The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-01-29

construction and maintenance of wag-
on roads, the establishment and main
tenance of schools, and the care of the
insane and destitute; another amends
and codifies the laws relating to NUM-
cipal corporations another provides
for the election Of a delegate to the
house of representatives: another
amends the criminal code with respect
to the penalty for criminals and the
sale of liquors, and one authorizes the
city Of Nome to construct a bridge
across the Snake river at Nome
The bill with reference to the election
of a delegate will attract more atten-
ton probably than any other. The
people Of Alaska are exceedingly anx-
iOus for representation in Washington
in some authorized way, and will well
come the privilege of sending a dele
gate whom they have elected or would
be glad. we have no doubt to have
he We're appointed by the president.
The most important bill is the one
relating to the construction and main
tenance of roads. not only from the
fact that it provides for that which
Alaska needs most, but under its pro-
visions all the money derived from IL
in the district of Alaska is to be used
for the benefit of Alaska. That has
not been the case heretofore. Alaska
has paid large sums of money annually
into the treasury of the United States
over and above the expense incurred
for conducting the kind of administra-
ton which the federal courts afforded.
This surplus is now to be appropriated
for road building. for the establishment
and maintenance of schools, on which
a limited amount has been spent here
tofore. and for the care of the insane
and the destitute. for which purpose
Alaska has had no funds. The bill pro-
vides that, after paying expenses of
the courts. as now provided. the rev.
enues Of the district outside Of the in
corporated towns shall remain a sep
arate and distinct fund in the treasury
to be known as the Alaska fund. and
to be wholly devoted to the purposes
already indicated-roads. schools and
the care of the insane and destitute
One fourth of that fund. or so much
as may be necessary. it to be devoted
to the establishment of schools: 10 per
cent is set apart for the care of the in
sane and destitute. and the remaining
construction and maintenance of
wagon roads, bridges and trains. |
Provisions are made as to the form of
procedure. and the work is placed in
the hands of three army officers. resi- |
dent in the district. This avoids the
absorption of a large part of the money
already paid by the government for |
their services. insures freedom from |
political graft and guarantees compe- |
tent engineering ability. Nothing that |
could happen to Alaska would prob |
ably be hailed with more delight than |
the proposed undertaking TO construct |
Wa gon roads. Nothing obstructs de- !
VelOpment there 50 much as the lack |
Of transportation. The surplus in the
Alaska fund will make a Very respect
able beginning toward a good system
Of roads
There is no question as 70 the neces-
sity Of a new judicial district. The
judge Of the central division cannot
cover his district oftener than once
4 year. When the sittings Of tbs. court
ara SO infrequent, the residents are
likely 10 suffer hardships.
The people of Alaska will hear Of
these measures with qualification. II
begins TO look as if there We're some
thing doing with respect to Alaska in
the United States senate. The visit Of
the senators TO that great district last
summer has just begun to bear fruit.