The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-15
Seattle Chamber of Commerce
Addresses Congress.
A MEMORIAL FOR GOVERNMENT
Petition of skagway Mass Meeting
Friends-Held That Gross Injus-
tice Is Being Done to the Citi-
zens of the North and That
They should Elect Delegate.

The Seattle Chamber OF Commerce has
responded to the appeal OF the business
men Of Skagway who in mass meeting ask
cd assistance in their efforts to secure
redress OF their alleged wrongs at the
hands OF the government. and yesterday
adopted a memorial to the senate and
house Of representatives prepared by Sec
rotary Prosch. This asks that the people
of Alaska have laws of their own, four
Judges to administer them. and a dele
gate in congress of their own choosing.
The memorial in full reads as follows:
at IL hereby represented to your honor
able body by the Seattle Chamber of Conn
merce that il has been an ordinary life-
time-thirty-three years-since the great
district or territory of Alaska was acquir-
ed by the United States from Russia. As
a very small price was asked for the coun-
try. IL was supposed by many people that
it was not worth much. Though the idea
was a mistaken one, these people have
never been able TO get II out of their
heads. They have believed that II was an
uninhabitable waste of ice and rock, the
debris of the earth, the worthless rubbish
left over after completion of the great work
Of creation. 1t was not worth while TO
make territory of It, as had been done
with Washington. oregon, Idaho, Montana.
Utah and other parts, and give II legfs-
lature, organic act. delegate in congress,
application Of the land laws and other adj
vantages, as had been given to the terri
tories before as in Alaska there could be
no people to govern not enough to hold
the offices. perhaps, and 1t would be far
cical to put il on equality with them.
Harsh Rule of Military.
80, district was created, and It was
put In the hands of the military. These
gentlemen ruled the people so harshly that
those who were 80 foolish as to go there
under such supervision were either ruined
or driven out. BY that time II was found
that money could be made by the govern
ment in farming out the slaughter of fur
seals. Later Ii was discovered that there
were very valuable other fisheries-the sal
mon, herring. halibut cod saying nothing
OF the whale. Gold also was discovered,
and with II silver, lead. copper, birthstone.
petroleum and other minerals. 1t has been
found that there IL vast acreage OF val
liable timber: that there are agricultural
possibilities equal to those of similar lati-
tudes in Northern Europe; that the climate
of much of II Is quite temperate, as mild,
in fact, as that of many of the states OF
the Union, and that people could live there
contentedly. happily and prosperousiy.
Little by little the government has been
expanded Collectors OF many kinds Of
taxes have been added to the official mach
inery and the local population. There are
not only the ordinary taxes of the Union.
a. customs and internal revenue, but there
are special taxes. or licenses, OF all kinds.
ranging from $40 per annum TO $1,000. In
fiicted upon the professional men. drug
gisis, manufacturers, merchants, banks,
hotels, fisheries water works, tramways
steamboats, light plants. etc, and which
in the aggregate Yield a large sum. and
which as federal taxes are utterly unknown
elsewhere In the nation. IL IL hardly pos
sible to turn around in Alaska without the
imposition Of a tax, and II the tax IL not
promptly paid the deiinquents are GRIM
inaliy indicted therefor.
Country Gained Anyway.
Notwithstanding the adverse conditions
there imposed upon the people by the gov
eminent, together with its neglect OF them.
"a q al tn fnAsx xas.ah a
other people have been treated on the from
tiers. the inha bitants have gained In num-
Der steadily for twenty years, until now
they exceed the numbers possessed by sew
erai territories when admitted TO the
Union as states. and they have a trade
with other parts OF the world that will be
worth In 1890 not less than $40 600
When Washington was made terri
tory in 1853 with .a&S inhabitants, IL was
given complete government. with con-
gressional representation, legislature and
three district judges Alaska. with twenty
times as many people in 1900 has no legis-
Iature. no congressman and only one Judge
TO cover its coo eco miles Of territory. II Is
great wrong TO treat these people 80.
They should have laws of their own. at
least four judges to administer them. and
a delegate OF their own choosing AZ the
national capital to speak for them ia the
executive departments and congress.
They have long seen the necessity for
this, and have tried repeatedly 10 obtain
this latter boon. Failing In II they have
been compelled TO send, AT their own ex-
pense citizens 10 speak for them and rep
resent them. which citizens were always
at disadvantage. aud received with more
or less disfavor The Aiaskan lobby Ia an
cutgTowth OF this condition. and a painful
one at that which would be done away
with were the people officially represented
as the people Of other parts % the Union
arc
.'Thts chamber. being thoroughly con-
verSAut with The situation 10 Alaska ur-
gently recommends and prays for leSisla-
ton By congress Of the character indicated
herein. and particularly such az Will secure
Ia the people q sufficient number 81 Judges
and places for holding court and 4 member
Of congress to be chosen by themselves"