The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-09
Alaska GRAND JURY REPORT
OUT OF l46 IT FOUND l41 TRUE
BILLS OF INDICTMENT.
over 100 Cases Of Violation OF Dusi-
ness Tax Law Enacted by Last
Congress-schooh system District
Declared 10 BE wholly Inadequate

Appended will be found copy Of the re-
port OF the United States grand jury which
recently sat at Juneau. During the ses-
sion lag cases were presented and true bills
were returned In every case save i've.
or the indictments returned, more than
100 were against merchants who had failed
or refused to comply with the recent busi-
ness tax law enacted ts; the last con-
gress
The grand jury prays for better public
school system for Alaska, and suggests
that some of the revenue collected from
the residents Of the district be applied In
that direction. The present school system
of the district Is referred to as "deplor-
able and wholly inadequate" More pub
lie building appropriations are declared
TO be necessity, particularly for prisoners.
Following Is n report of the grand jury
as submitted by Secretary George L..
Metcalf:
Judge johnson. Your grand jury begs
leave to report verbally owing to the
fact that a number Of the members OF
the grand jury are anxious to return to
their homes ONES, and families and BY , vote
Your grand jury wishes to thank the
judge and clerk of the court for their
courteous and untiring efforts to assist
them In their deliberations, recognizing
MS we do that your time Is fully occupied
In answering the many calls of Justice
from the whites, Indians, Eskimos and for
eign. Of the district. The many kindnesses
received at your hands are all appreciated.
The grand jury finds that the present
laws are inadequate to the present con-
be said In connection with the law on
gambling, under which only the actual
owner Of gambling house can be pun
ished.
'''rhe grand jury had, during its time
In session. i48 cases presented to its at
tention. OF these 141 true bills and five
untrue bills were. reported; but In order
that the impression may not go abroad
that crime Ii increasing in Alaska, we
wish to state that over 100 OF these In
dictments were against citizens OF the
they had not been advised had not met
with the requirements of the recent tax
law which had gone into effect, and had
not paid their tax.
which should be speedily built, contain
ing fireproof vaults for the safekeeping
Of valuable instruments OF record. and
your grand jury finds that this matter
has been neglected and urges action IN the
matter. Suitable jails are also recon-
mended; particularly can this be said or
the places OF confinement on the Amer
lean Yukon, where there are no arrange
ments for the Incarceration Of dangerous
prisoners. One particular case. which at
tracted the grand jury's attention was the
escape of a prisoner at st. Michael, who,
with common case knife. cut his way to
liberty, only to be recaptured at great ex-
pense to. the marshal without hope OF
compensation by the government. After
official corruption and official misconduct.
we find them wholly unfounded and
caused from malice. and desire to state
that we wish to place on record our ut
most confidence in the honesty and IN
tegrity OF the United states officials IN
I'm order that some remedial power or
authority may be reached. whereby the
present deplorable and wholly inadequate
condition Of the public school system Of
Alaska may be clearly shown and It's
fully presents the following:
considering the public school system
of our nation and the education OF its
people the nations safeguard. we earnest
ly request those in authority to extend to
us q system and maintenance of public
schools, whereby the vast number Of
Now that we are taxed and large and
increasing revenue derived therefrom,
there should be at least considerable
portion of this revenue appropriated for
school purposes.
Since 1895. and inclusive. we have had
amount should be increased to at least
$4,000, and an additional $4,000 for pub
lie school buildings. We have examined
them wholly Inadequate to- the needs.
There should be at this place building to
accommodate 200 pupils and to cost about
f1,WW
eat Douglas island like condition pre-
walls, while In Skagway with from 800 to
400 children of school age, there is no
school house, and while small school Is
sustained. it's needs are very urgent and
there also should be a public school build
ing built to accommodate 200 to 800 pupils
and to cost $1,000.
"Wrangel. Douglas island, st. Michael,
Circle City and various. other towns in
Alaska should be supplied with public
schools, where the white population can
have educational advantages exclusive and
distinct from the natives.
1--WE believe that the time has arrived
when the educational system of Alaska
should be managed and controlled by an
educational bureau. consisting of repre-
sentative men of Alaska: that all public
schools should be free and distinct from
any or all religious sects
'Within the past three years Alaska has
had a wonderful increase in population.
Allured by the wonderful wealth and re-
sources OF this vast territory, men have
brought their families, settled and built
homes. That this growth will continue is
assured. Therefore prompt remedial steps
in the educational line are of the greatest
import. While the schools at present are
supplied with competent and efficient
teachers, their number Is few and re-
sources limited
.Heretofore the impression has prevailed
that the white population of Alaska were
principally lawless fortune seekers This
is wrong; we have demonstration that we
are thrifty, enterpr.sing people. and so
greatly need the educational facilities, etc,
enjoyed by the rest Of our great nation.
man. M. r. Archer,
George L. Metcalf &C. w. Foreman,
secretary. "P. III. Fox,
George Kostrometi- "I. Crahlman.
noff IF Y Shuck.
William Russell, "p. A. smith.
s1F Gilman "E. N Sessions