Douglas Island news., 1900-02-21
An Unwise System of Taxation.

There has been universal demand from those who understand the situa- ton for legislation in Alaska. That there was woeful lack of proper laws in that territory was known, especially as to acquiring titleto public lands, the proper regulation of the liquor traffic and other important matters. Some of these defects have been remedied, es- pecially in the matter of liquor licenses and others are in a fair way to be.
 The danger now seems to be in the direction of too much legislation for the territory, that the people may be Iegislated out of legitimate business and so law ridden that business will be restricted instead of aided.
 In this connection a bill introduced by Senator Perkins, of California, to amend the act entitled "An act to de. fine and punish crimes in the District of Alaska, and to provide code of criminal procedure for said district, should properly be entitled "An act to restrict legitimate business in the Dis trict of Alaska, and to cinch those who attempt to do business in that terri tory"
 The bill in question provides that sany person or persons, corporation or company prosecuting or attempting to prosecute any of the following lines of business within the district of Alaska shall first obtain a license as provided in the bill." Then follows list of the lines of business and amounts to be paid for carrying on the same.
 For nabstract office license of $50 per amman: boarding house, S15; cigar stores, Sl5 per annum; drug store, $50; public wharves, 10 cents per ton on all freight handled; freight and transpor- tation lines, S1 per ton per annum; ho- teIs. $50: insurance agents and brokers, S25; jewellers, S25; quartz mills, s per stamp per year; mercantile establish ments doing business of S10OOO0 per year, $500; graded down to license of $50 per year, for a business of 510OOO; meat markets S15; manufactures same as mercantile establishments; physi- eians $50; blaming mills $50; railroads S10O per mile per year; restaurants Sl5; sawmills 10 cents per 1000 on lumber manufactured; tramways S10 per mile; transfer companies $50; taXider- mists 810; theaters SlOO. Other legiti, mate lines of business are enumerated, with license to be charged for carrying them on.
 It is evident that the bill was hastily drawn, for there are some legitimate lines of business which should be car ried on in Alaska, and which are neces- sary to the comfort of the people, that are omitted. However, this oversight may be corrected later.
 Seriously, this bill seems to be so for eign to the spirit of our institutions and to impose such hardships and re- strictions upon the new territory and the people who may desire to enter business there, that there does not seem to be possibility of its serious consideration or passage.
 
 A system of taxation such as is in force in other territories is all right, but this system of licenses which will act in the direction of restricting in- stead of aiding settlement and develop ment, and which would seem to be a serious drawback to the establishment of industries and business, should not be put in it's place. For instance, Al askans need sawmilIs and lumber, but tax on every thousand feet produced does not seem to be the right method of stimulating production.-EX.