The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-06
TERRITORY OF ALASKA.
A New Scheme of Government Is I'M
peratively Demanded.

peratively Demanded.
A necessity for immediate legislation
exists in the territory of Alaska. Sub
stantially the only law providing civil
government for this territory is the act
Of May H. 1884. This Is meager in it's
provisions and is fitted only for the adj
ministration of affairs in a country
sparsely inhabited by civilized people
and unimportant in trade and produc-
ton, as was Alaska at the time this act
was passed. The increase in population
by immigration during the past few
years, consequent upon the discovery OF
gold, has produced such condition as
calls for more ample facilities for local
self-government and more numerous
conveniences Of civil and judicial adj
ministration. Settlements have grown
up in various places, constituting in
point Of population and business cities
of thousands Of inhabitants, yet there
is no provision oflaw under which
municipality can be organized or main
tanned.
In some localities the inhabitants have
met together and voluntarily formed
municipal organizat ton for the purpose
of local government, adopting the form
of municipal constitution under which
paid officials have been appointed and
ordinances creating and regulating
police force, a fire department, depart
ment of health and making provision
for the care Of the insane and INDECENT
poor and sick and for public schools
have been passed. These proceedings
and ordinances passed by such munich
pality are without statutory authority
and have no sanction except as they
are maintained by the popular senti-
ment of the community. There Is an
entire absence of authority to provide
the ordinary instrument Of local police
control and administration, the popula-
ton consisting of the usual percentage
of lawless adventures of the class THAT
always f1ocks to new fields of enterprise
or discovery, and under circumstances
which require more than ordinary pro-
vision for the maintenance of peace,
good order and lawful conduct.
The whole vast area of Alaska COM
prizes but one judicial district, with one
Judge, one marshal and one district at
torney, yet the civil and criminal bust
ness has more than doubled within the
past year, and is many times greater,
both in volume and Importance, than
it was in 1884. The duties of the judge
require him to travel thousands of miles
to discharge his judicial duties at the
various points designated for that pur-
pose. The territory should be divided
into at least two districts and an ad-
dtional judge, district attorney, mar
shall and other appropriate officers be
appointed,
No Government.
There is practically no organized form
of government in the territory. Thare
is no authority except in congress to
pass any law, no matter how local or
trivial, and the difficulty of conveying
to the congress an adequate conception
and understanding of the various needs
of the people in the different commune
ties is easily understood. l see no rea-
son why more complete form of ter
ritorial organization should not be pro-
vided. Following the precedent estab
lished in the year 1905, when a tenn
porary government was provided for
the recently acquired territory
then known under the name of
Louisiana, it seems to me that it would
be advantageous to confer greater exc
cutive power upon the governor and to
establish. as was done in the case of
the territory of Louisiana, legislative
council having power to- adopt ordi-
nances which shall extend to all the
rightful subjects of local legislation,
such ordinances not to take effect until