The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-29
NEEDED LAWS FOR Alaska.
SECRETARY OF INTERIORS; AyNU.
Al REPORT ON SUBJECT.
Especial Attention II Called tn Rec
concentrations Made by Governor
Brady I'm His Message to the Cow
ernment-Worthy Confederation.

Special Dispatch to the Post-Inteiligencer.
WASHINGTON. Nov. Sin his annual
report. just given 20 the public. Cornelius
y. Bliss, secretary OF the interior. devotes
considerable space TO the laws Of Alaska,
recommendations for which are made in
Gov. Brady's report. which Is freely quoted
BY Secretary Bliss The report says:
The governor OF Alaska. John G.. Brady.
Is bis report On the condition OF affairs in
the district. calls attention to the difficulty
of preventing the smuggling Of LIQUOR into
ALASKA according 10 the present regula-
lions, Intoxicating liquors may be lawfully
imported for medicinal. mechanical and SCI
enttdc purposes only, under permits issued
by the collector OF customs at Sitka. Spe-
cial permits TO sell must be obtained from
the governor. However. with fleet Of
revenue cutters and steam launches to pa
troi the tortuous channels OF Southeast
Alaskan waters, 1t has been impossible to
enforce these regulations. Smuggling pre-
walls, and saloons are open in all of the
towns and mining camps. The governor
states that the report OF the commissioner
OF internal revenue for 1897 shows that the
deputy collector in Alaska received a spe-
cial tax from 147 retail liquor dealers, six
breweries. eight retail and one wholesale
dealer in malt liquors. The court has en-
deavored to deal with those who engage in
this traffic. but without satisfactory re-
suits.
In order to obtain the opinions and ad-
vice OF the leading citizens of Alaska. the
governor addressed a circular letter to
many Of them upon the subject. Their re-
plies show a consensus OF opinion In ia
vor Of stringent high license law. which
would tend to stamp out smuggling and
the selling Of liquor to the natives. The
governor strongly recommends that the
laws with regard to the sale Of liquor in
the District of Columbia, enacted in 1898
and 1884 be made applicable TO Alaska
provided, however, that no license shall be
less than 81 600 nor more than s20ao. and
that the governor. United States marshal
and district attorney be constituted an ex-
else board to enforce the provisions Of said
laws. This course. the governor states,
would have the approval OF majority OF
the citizens. and would provide revenue
ample enough TO pay nearly all Of the
expenses OF governing Alaska.
early action by congress upon the re
port of the commission to revise and codify
the criminal and penal laws of the United
States with regard TO Alaska Is urged.
For the reason that the laws of the
United States relating to mining claims
were by the organic act OF 1884 declared to
be in force in the district OF Alaska, there
has never been any difficulty with regard
TO the locating of mineral lands in the ter
ritory. The general land laws, however
are not in force in Alaska. The governor
states: There are no surveyed lands In
Alaska. nor has any system Of survey been
provided. 1t is impossible, therefore. for Il
poor settler TO acquire a homestead II he
were able and willing to stand the expense
of a survey, ne has no assurance that 1t
will be accepted by the government Ii he
settles as a squatter ana makes improve
ments he cannot tell how future surveys
may affect him..
"The governor believes that Alaska
should and can pay revenue into the
United States treasury Under high
license law he estimates that the liquor
traffic world yield an annual revenue of
not less .han 10000; tax of few cents
per case of salmon would produce from
Ss5 go 10 $4,000; 10 cents per ton on wharf
age collected during the past year would
have yielded slO.ooo. He recommends,
however that any system of taxation for
the territory he deferred until land laws
shall have been provided.
Attention il called to the fact that
many sections of Alaska are suitable for
agricultural purposes. With proper care,
cattle can be raised in the mder districts.
II can not be doubted that in the course
OF time vast herds OF reindeer will cover
the plains OF Northern Alaska. and a few
thousands OF dollars spent now in helping
the Eskimo 10 obtain herds will save the
expenditure of many thousands IN the fu-
ture.
1.-THE fur seal are doomed TO extinction
uniess all pelagic sealing can be stopped.
The branding OF female seals has proved
4 success The brands render the pelts
vaueiess and show that the United States
has a property right to the animal The
raising of bite foxes Is becoming an i'm
portant industry The hunting of the sea
otter has been SO unremitting that very
few are now left. The governor recon-
mends that the killing of them be prohibit
ed for long time
Representation in congress for the citi-
zdiis OF Alaska is strongly urged The SAL
homecoming industry In Alaska is Of i'm
nlense value but the laws which should
regulate il are variously interpreted and
are not enforced. The inspectors can visit
only the few canneries located at the reg
uiar stopping pIacs Of the mail steamers.
and while there owing to the lack OF other
accommoda TONS. must b. the guests OF the
superintendent OF the canncrie~
''fThe past year has been one OF great
progress in mining operations Many OF
the Americans who located claims I'm the
Northwest Territory have abandoned them
and have settled on the Alaskan side OF the
international boundary line where a new
town. Eagle City, has sprung uo There
has been great development in quartz min
ing an southeast Alaska and along the
coast as far as UnSlaska Coal has been
discovered near The upper Yukon the Tan
ana and on ATince William sound.
Public buildings at Sitka are urgently
needed for the accommodation OF the Of
fiCials. TIE Russian log houses which
came into the possession OF the United
States at the time OF the transfer have
been used for this purpose for thir1y-one
years They have been repaired year after
year, oGt the governor states that IL Is
waste OF material 10 continue this course
any longer i, ~ urgently RECOMMENDED
thar congress appropriate s1oeo for the
erection % n psniten;tary and buildings for
the accommodation OF the officials
An appropriation % ss0eio for the essu-
cation OF children IN Alaska Is earnestly
recommended Thirty thousand dollars
has hitherto been appropriated annually
and has been expended by The bureau os
eGuca;ion in maintaining tho schools al
ready tn existence. But many new towns
have sprung ". where educational fariI.-
ties are urgently needed.
Tho native people Of Alaska are now in
8 transition state. ready n abandon old
.~aaks r-.->4