The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-03
CITIZENS OF ALASKA
OBJECT TO PROPOSED
TRUST LEGISLATION
Say Publicity Should Be
Tried on Eastern States.
TO FIGHT AN AMENDMENT
Claim Legislation Proposed in Congress
Would Work Great Injury to IN
developed Territory.

The AIaskans now in III city have wag-
20 war on one of the bills now pending
In the House. which provides for test
Ing President Roosevelt's public ideas
for the restriction Of private corpora
tions and trusts. AIaskans hold that
the bill introduced is absolutely unfair
in that the test on the large corpora
tions is intended TO be made in an en-
tirely new country, where corporations
large and small are now invited for the
purpose of developing that vast new
field.
a delegation consisting Of more than
q dozen Alaskans have arrived in the
city and viii remain here until Con
gress adjourns that they may look after
and advise with tie committees of Con
gress having the legislation Of that dis
tTict in hand. The amendment referred
TO was discovered by them yesterday
in going over the different bills OBJECT
ing the interests OF Alaska, and when
ii was found there was Indignation in
their camp.
Unanimously they pledged themselves
to inaugurate a campaign against the
passage of the section. and started out
TO locate the members Of the commit
tees of both Senate and the House now
in the city They claim the passage
Of the bill viii drive out large amount
OF capital now interested IN Alaska. and
will prevent future operations of finance
very greatly One members, who de-
clined 10 have his name used for the
present, said TO a Times reporter:
Harm IN Legislation
Eastern people cannot imagine the
harm the passage Of that little piece OF
legislation would do to the district. I
viii take oath I do not own a dollars
worth OF stock in any company in Alas
ka. but am personally interested IN capi-
tai coming 10 the district. II the COM
panies now there are compelled 10 puh-
iIsh the details Of their business, which
this amendment specifies, they viii quit
business.
Capital cannot be induced to enter
UndeveIoped territory unless strong in
ducements are held out 70 them. II
these statements are TO be published,
stock brokers would refuse TO handle the
stock Of every company doing business
has. and what salaries the officers get.
hold Is of no interest or business to any
person but a stoekhoIder. They can get
the desired Information from the books
OF The company
IF those who are pushing the pas
sage of the amendment want to test the
advantages of such legislation, let them
do il in New York, or some Of the other
Eastern States. where financial inter
ests are settled, and where the whole
pepIe can see the true eHet- Th pub
licity" failure which the President ad-
Tocates is good thing. but we don T
want Alaska to be the virgin field.
want trusts eurbed, but 7 am opposed
to going away out TO our district TO in
augurate the campaign. We need private
corporations from which to borrow
money. and TO develope the district.
Seek Other Fields.
IF they have to go before the pub
lie annually, they VIII abandon the dis
trict. and see kother fields Of con
quest. In addition that. the cost Of
such publication would cause newspapers
70 spring up Ike mushrooms. Newspa-
#pers are good thing. and I am con
stant reader, but the cost Of publish
ing these statements in laska would be
excessive.
The cost Of legal printing In our coun-
try Is away above that IN the States.
When we have developed our country,
we viii welcome proper legislation out
al this time we are opposed TO the pas
sage Of the amendment mentiOnad."