The daily Alaskan., 1904-06-11
Telephone No. IG
SUBSCRIPTION RATEA
ALAsKA's COMPLAINT

Commenting upon the scandals in connection with government tn Alaska, the Seattle Post Intelligeneer says:
 "Tbe president has decided to send a personai representative, in whose fair ness and sound judgment he has the ut most confidence, to Alaska to investi' gate the various charges and counter charges which have been filed by and against a number of federal officehOld- CTS, with a view to determining on the ground the real merits of controversies which have been raging for years in the district.
 "Tre condition seems to be chronic, and there seems DO other manner or settling it. A change of personnel does not put a stop tO the quarrels, for as fast as a new man arrives he gets into the thick of the controversy as deeply as his predecessor and takes his hand in fhng charges and in defending him. self against charges which have been filed against him.
 "A man from the outside, trained and experienced lawyer, holding high federal position, knowing none of the parties, and having no purpose 10 serve save 10 honestly aid the president in determining clearly tn merits of the GuSrrels. can probably get at the real truth Ot th- matter. Assistant AttOr- ney General Young appears to have these qualifications. He will leave for Alaska in a. out three weeks, and will spend the greater part of the summer in the dsagreeable duty to which he has been assigned, He is quite likely 10 come away profoundly impressed with the SoundueSs of he tradition that there is something about the atmo- sphere of the far northern territory which is uufavOrable to the cultivation of verscity. Sut be that as it may, it Is to be hoped that he is a man of capac- ity adequate 70 suggest at least par tisl remedy, if not complete cure, for AlaSka'S chronic complaint" t."
 The POSt-Intelligencer seems to be departing from the sound and safe rem edy for Alaskan ills it advocated with such force and ability for so long al time. otherwise it would not discuss the situation so much at random, or make the silly suggestion that "there is something about the atmosphere of the far northern territory which is unfavor- able to the cultivation of veracity.' "
 The Post-Iutelligencer truly says that "a change of personnel does not put a stop to the qusrrels" that harrasS Alaska, but rather than to blame the Atmospherz, a sane laan would take this fact $ conclusive evidence that the troubles with the administration of law la this district have to do with the sys- tenn of government rather than with in- dividuals.
 1.-the American principle of selt-gov- ernment were applied to Alaska all these psrpleSing problems of admins tration would solve themselves. If the executive or administrative duties were removed from the federal courts and placed in the hands of the people, to be exercised by them through servants specially chosen by the electors for that purpose, with their powers and duties defined by laws made by the people con cerned, then there would be DO more friction iu Alaska than in any other section of the United States.
 With Americans, whenever the last appeal as to the merits of law or the manner Of it's enforcement is not to the people concerned, there will be couten- tions aud scandals. AIr. Roosevelt can ssud all his cabinet officers with all their department assistants to Alaska and they will not be able to discover a satisfactory substitute for seli-govern- ment.