'is
- bo>a changed lTa committee so as TO sx-
fssai TIE amount OF right-os-way aioAs
Issex. giving land for functions az wei aS
terminals. and fsssry.ng mineral deposl
IL rirnts-es-way t. tire United statss ara
40 as 70 raaulre railroads 20 lie pfelullS-
arr plaas, based On actual survey. giving
rswats for one year, and 70 file ~!tnin one
war sffsrsar9 a profile either Tor the
= aoie route or covering twenty mics II
TINE TIE committee report says
'-Tas gseat mineral discoveries In tais re- re-.
xsar ard fhs present almost tnsuperaDis :
rffncslty III the transportation OF .re'1n
aad passengers have caused al &c!ass ~ !,
4eresf III tie location. ard coisstI '1tse5oaa -
railroads. Numerous scheme. TO-
r.rofsgssei bat the committee has oeeitht
- consider any specinc psoFos3t 5gb - go
Individual or corporation. ous ti'inss sh ~,
snv legislation on the subject A.bonlo PC
general and open TO ali persons alike. - ne
f,roa1zad legislation Is based on me fShL-
rf@yfsg act CT iss5. made adaptable 70 Ala t
Ia A. to the further extension ol s9e g - 4,
IL. land laws tbs committee has csSIura ~
desirable at this tlfres 10 extend We t.oaa.S,
~fe4d Iaws only. The townslte asd hliheia'
laws already are in force
senator Perkins OF California, today
sssfF fEstf1 a
r.rovi4lng n EVIL government for Alaska
pfog4a;ng that ali public lands not re-
served Ia Alaska containing COAL Ignite
or mineral oil may bee claimed and entered
under the land law; that locations NOT ex-
etedlng 60 acres may be located hy any
qualified mineral claimant, but entry can
t,e made only on discovery Of coal. ignite
o. mineral oil on the location; and ihAl
the purchase price Of land claimed under
soil - ( fslv
introduced a blll ameudat0ry ~ the act
providing fer the entry % public lands in
Alaska. for mining and manufacturing
PURPOSES. The bin provides that all loca-
lions and surveys made within the pur-
poses o. the act may De for l50 acres or
less. 70 he taken In any form, provided
that the width shall he al least one~fouTsh
of the horizontal line OF frontage. except
when reservations or ordinary high water
lire limits the width OF the tract. in which
case the frontage may be extended 70 in
cIude SUCH aggregate area. provided such
frontage does not exceed one mile In
length. That possession by substantial
improvements thereon shall be occupation
Of the whole tract claimed and that all
improvements at any time. in any way.
used for trade. manufacture or fisheries.
stall be considered as within the provl-
sions Of the act. The measure further
provides that any claimant under the act
shall have the right-of-way through any
public lands and reservations for ditch ar
rpe line conveying fresh water from any
source Of supply 10 any cannery or other
building used for trade manufactures or
fishery purposes.
Senator Perkins also introduced a bin
providing that the governor of Alaska
may appoint notaries of the district. TO
continue In Office at the will of the gov
ernor. The appointees shall give bond
ia the Gum Of 500.
Attorney General Mckenna today sub
uiitted h the senate special report made
hy the committee TO revise and codify the
criminal and penal laws Of the United
states concerning the criminal and penal
Laws relating TO Alaska; also code of
criminal procedure for thar district In
the form of a bill which accompanied the
rerort Of The commission. In it's report
the commission says that as no orgariza-
toh OF the territory Of Alaska has been
authorized by congress which contem-
plates local self government II Is re-
quired To cndify the criminal and PENAL
laws % those Of the territories The Grim
tnai laws OF the United States viii form
RE body Of the code which the commits
si1n Is to prepare.
The commission points out that by viz
rue OF the act providing a civil govern
ment Of Alaska the laws OF Oregon he-
come laws OF the United States. The laws
"hlch now exist over Alaska NAV be
classified IA follows:
"F4rst-The statutes OF the United s,ates
sNtendihg over all the states and terrific
Second-The statutes OF the r,nitea
siaies enacted expressly for Alaska
tniTd~The laws Of Oregon IN force "a
VIC l.th OF Nav. 1874 so far as they are an
h,iEt8ie ans not IN conflict With the laws
e. ne U1ited States"
The committee suggests that IL the bill
which II reports Ae enacted into Jaw. II
"ih furnish complete penal code FOR
Alaska In conclusion the committee saws.
Under authority of existing 1sws ths
hFe s,ient has appointed CoTnYlts 1ners ~
f@s}Ge NJ nine designated niecrS u,ho
with Others powers and duties. are ex nfYi.
en- justices OF Tire peace. II is 10 be ,lrs-
7aaltd that other communities ~ ~o,lsii.
cradle numbers vii b. formed az ne nnr-
153ston QS the district increases. and Ia
rect their needs We have Inserted \ mr..
fis5eh authorizing the nudge of the ais.r.r,
cart - aerotnt additional comm Ss3l,-,ets
MI tna jurisdiction of magistrates In
criminal proceedings"
Provision = also made far the apnoint-
hent ~ deputy wargaals In excess az The
tamber now authorized by tho law ana au
=" tenutr rsrVAAls are given he author.
~ 81 eons'aN'cs n tho execution Of erin.