Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-15
LAWS RELATING TO ALASKA.
REPORT of the Qualification Commits
sion Submitted to Congress-.

Attorney General McEenna Yesterday
submitted TO the Senate sIecial report
made by the commission to revise and
cod.fy the criminal and p, nal la,ys of the
United States concerning the criminal and
penal laws relating to Alaska; also a code
OF criminal procedure for that district in
the form Of bill, which accompanied the
report of the commission
In its report the commission says that as
nc organization of the territory of Alaska.
the District of Columbia ard Indian terri
tory has been authorized by Congress
" hich contemplates local f-eovernment
IL Is required to codify the criminal and
penal laws peculiarly applicable to these
territories. The crimir al laws of the Tinted
States will form the body OF the code which
the commission is to prepare The COM
mission says: AT an carly stage of o,ir
labors we directed our attention to the con-
dlucn Of the criminal laws for the district
OF Aiaska- The circumstances tha; lend
importance 10 this subject are OF common
Eotoricty. L. was recently estimated from
an ofiicial source that there will be aoQun
persons within that district during the en-
SUNG SUNG caieEGar year. Many Will pass
through parts of Alaska en- route to tha
gold fields ia British North America: but
there Will also he communities Of consid-
cradle numbers formed within The distant
places where there has heretofore been lit
ne or 40 population. In contemplation OF
tnese conditions. we have deemed il de-
s'rable that the necessary aSC rcics should
he provided for the punishment arl pre-
Nenton OF crimes by the civil authority
and that penal code should ~. supplied
adapted to the circumstances thar are 10
ne anticipated, clear ard certain In its pro-
visions and convenient in form. for The
purpose of Distribution"
me commission points out that hy virtue
CT Tie act providing civil government for
Alaska, the laws of Oregon necoma lavs
OF the United States The laws which now
exist over Alaska nay be classified as fol.
lows:
|. The statutes of the United States ex
tending over ell the states and territories
- Tie statutes of the United States en-
acted expressly for Alaska
* ne laws OF Oregon in force on the 18th
Of May. 1854. SO far as they are applicable
ana hot in conflict with the laws of the
United States.
Wnicn 1t proposes is enacted into law il
VIII furnish complete penal code for
Alaska In conclusion. the commission
says:
Under authority of existing laws. the
Pre- sfdent has appointed commissioners 10
reside at nine designated places who with
ether powers and duties are ex-ofncio ius-
tees of the peace. 1t is TO be presumed
that other communities of considerable
numbers VIII be formed as the population
OF the district increases, and to meet their
needs we have inserted a provision aut hor-
1Zing the judge of the district court TO an
point additional commissioners with the
jurisdiction of magistrates in criminal pro-
ceedingS. Provision is also made for the
appointment of deputy marshals in excess
OF the number now authorized by law; and
all the deputy marshals are given The an
thority of constables in the execution of
criminal process"