The Washington times., 1904-12-06
AID
URGED FOR ALASKA

Aiashas IKE All our Territorial ac-
QUESTIONS, has proved resoureeful be-
yond the expectations Of those who
made the purchase. It has become the
I 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 pepple. We
do know, however that from a very
small beginning It's products have grown
until they are a steady and material
contribution 10 the wealth Of the nation.
Owing TO the immensity OF Alaska and
its location IN the far North. it is a diff
I fcult matter to provide many things es-
sentidl 10 its growth and 10 the haDDi-
ness and comfort OF It's people by pri-
vate enterprise alone IL should. there
fore. receive reasonable AID from the
Government The Government has al
ready done excellent work for Alaska Ia
laying cables and building telegraph
lines. This work has been done ia the
most economical and efhcieu. gay by
the Signal Corps OF the army.
In some respects IL has outgroWn its
present laws. Wh;te in others those laws
have been found 30 be inadequate. In
order 10 obtain information upon which
/ could rely ! caused an Official OF the
Department Of Justice. in whose judg-
ment / have confidence. TO visit Alaska
during the past sumner for the purpos-
OF asceFtaining how government IS ad-
ministered there and what legislation IS
actually needed at present. = State
ment or the conditions found 70 exist.
together with some recommendation
and the reasons therefor. In which I
strongly concur. will be found in the an
nual report Of the Attorney General IN
some Instances ] feel that the legislation
suggested IS so imperatively needed that
I flrfH "a . asia . h.
Attorney Generals proposals.
Increase Governors Power.
Under the code Of Alaska as it now
stands many purely administrative DOW
ers 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
whom these powers and duties should
logically fan, has nothing specific 10
do except 10 make annual reports, issue
Thanksgiving Day proclsmations, and
appoint Indian policemen and nOtaTies
public. / believe II essential to good
government In Alaska, and therefore
recommend. that the Congress dlvest
the district judges and the clerks OF
their courts OF the administrative or
executive functions that they now eK-
ercise and cast them upon the governor.
/ This would not be an innovation: IL
would simply conform the government
Of Alaska TO fundamental principles,
making the gOVeFnOrship real instead
or merely nominal office, and leaving
the judges free 10 give their entirs
the same time removing them from a
great deal OF the strife that now en-
harnesses the judicial ONCE IN Alaska
/ also recommend that the salaries
L a. the district tfInnRE and district
torneys In Alaska be increased so as 70
make them equal 20 those received by
corresponding officers Ia the United
states after deduCIing the difference in
{ the cost OF living. that the district at
/ torpeys should be prohibited from en-
gaging In private practice. that United
States commissioners be appointed b.
the governor Of the Territory instead
of by the district judges. and that a
fixed salary be provided for them 10 take
the place OF the discredited zee sys-
TEN. which should be abolished in all
offices. that mounted Consta bulaTy be
created 90 police the territory outside
the limits or incorporated towns-a vast
section nov wholly without police pro-
lection; and that some provision Be
made 10 at least lessen the oppressive
delays aud costs that now attend thu
prosecution or appeals from the dis
trict court or Alaska. There should be
a division or the existing judicial dis
tricts. and an increase IN the number Of
judges.
An Alaskan Delegate.
Alaska should have a delegate in the
Congress. Where possible. the Congress
should aid in the construction Of need
ed wagon roads Additional lighthouses
should be provided. In nay Judgment. II
is especially important TO aid In such
manner as seems lust and feasible IN
/ the construction of a trunk line OF rail-
way 10 connect the Gulf OF Alaska with
the Yukon River through American ter
ritOry. This would be most beneficial
To the development Of the resources
/ OF the Territory. and 10 the comfort
and welfare OF its people.
Salmon hatcheries should be establish
| ed in many different streams, so as To
secure the preservation of this valuable
food fish. Salmon fisheries and Gamer
les should BE- prohibited on certain or
the rivers where the mass OF those IN
dams dwell who live almost exclusively
on fish.