The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-10-07

passed. Cushman has contended for
an elective bill, and he has mapped out
plan of holding elections in Alaska
every two years to select delegate to
congress. Many men in the house VINO
think Alaska should have representa-
ton, have differed with Mr.. Cusnman
as to the manner of selecting the dele
gate, and have advocated the authori-
cation of an appointive delegate, to be
named by the president. But rather
than deprive Alaska of representation,
they have assented to the Cushman
plan and voted for his bill.
Senate Has Opposed.
The senate committee on territories,
which now handles Alaskan legislation,
has been unfavorable to every delegate
plan, and especially antagonistic to the
Cushman elective delegate bill. Had
that committee made a report, it
would have substituted an appointive
delegate for an elective, and the two
houses would then have been dead
locked.
But the Cannon plan, which is apt to
be substituted for the Cushman idea,
is believed to be more practical and
more beneficial. And it is apt to be
more beneficial to Mr.. Cushman him.
self, for if a committee on Alaska is
created in the next house, there is good
prospect that the western congress-
man may be made it's chairman, in
recognition of his persistent labors in
behalf of the territory, and his extern
sive knowledge of the conditions and
needs of all parts of Alaska.
Committee Plan.
The committee plan has many ad-
vantages over the delegate. In the first
place a delegate has no vote, and
could merely speak in the house on
subjects relating to Alaska. 1t is to be
presumed that a committee on Alas
ka would familiarize itself with Alas
kan affairs, and at least a majority of
the members, when occasion arose,
could not only speak in behalf of Alas
ka, but vote, and the votes of ten or a
dozen members will be worth more to
Alaska than the plaintive, voice of a
lone delegate who has no vote. And
what is true of the house is true of the
senate, save that a delegate has not
even the privilege of speaking in the
senate. He must be content to sit on a
sofa in the rear of the chamber, and
hear others talk.
But that is not why the speaker and
in preference to a delegate. After 60
ing over a part of Alaska, seeing its
great expanse, and some idea of the
way it's population is scattered, they
became thoroughly convinced That a
delegate would not be the thing. In
the first place these men say it would
be impractical to hold an election in
Alaska; secondly, they say that no one
delegate could intelligently and fairly
represent all parts Of Alaska. In their
opinion there would have to be at least
three delegates; one from southeast
ern Alaska, another from the interior,
and a third from Nome. There is not
The remotest chance that congress
would allow Alaska three delegates.
And there is the same general objection
20 a delegate appointed by the presl-
dent as to delegate elected by the
people. The committee, moreover, did
not overlook the opportunities for fraud
in Alaskan elections.
Cannon Will Lead.
The committee idea seemed to appeal
to every member in the congressional
party, and it will be brought forward
by Speaker Cannon himself If he puts
his plan into operation the committees
on Alaska will take charge of all Alas
kan legislation, will give hearings to
persons from Alaska, and will report
all bills having to do with Alaska. And
the chairman of each of these commit
tees, having a recognized standing in
senate and house, will take personal
charge of Alaskan legislation when it
is up for consideration, and as a recog-
nized chairman, will be able to do more
to further legislation than any individ-
ual member can expect 10 do, even with
the aid of a delegate.
There will be a protest against the
abandonment of the delegate bill, of
course. Men who long to draw the
$4,000 salary, several thousands annual
ly in mileage, and other allowances, will
be sore, and will enter protest. But
personal considerations will not have
any weight with Speaker Cannon. He
wants to do the best thing possible.