Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-05
ALASKA.
Some Important Legislation Is Needed
by the Territory.


Some Important Legislation Is Needed
by the Territory.
A necessity for immediate legislative re-
lief exists In the territory of Alaska. Sub
stantially the only law providing civil
Of May il, lssi This is meager in its nrovi-
sions, and is fitted only for the admins
istration of affairs in a country sparsely
portant in trade. and production, as was
Alaska at the time this act was passed
The increase In population by immigra-
ton during the past few years, consequent
such condition as calls for more ample
facilities for local self-governm and
more. numerous conveniences Of civil! and
judicial administration. Settlemen have
grown up in various places. constituting in
point of populate and business cities OF
thousands Of inhabitants. yet there is no
ity can. be organized or maintained.
In some localities the inhabitants have
met together and voluntarily formed mu-
local government. adopting the form of
a municipal constitution and charter. UNI
der which paid officials have been appoint
police force, FIRE department, de-
partment of health and making provi-
sion for the care of the insane and in
have BEEN ee passed cA These proceedngs and
the ordinances passed by such municipal
tiles are without statutory authority, and
taned bv sbs they a
community There Is an entire absence of
authority to provide the ordinary instru-
ments Of local police control end adminis-
usual percentage of lawless adventures OF
the class that always flock to new fields of
enterprise or discovery. and under oircum-
stances which require more than ordinary
provision for the maintenance of peace.
good order and lawful conduct.
More Courts Needed.
The whole vast area OF Alaska COM
prlses but one judicial district, with one
Judge, one marshal and one district at
torney, yet the civil and criminal business
has more than doubled within the past
year. and Is many times greater both ia
1884. The duties Of the judge require him
to travel thousands of miles to discharge
his. judicial duties at the various places
tory should be divided into at least two
districts and an additional Judge. district
attorney, marshal and other appropriate
There is practically no organized form
of government in the territory There is
no authority, except in congress, to pass
and the difflculty Of conveying to the
congress. an adequate conception and un-
Outstanding of the various needs Of the
easily understood. 4 see no reason why
more complete form OF territorial or
ganization should not be provided. Fol-
IOW kuE LIE pEeCeueul eSld pllSleQ IN the
year 1905, when a temporary 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 execu-
tive power upon the governor and to estab-
lish, as was done in the case of the terri
tory OF Louisiana, a legislative council
having power to adopt ordinances which
shall extend to all the rightful subjects
Of los LEGISLATION, such ordnanees not
proved by, the congress If in session. and
u that body is not In session then by the
providing for the Incorporation and gov
eminent Of towns and cities having a GER
tain Population, giving. them the power
to establish and maintain system of ed
ucatton to be locally supported, and ordi-
nances providing for police, sanitary and
other, such purposes, could be speedily
provided
believe a provision of this kind would
be satisfactory to the people of the terri
tory. 1t is probable that the area is too
vast and the population too scattered and
transitory to. make 1t wise at the present
time to provide for an elective legislative
body, but the conditions calling for local
self-government will undoubtedly very
soon exist and will be facilitated by the
measures which have recommended