Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-05
RELIEF FOR ALASKA.

OF ms newly acquired territory under tho
Federal Constitution shall he fully defined
and provided for
RELIEF FOR ALASKA.
A necessity for immediate Legislative rn-
lief exists in the Territory OF Alaska. Sun-
stantially the only law providing civil
government fer this Territory is the act or
May H. 1884. This is meager in its provis-
ions. and is fitted only for the admlnistra-
don Of affairs in 4 country sparscy nhab-
tied 5y civilized people and unimportanr
in trade and production. as was Alaska at
the time this act was passed. The increase
in population by immigration during the
past few years, consequent upon thu dis
ccvery OF gold, has produced such a condi-
ton as calls for more ample facilities for
local self-goNernment and more numerous
conVeniences of civil and judicial admins
trauon. Settlements have grown up IN Va
rious places. constituting in point OF popu-
latIon and business cities of thousands OF
inhabitants. yet there is no provision of law
under which municipality can bc organ
ICED or maintained
In some localities the inhabitants have
met together and voluntarily formed a mu-
n.c.pal organization for the purpose of local
government. adopting the form of a mU-
n.cpal constitution and charter under
which said officials have been appointed.
ana ordinances creating and regulating a
police force. A fire department. "A depart
ment Of health, and making provision Tor
the care of the insane and INDECENT poor
and sick and for public schools have been
passed. These proceedings and the ordi-
nanceS passed by such municipalities are
without statutory authority and have uu
sanction except as they are maintained by
the popular sentiment Of the community.
There Is an entire absence Of authority 10
PROVIDE the ordinary Instruments OF local
police control and administration the pop
ulatIon consisting of the usual percentage
Of lawleSS Adventures Of the class that al
ways flock TO fields OF enterprise or
discovery. and under circumstances which
require more than ordinary provision for
the maintenance Of peace, good order and
lawful conduct
The whole vast area Of Alaska comprises
but one Judicial district with one judge.
one marshal. and one district attorney. Yet
the civil and criminal business has more
than doubled within the past year. and ia
many tunes greater both IN volume and i'm
pOrtance than II was in 1854. The duties Of
the Judge require him To travel thousands
Of miles To discharge his judicial duties al
the various places designated FOR thai plr-
pose. The territory should be divided into
at least two districts and an additional
Judge. district attorney. marshal and other
appropriate officers be provided
There is practically no organized form 1r
government IN the Territory. There is no
authority except in Congress. to pass any
law. no matter how local or trivial and the
dlfhculty OF conveying 70 the Congress an
adequate conception and understanding OF
the various needs of the people I'm the dfT-
ferent communities Is easily understood. 1
see no reason why more complete form
OF Territorial organization should not Doe
provided. Following the precedent estab-
lshed in the year 1850, when a temporary
government was provided for the recently
acquired territory. then known under the
name of Louisiana, 1t seems to me that II
would be advantageous TO confer greater
executive power upon the governor and 20
establish, as done in the case OF the
Territory OF Louisiana, legislative couu-
CT having power to adopt ordinances which
shall extend TO all the rightful subjects OF
local legislation, such ordinances not to
take effect until reported to and approved
by the Congress IL in session, and II thar
body is not in session then by the Presi-
dent. In this manner d system OF laws
providing for the incorpora ton and govern
ment of towns and cities having a certain
population, giving them the power to es-
tablish and maintain a system OF educa-
ton to be locally supported. and ordinances
providing Tor police. sanitary, and other
such purposes. could be speedily provided.
| believe a provision of this kind would be
satisfactory to the people Of the Territory
1t is probable that the area is too vast and
the population too scattered and transitory
to make it wise al the present time to pro-
vide for an elective legislative body, but
the conditions calling for local self-govern-
ment will undoubtedly very soon exist. and
will be facilitated by the measures which 1
have recommended.
LEGISLATION FOR PORTO RICO.
! FttpHiHtiN tiisit l'6A74deAvi ~ tilV S'ii4iE
end be had with reference % the govern
ment of Porto Rico. The time is ripe for
the adoption of a temporary form of gov
eminent for this island; and many sugges-
lions made with reference to Alaska are
applicable also to Porto Rico
The system of civil Jurisprudence now
adopted by the people Of this island is de-
scribed by competent lawyers who are ia
miliar with it, as thoroughly modern and
scientific. so far as 1t relates to matters Of
internal business. trade production, ana
social and private right in general. The
cities of the island are governed under
charters which probably require very little
or no change SO that with relation To-
matters Of local concern and private right.
it is not probable that much. If any, legis-
lation is desirable; but with reference To
public administration and the relations Of
the island to the Federal Government.