Evening journal., 1903-09-29
LEGISLATION IN ALASKA
Public Sentiment as to Best
Form of Government.
TWO FACTIONS IN A MERRY WAR

District should he More Thiclsiy
Settled Before IL Beeomes Terri
tory or Dons Gnrb OF statehood.
A special dispatch from sitka, Alas
ka. to the New York Tribune says:
The spectacle Of horde Of statehood
boomers urging the claims Of their ter
ritory to sovereign rights In the Union
is common enough. but Alaska pre-.
sents the anomaly Of not being quite
sure that she even wants to be terri
tory. Agitation there is and Of vocif-
erous Kind that the territorial form Of
government should be conferred by
congress at once. But there is strong
party, headed by Governor John G..
Brady himself, which believes that the
district IS mere infant still and
should be left for a time longer in its
present swaddllng clothes. The knee
hrceches Of territorial government and
the manly garb Of statehood should not
be donned, they say. until their huge
land is more thlckly settled.
The committee OF the United States
senate which has been looking into the
legislative needs Of Alaska this sum
mer has heard great deal on this
particular subject. and It's recommen-
dation on this point VIII be received
with great interest. The senators have
Travelled many thousand miles In the
interior and along the coast and have
had an exceptional opportunity 70
learn public sentiment and to examine
the facts at arst hand
Meanwhile the merry war between
the boomers and the let well enough
alone party goes briskly on. The terri
toriallsts had field day at the trans
mississippi congress which was recent
" held IN Seattle Poor Governor Bra
dy had no one TO back him up. while q
dozen or more men identified with
Alaska went in hammer and tongs for
the change Of government
A. p. swineford, ex-governor Of the
district. pointed out some OF the abuses
Of having the laws all made In Wash
ington. why" be said, "a woman
drcssmaker has got TO pay a license Of
$50 a year l heard Of one case where
man who kept a general store sold
an official bottle Of arnica liniment.
The merchant was thereupon compelled
to take out druggists license at 5000
year"
John G. Green. for twenty-elght years
resident Of Alaska. made these
points:
1--WE feel that we know what laws
are best for us and are capable ol
making them. We don't want TO b'
saddled any longer with the laws O.
/ Oregon, which now govern u.s. w
want to elect our own territorial legis
lature instead Of being ruled by cas-
of politicians"
Don Fletcher OF Seattle told how
II miner in the Interior was attacked wit
r malaria and after much trouble maI
e aged TO get a bottle of whisky. II
paid So for IT, Information Of this con
ing TO a government official. he lai
complaint. and the camp Of miner
which had sold the stun had TO tax
out a liquor license and to forfeit It
whole outfit.
1t was further pointed out that Alas
ka now produced $25,000,OD0 a year II
metals, fish, furs, etc, while it con
sumed an equal amount Of goods from
the parent country. If the district werl
allowed to collect its own revenues OF
say. 100000 a year. half would sufIic'
for expenses and the rest could be use,
in the internal improvements whicl
were so much needed.
Governor Brady OF course believe
that Alaska needs more money, but h
thinks congress should appropriate II
He pointed out at the Seattle gathering
that by the census of 1900 the popula
ton was only 63.592. Of whom onl.
3O.5O7 We're white. These were scatter
ed over 100000 square miles. Most o
them were in a measure sojourners, a
the total number OF families was hacd
ly more than 500 OF COO.
"The only gain" the governor wen
on, 'would be a delegate in congress
The expense would be much greater
and Alaska is not yet prepared to NEE
it. Besides, the territorial form of goN
ernment is unsatisfactory to many q
those who live under IT,"
1t must be said that there is consiC
erable support for Mr.. Brady anon
business men. One Of them, who ha
been in Sitka many years. said.
"Of course we should like delegat
at Washington. He would have n
vote, but we should feel that we wer
IA little more a part Of the country
there were some one entitled to expires
our needs and wishes. But this W
might have without becoming q Tel
} ritory The merchants generally wal
to have things continue as at presen
We believe that in a few years Alaslz
} VIII have grown so in people an
! wealth that congress win gladly tax
{ us into statehood without making 0
; pass through the purgatory Of teri
! torlal government Some would be po
iticians are anxious to set offices, an
they want the change.
s'Just see how dinicult It would be
get representative men to go to the lei
islature. Some Of them would have
travel thousands Of miles 70 the cap
tai. The substantial citizens are tC
much occupied to be able to leave the
business for SO long. Then Alaska b;
5 little taxable property. A simply rui
: Gus tax rate would be necessary
e raise the money to run the Cover
/. ment No: we are well satisfied to 7
} main entirely in the hands Of co
B gress. especially as the committee
e senator's has studied the situation +
{ itself this summer"
The profit to the Government on pei