The Ketchikan mining news., 1907-02-08
FEBRUARY 8, 1907.
PRAY TELL US.

cnanu ln pafllCuldl Who WILL o0 "i
 by the increased taxation of territorial governmnet. It is the property oW- ners. railroad builders and the like who have invested their all in wilderness and produced a community of industry. Tax these industries as they have to be taxed to maintnia territorial gov rnment and many will fail. The num- Der of industries and the amount Of taxable property now in Alaska IS not large enough to bear the burden o1 taxation that would be necessary if the territory were made self-governing at the present time.'
 Still "harping on the tune of one string." The assumption that ter ritorial organization would necessarily bring increased taxation is not justified by anytheory other than that the people of Alaska are incapable Of an intelligent exercise of the privileges of local self-government. Such an argument, or suggestion, rather, might be made with some show of sense or reason, as applicable to Puerto Rico or the Philippines, but we apprehend that the Record-M Miner will hardly wish to be understood as intending to make such an argument in the case of Alaska. And yet it amounts to just that and nothing more, for the reason that under territorial form of government taxation would be just what the people themselves made it, within, of course, the limit fixed by the organic act.
 Increased taxation is the bugaboo which the anti home rule papers keep constantly before their readers, and yet not one of them has yet es- saved to explain wherein would be the necessity for it, how much would be the cost, in fact, fail to give the readers anything other than mere as- sertio unsustained by either facts, figures or sound reasoning. And it is to be regretted that there are hon. est, we'll meaning Alaskans who un- thinkinay give heed to this bugaboo cry, and deplore the efforts that are making for the political mobilization of Alaska as tending to their injury sons should unite in demand upon those who set up this bugaboo for something tangible,-to be shown substantial reasons for tht faith they profess, instead of asking others to ac- cept that faith on the strength of mere assertion only.
 There is no better way of judging zsure ss s5iS + t,.t;ss that conditions may change, ard the rale may not be a wholly unerring one, but as a general thing it may be held asIgood, if not better than, any other. If that be even partially true, what then becomes of the feeble con tention born of fear, that local self government will entail upon the peo- pie of Alaska burden of taxation too grevious to be borne? In the light of all the facts to be found in the history of territorial organizations that fear would appear to be groundless, and, conceding the intelligence of the peo- pie Alaska to be equal to that of the people of any other territory at the time of its organization wholly un tenable. In looking over some statis- tics of the territories printed in 1869 we find statement of salaries paid to territorial officials which at this time will be found interesting, if indeed they do not serve any other purpose. , The Territory of Washingon, organ ized in 1853, had fifteen years later salary list consisting of a territorial treasurer who was paid per centage on the amount of public funds received and disbursed by him, territorial auditor whose salary was $500 per an- mum, and prosecuting attorney for each of the three judicial districts, who were paid $2OO and fees each.
 Montana, organized in 1864, had territorial salary list four years later, consisting of a treasurer with an an- nual salary of $70O and fees, an auditor with the same amount of salary and fees, an attorney general with salary of $200 and fees, and secretary of the Board of Agriculture and Superinten- dent of Public Instruction with salaries of $7O0 each.
 Colorado, organized in 1864, had in 1868, list of four territorial officials, consisting of treasurer, auditor, adju- tant general and superintendent of public instruction, the sum total of the annual salaries of whom amounted to $2, 300.
 Arizona, organized in 1863, managed to get along until after 1869, with territorial auditor and treasurer, with salaries of $65O each.
 Dakota, organized in 1861, had in 1868, a territorial treasurer at S75 per annum, an general, who was paid salary of $250 year and fees, and superintendent of public instruc- tion at $3 per day. In that year the whole amount of taxes collected in what is now the two great states of North and South Dakota, was $386. 49, and the total amount paid in salaries, $357. 75.
 Of course, it will not be contended that the above quoted figures would