The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1904-12-06

concentrations and the reasons there
for, in which strongly concur, will be
found in the annual report Of the attor-
ney general. In some instances feel
that the legislation suggested is SO i'm
peratively needed that / am moved
briefly to emphasize the attorney gener-
ais proposals.
Under the code Of Alaska as it now
stands many purely administrative
powers and duties, including by far
the most important, deyolve upon the
district 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
duties should logically fall, has moth
ing specific to do except to make an
hual reports, issue Thanksgiving day
proclamations and appoint Indian po-
licemen and notaries public believe
it essential to good government in
Alaska and therefore recommend that
the congress divest the district judges
and the clerks Of their courts Of the,
administrative or executive functions
that they now exercise and cast them
upon the governor. This would not be
an innovation It would simply con-
form the government of Alaska to
fundamental principles, making the
governorship a real instead of a mere
ly nominal Office and leaving the judges
free to give their entire attention to
their judicial duties and at the same
time removing them from great deal
of the strife that now embarrasses the
judicial Office in Alaska.
I also recommend that the salaries
Of the district Judges and district at
to make t7em equal to those received
by corresponding officers in the United
States, after deducting the difference
in the cost Of living; that the district
attorneys should be prohibited from
engaging in private practice; that Unit
ed States commissioners be appointed
by the governor Of the territory instead
of by the district judges, and that
fixed salary be provided for them to
take the place Of the discredited Zee
SYSTEM" which should be abolished in
all Offices; that mounted constabu-
larry be created to police the territory
outside the limits of Incorporated
towns "a vast section now wholly
without police protection-and that
some provision be made to at least
lessen the oppressive delays and costs
that now attend the prosecution of ap-
peals from the district court Of Alaska
There should be division Of the ex-
listing judicial districts and an increase
in the number of Judges.
Alaska should have a delegate in the
congress. Where possible the congress
should aid in the construction Of need
ed wagon roads. Additional light
houses should be provided. In my
judgment, it is especially important to-
aid in such manner as seems just and
feasible in the construction of trunk.
line Of railway to connect the gulf Of
Alaska with the Yukon river through
American territory. This would be-
most beneficial to the development Of
the resources Of the territory and to,
the comfort and welfare of it's people.
Salmon hatcheries should be estat,-
lfshed in many different streams, so as
to secure the preservation Of this valr-
able food fish. Salmon fisheries and
canneries should be prohibited on GER
tain of the rivers where the mass Of
those Indians dwell who live almost
exclusively on fish.
The Alaskan natives are kindly, in
telligent, anxious to learn and willing
to work. Those who have come under
the influence Of civilization, even for a
limited period, have proved their capa-
bility Of becoming self supporting, self
respecting citizens and ask only for
the just enforcement Of law and intel
ligent instruction and supervision 9th
ers, living in more remote regions,
primitive, simple hunters and fisher
folk, who know only the life Of the
woods and the waters, are daily being
confronted with twentieth century civ
tlization with all it's complexities.
Their country is being overrun by
strangers, the game slaughtered and
driven away, the streams depleted Of
fish and hitherto unknown and fatal
diseases brought to them, all Of which
combine to produce state of abject
poverty and want which must result
in their extinction. Action in their in
terest is demanded by every considera-
ton Of justice and humanity.
The needs Of these people are:
The abolition Of the present fee sys-
TEN, whereby the native is degraded,
imposed upon and taught the injustice.
Of law.
The establishment Of hospitals at
central points, so that contagious dist
eases that are brought to them conti1 l.
ually by incoming whites may be 10
Called and not allowed to become epil
demic, to spread death and restitution.
over great areas.
The development of the educational
system in the form of practical train
ing in such industries as will assure
the Indians self support under the
changed conditions in which they will
have to live.
The duties of the Office of the gov
ernor should be extended to includ e
the supervision of Indian affairs, with
necessary assistants in different dis
trtcts. He should be provided with
the means and the power to protect
and advise the native people, to fur.
nish medical treatment in time Of epi-
denies and to extend material relief liz
periods Of famine and extreme destitu-