The daily morning Alaskan. (Skagway, Alaska) 1899-1904, 1900-06-15
SKAGWAY MAY NON
GET A BIG PRIZE
Incorporation Before July |
Means $4,000.
LITTLE TIME TO TARRY
New Code Entities Cities to Half of
the Proceeds From Government
Licenses Paid BY Business Houses
Juneau to Take Advantage.

Is Skagwav going to incorporate under
the new law in time to secure fifty per
cent of the license money that will be due
on July n That is the question that IS
agitating the minds of not a few Skag-
wavans. The new code is now law, hav.
ing been approved by the president. As
It passed the senate and as the house com
mttee reported it to the house OF represen-
tives on Nav IS, 1t carried with It a pro.
vision for the legal incorporation of towns
having more than 400 inhabitants. The
fact that no mention has been made In the
press dispatches OF any effort to eliminate
the provision leaves the presumption that
it was in the law when signed by the
president.
Aleading Skagway attorney in speaking
of the matter yesterday said:
Assuming that the civil code as signed
bv the president provides for municipal
government. the question that most con-
Germs our people is. can we Initiate and car
~ out the provisions of the law in time
to secure for general municipal purposes
and for the public schools the fifty per
cent of the license money that will be due
on July II
II see no reason why we cannot. The
law provides that petition shall be pre-
sented to the judge of the district court
signed by sixty residents of community.
The Judge will then set dav for hearing
objections to the petition and if he grants
the s; me, he shall give due notice of an
election, when the bona fide electors, hay
ing substantial property interests in the
proposed citv, NAV vote for or against in
corporation, and for seven city councilmen
and three school directors. Nothing Is
said as to the length of the time to inter
vene between the date of notice and the
election. Where the people are all in one
community. there is no reason why ten
days should not be as effective as sixty or
ninety DAYS. The terms of the law are
complied with II people, In fact receive
due notice.
at might be urged that Judge Brown
would not like to act on such a petition
until he received copy of the law as
passed, but anticipate no trouble from
such source. Judge Brown Is reason
able man, and would doubtless consider
the exigencies of the case. The date for
the election could be set for a late day In
certainly have complete advices from
Washington. If any error be found in the
preliminary steps, 1t could probably be
corrected BY amendment unless it were
very material. and It the entire arrange
ment should be different from what We
suspect. the worst that could happen
would be to compel US to start over.
think 1t Is worth an immediate trial as the
license money that would 90 to the citv
would be sufficient to run the entire citv
government, and we would probably lose
this If we postpone action till after july
Ist."
The Views herein set forth were also
agreed to by Mr., Cobb, of Juneau, who
said:
"Our people at Juneau will take the
preliminary steps this Week that we hope
will lead to the incorporation of our town.
We would not be In such a hurry were 1t
not for the fact that we do not wish to
take any chances on losing the license
money that will come In july I. ex-
pect the papers will be sent up to ne by
the next mail for presentation to the
court"
The law as passed bv the senate and re.
ported by the house committee provides
Continued Page 4.