The Savannah morning news., 1904-12-07
THE ALASKAN TERRITORY
should Have New Laws and Repre-
sentutiOn in Congress.

QUESTIONS, has proved resourceful be-
yond the expectations of those who
made the purchase. 1t 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 agricul-
ture, While great, is probably not COM
pretended yet in any just measure by
our people. We do know, however,
that from 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 immensely of Alaska and it's To-
cation in the Far North, it is a diff
cult matter to provide many things
essential to its growth and to the hap
piness and comfort of it's people by
private enterprises alone. 1t should
therefore, receive reasonable aid from
the government. The government has
already done excellent work for
Alaska in laying cables and building
telegraph lines. This work has been
done in the most economical and eff
cient way by the Signal Corps of the
army.
Has 0utgrOwn Its Laws.
In some respects it has outgrown it's
present laws. while in others those
laws have been found to be made
quate. In order to obtain information
upon which l could rely 1 caused an
official of the Department of Justice
in whose judgment 1 have confidence,
TO visit Alaska during the past sum-
mer for the purpose of ascertaining
how government is administered there
and what legislation is actually needed
al present. a statement of he oopdi-
TONS found to exist, together with
some accommodations and the reasons
therefor, in which 1 strongly concur
VIII be found in the annual report of
the Attorney General. In some in
stances 1 feel that the legislation sug-
gested is so imperatively needed that 1
am moved briefly to emphasize the At
torney Generals proposals.
A New Code Necessary.
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
trlct judges or upon the clerks of the
district court acting under the di-
rection of the judges, while the Gov
ernor upon whom these powers and
uutles should logically fall, has moth
ing speclhc to do except to make an
nudl reports issue Thanksgiving Day
organizations, and appoint Indian DO
ncemen and notaries public. l believe
II essential to good government in
Alaska, and therefore recommend that
tne congress divest the district judges
ana the clerks of their courts of the
administrative or executive functions
mat tney now exercise and cast them
upon the Governor. This would not
De an innovation; it would simply con-
toIin the government of Alaska to
ornamental principles, making the
So'eIHorsnlp real instead of a mere
~ nominal Office, and leaving the
yuuses free to give their entire atten-
t uoh 10 their judicial duties and at
ene same time removing them from a
go zeal OF the strife that now en-
asses the Judicial office in Alaska.
The Alaskan Judiciary's Pay.
l also recommend that the salaries
Oh the district judges and district at
~ orneys IN Alaska be increased so as
70 make them equal to those received
y corresponding officers in the United
tba atter deducting the difference in
.ne cost OF living; that the district at
eorheys should be prohibited from en-
9asihg IN private practice; that
Cnlted states commissioners be an
Polnted by the governor Of the terri
tory instead of by the district Judges.
ana ana mat fixed salary be provided for
me-; sneih 70 take the place of the discred-
ned Zee system" which should be
dDolished In all Offices that a mount
ca constabulary be created to police the
territory outside Of the limits of in
SOrporated towns--a vast section now
."noiiy without police protection: and
Iuat some provision be made to at
Ieast lessen the oppressive delays
enu costs that now attend the prose-
sutton Of appeals from the district
court Of Alaska. There should be a
uYislon OF the existing judicial d.
strlcts, and an Increase In the number
OF judges.
representation I'm Congress.
Alaska should have a Delegate in
tne Congress. Where possible. the
Congress should aid In the CONSTRUCT
tion OF needed wagon roads. Addi-
Ional lighthouses should be provided.
an ny Judgment. II rs especially impor-
.aht 70 aid IA such manner as seems
just and feasible IN the construction
81 trunk line Of railway 20 connect
tne Iulf Of Alaska with the Yukon
rlver through American territory. This
WOULD be most beneficial 10 the devel-
.pInent Of the resources Of the terri
aa2Sfy. ana 20 the comfort ana welfare
OF Us people.
salmon hatchefies should be esfab-
,lshed IN many different streams. 80 as
~ secure the preservation ~ this val
uabie food nsh. salmon fisheries ana
,tlnefles should be prohibited on cer-
IN " the rivers whore fhe mass ~
nose Indians dwell who I've almost
exclusively on nsh
Tho Aiaskap People.
ne Aiasean natives are kinfiy. 30
hffrt 1naiOuf ~ if4fn. an1 Will
"'F 70 work. Those NN0 haye come