Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-08

ing specific to do except to make an
nual reports, issue Thanksgiving day
proclamations. and appoint Indian po-
licemen and notaries public. l believe
It essential to good government in
Alaska and therefore recommend that
the congress Sivest 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. 1t would simply con-
form the government of Alaska to
Fundamental principles, making the
goyernorship a real instead of mere.
" 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
torneys In ALASKA be increased so as
to make them 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 a
fixed salary be provided for them to
take the place of the discredited "feo
system" Which should be abolished in
all offices: that mounted constabu-
larry be created to police the territory
outside the limits of Incorporated
towns - vast section now wholly
without police protection-and that
some provision be made 10 at least
lessen the oppressive delays and costs
that now attend the prosecution of APP
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 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 nv
Judgment 1t 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 Its people.
Salmon hatcheries should be estab-
lished In many different streams, SO as
to secure the preservation of this valu-
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.
i 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-
Rility of becoming self supporting, self
respecting citizens and ask only for
! the just enforcement of law and intel
iigent 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
ilization with all Its 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-
tem,' whereby the native is degraded
Imposed upon and taught the injustice
Of law.
The establishment Of hospitals at
central points, so that contagious dis
eases that are brought to them contin-
ually b.. incoming whites may be To-
Called !AGl not allowed to become cpl
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 include
! the supervision of Indian affairs, with
necessary assistants in different dis
tricts. 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 cpl
denies and to extend material relief in
periods Of famine and extreme destitu-
ton.
Hawaii and Porto Rico.
The Alaskan natives should be given
the right to acquire, hold and dispose
Of property upon the same conditions
MS given other inhabitants, and the
privilege Of citizenship should be given
TO such as may be able to meet certain
lefnite requirements. In Hawaii con,