Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1900-02-09
PLEA FOR GOVERNMENT.
Dsisssiisa - w..hissss. Aa.os.sisE
sach steps for Alaska


saeh steps fos Aiash.-
Washington. Feb 4 "A large delega-
ton from Alaska IL here urging con-
gress 10 snac. some legislation under
which government may be organizedin
that territory a. soon a. the rush to the
goldhslds begins In the spfing Among
the delegates are Governor John g. Bra.
dy. W. l. Dissin. surveyor general; w.
A Kelley. supervisor Of the census: J.
a Price. who unsupported a delegate
by = mass convention Of miners Richard
= Lewis. a business man Of Juneau; Mr..
WaShburn. manager Of the Alaska Com
msrcial compsny; Louis sloss, Jr., =
business man from Skaguway. and
Father Barnum. = Roman Catholic mis-
sionAry who spent many years In Alas
IA. but who is now librarian Of George
town University. These men make re-
quests for legislation that they claim is
absolutely necessary for the protection
Of the people and the preservation Of the
peace. They ask. frat. for the estsb-
lishmsnt Of courts at st. Michasls or
Cape Mons. at Eagle City and at Ju-
neau or SkaguwAy.
There are now only one court in the
country aud people are compelled to go
1000 miles and often longer distance,
and to remain away from their homes
several months and sometimes year,
when they are interested in litigation or
are summoned As witnesses
The delegation from Alaska asks for
other legislation. particularly authority
10 organize municipal governments
which cannot be done under the present
statutes Towns Of 1900 and 1000 peo-
pie already exist by suffranco and they
are governed by officials elected with
out the authority Of the law. There are
no county. township or municipal or
CARNATIONS in Alaska no school dis
tricts. no police no fire departments, no
power ~ mako roads or streets or 70 en-.
force order or sanitary conditions. eI'
cept by common consent and where
money is needed for these purposes IL IL
raised by subscription. Before June /
/ il is expected that the town Of Cape
Nome will reach 20. 600 inhabitants aud
II is scarcely possible that 80 large .
community can be governed without
law or formal authority
Already the sanitary conditions are
said to be dreadful Before the last
boat left there an epidemic Of typhoid
fever had broken out aud there is no
telling how far II has extended There
Is no sewerage. no method of disposing
Of garbage and oiIal and the water IL
bad naturally. Most Of the supply used
for drinking and cooking is taken from
a river which flows through at least
two mining camps and receives nearly
all their filth and refuse II the bubonic
plague, which has already reached this
Hawaiian islands. should be communi
Gated TO Cape Nome the situation would
be desperate and thousands Of live
would pay the penalty Of neglect
The delegation also asks appropria
tions for the construction Of roads, fo
the support Of schools. post offices
mailservice. prisons and for other pur
poses The United States government
collects revenue OF from $3.50. 900 {,
$500 0U0 year by taxation which goe
into the treasury at Washington an,
more than half Of il is expended with
out benefit to the people who pay thes
taIes Not dollar Of the taxes col
lected in Alaska can be expended fol
any purpose without an exact ant
specific appropriation by act Of con
giess Of whom 90 per cent have neve
been within ! 900 miles Of the territory
aud most Of whom have only vagu,
idea OF the conditions existing there.