The Minneapolis journal., 1904-12-06

ject better warrants the attention of
the bench and the bar thruout the Uni
ted States.
NEEDS OF ALASKA =
Changes Deemed Necessary in Admin
istration of Government. :.
Alaska, like all our territorial ac-
quisitions, has proved resourceful be-
yond the expectations Of those who
made the purchase. It has become the
home Of many hardy, Industrious, and
thrifty American citizens. Towns Of
a permanent character have been built.
The extent of its wealth in minerals,
timber. fisheries, and agriculture, while
great, is probably not comprehended
yet in any just measure by our people.
We do know, however, that from a very
small beginning it's products have grown
until they are a steady and material
contribution to the wealth of the nation.
Owing to the immensity of Alaska
and it's location in the far north, it is a
difficult matter to provide many things
essential to it's growth and to Sthe" hap
piness and comfort of it's people BY
private enterprise alone It: should,
the government.
The government has already done ex-
cellent work for Alaska in laying ca
bles and building telegraph lines. This
work has been done in the most econom-
ical and efficient way by the signal
corps Of the army. - -
Sent an Investigator. -.
In some respects it has 'o1rtgrown its
present laws, while in others those laws
have been found to be inadequate. In
order to obtain information upon which
l could rely l caused an official of the
department. Of Justice, in whose judg
ment 1 have confidence, to visit Alaska
during the. past summer for the. purpose
f, OF Eascerta ining how government is ad-
mlnlstered there and what legislation is
actually needed at present.
| A statement of the conditions found
to exist, together with some recommen-
datlons and the reasons therefor, in
which strongly concur, will be found
in the, annual report of the attorney
general: In some instances I feel that
the legislation suggested is so impera-
lively needed that I am moved briefly
to emphasize the attorney general IS
proposals. ''''
Under the code of Alaska as it now
stands many purely administrative
powers and duties, including by far the
most important, devolve upon the dis
trict judges or upon the clerks of the
district court acting under the direction
OF the judges, while the governor, upon
w
logically fall, has nothing specific to dc
except to make annual reports, issue
Thanksgiving Day proclamations, and
appoint Indian policemen and notaries
public.
believe it essential to good govern
ment in Alaska, and therefore recon-
mend, that the congress divest the dis
trict judges and the clerks of thei,
courts of the administrative or execu
tive functions that they now exercise
and cast them upon the governor.
This would not be an innovation; il
Of Alaska to fundamental principles
making the governorship real instead
Of a merely nominal office, and leaving
, the judges free to give their entire at
tention to their judicial duties and a
, the same time removing them from
great deal Of the strife that now embar
:, rasses the judicial office in Alaska
[ also recommend that the salaries O.
the district judges and district attor
neYs in Alaska be increased so as t.
: make them equal to those received b.
corresponding officers in the Unite,
!, States after deducting the difference il
the cost of living; that. the district at
l gaging in private practice; that Unite
States commissioners be appointed b
the governor of the territory instead O
by the district judges, and that fxe
salary be provided for them to take tn
3 which should be abolished in ali offices
= that q. mounted constabulary be create
2 to police the territory outside the limit
/ rot incorporated towns-a vast sectio
9 now wholly without police protection
: and that some provision be made to a
= costs that now attend the PROSECUTION ei ao
$ appeals from the district court of Ala
e ka. There should be division of tn
existing judicial districts, and. an il
crease in the number of judges.
j. Delegate in Congress. j."
- Alaska should have a. delegate in til
i I congress: Where possible. the congres
should dd aid IoaH in the sGHEtiuction Of needs
e it is especially important to aid in sue
= manner as seems just and feasible in tt
4 construction of trunk line Of railwa
u to connect the Gulf Of Alaska with tt
r' This would be most beneficial to the
velopment of the resources Of the teri
e. tory, and to the comfort and welfare
~ it's people. q -
$, Salmon hatcheries should be esta,
y y lished in many different streams, so
st able, food fish. Salmon fisheries al al
u, canneries should be prohibited on ce
20 20 tain Of the rivers, where, the mass
10 10 those Indians dwell who live almost e
% clusively on fish. J.,
n ls The Alaskan natives are kindly. i
% n. telligent, anxious to learn, and willi1
' to work. Those who have come und
the influence Of civilization, even for
limited period, have proved their cap
hility of becoming self-supporting, sci
~, respecting citizens, and ask only f
!" the Just enforcement Of law and inte
ligent instruction and supervisio
t. Others, living in more remote regior
r. primitive. simple hunters and fish
n folk. who know only the life of. II
id woods and the waters. are daily beil
ii confronted with twentieth-century civ