The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-07-18
WHY NOT TELL THE TRUTH

Now be it understood that a territo- rial government Is nothing more than a congressional government, the same that Is now enjoyed by every incorpor- ated town in Alaska. Ii the boundary lines of Juneau were simply extended until they took in an Alaska, the people of Alaska would then have territorial government or congressional govern ment. The seven councilmen of this empire city would make all our local laws, but Gov. Brady, of Alaska; Judge Brown, oi Wyoming; J. J. Boyce, Of California, and Shoup, of Idaho, would all remain here with the same powers that they have now. lt Alaska were organized into a territory iu the way that the Alaskan pleads for, these same gentlemen would still be here with the same powers and authority that they have today, except that eer- tain powers now vested in them might be bestowed upon territorial officers Juneau Recori-Miner.
 Why not tell the truth? Every state ment in the foregoing is as false as anything could be false, and every man who is informed knows it to be SO. Territorial government is NOT CON- GRESSIONAL GOVERNMENT, as that which obtains in the incorporated towns ot Alaska. Congress, it is true, has the power to limit tho actions of territorial legislatures, but the law or precedent has decreed that that power is limited Co such restrictions as are generally imposed by the constitutions of the several states. Territorial goy- ernment is government by territorial legislature just as much as state gov- ernment is government by state leg lslature. The veto power Is vested in a governor appointed by thc president, but since President Cleveland set che example, during his administration, the federal officials in the territories have been appointed as che federal oni- eials in the states, upon the recon mendatioa Of the territorial organiza- ton Of the political party which has control Of the National government
 Under territorial government the federal officials in the district would NOT HAVE THE SAME POWERS THAT THEY HAVE NOW. The dis trict judge would be the trial court, but in all matters aside from violations oi federal laws his powers would be de- fined by the territorial legislatures just as much as the superior judges in the states of California and Washington are controlled by the legislatures of those states. Under a territorial gov ernment the duties Of the United States district attorney would be limited as they are in an che states Co federal matters. All prosecutions for crimes against the people, including murder, robberies, violations Of the Sunday law and all other felonies and u,i,lemean- ors such as come within Che iurisdic- ton Of state courts in the various state, of the union, would be under che direc- tion oi prosecuting attorneys elected by the people. The United States dis trict attorney Of Alaska would have no more powers. should Alaska be made into a territory, than the United States district attorney Of the state oi Wash ington. Nor has the United States marshal any more authority m a terri tory than he has in a state. The mar shal's duties in territories, like those of the district attorney, are confined Co the general laws ot congress which are in effect iu the states, as well as all the territories of the nation. In territo- ries most of the duties that are per formed in this district by the marshal would deyolye upon sherids chosen by the people just as they are in the states.
 Ii the Juneau Record- Miner desires to perform the proper functions of a newspaper as an educator oithe people, it should learn Co tell the truth.
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