The Ketchikan mining news., 1907-01-25

The Mining News has prescribed to itself the rigid rule to accord to those who differ with it in the discussion of public questions of grave concern, the most respectful consideration. It finds it difficult, however, to follow that rule in handling a dissertation which. like the above, can scarcely be taken seriously, in view of the fact that the presumed argument set forth is based entirely on mere assertion, on the one hand. and fear of evils to come on the other.
 Mr. Novel; is authoritatively in- formed that the expenses of the dist rict now provided for by the United States government amount to over 1900, oo0 annually, and asserts that under territorial form cf govern ment a large increase in expenses would be incurred, and that it would probably be necessary each year to raise fully $40O, 000 to meet the ordi- nary territorial running expenses. Ordinarily it might deemed amply sufficient to meet this assertion by an- other, the truth of which could be much more easily and substantially demonstrated--that the running ex- penses of territorial administration could be provided for without single dollar of direct taxation. Assuming, for she sake of argument, that the expenses of the present hybrid district government is as much as stated by Mir Nowell, it is pertinent to inquire about what proportion of the whole amount is raked into the federal treas ury from the busines' and industry of Alaska itself. Mir. %owell knows full well. or ought to know that the larger half of the S30O. OO0-if indeed thc annual expenses of the distriVN gov ernment amounts to so much-goes to the payment of salaries of officials, all of which would be paid just the asme under territorial organization, by the general government, which would also pay the expenses of the territor- ial legislature. Where then would be the necessity for raising by taxa tion, the large amount he thinks would be the ordinary territorial run ming expenses? The fact is, and it is easy of demonstration, that viewed from purely financial standpoint, we would be the gainer instead of loser from the institution of territorial form of government, even though it brought with it a burden of taxation equal to the ratio now allowed to in- corps9rsted fowns> If MT Novel; is unable to demonstrate that fact to his own perfect satisfaction, and will con- fess as much, The Mining News will cheerfully undertake to enlighten him.
 Mir. Novel; fails to perceive where in under the present system of local government. i've suffer any curtail- ment of personal liberty, or that we are not blessed with as much freedom as could honestly be craved by any American citizen" But for the rule which requires at least a semblance oi respectful consideration in this case, the pertinent suggestion anent such a lamentable strabismal defect would be that none are so blind as those who will not see. But without going into details it might be pertinent to in. quire of Mr. Nowell if, indeed, ir spite of his strabismal af1liction, he can see no curtailment of personal lib. erty in being subjected to laws in the making of which he has no voice, and which are administered by officials ir the selection of which he must be content, without let or hindrance
 Our important towns and Mining districts are situated so widely apart, says Mir. Novel;, some of them prac. tically cut off from the outside world each year, etc., that our present sys. tenn of municipal government would seem to be adequate to the needs oi the times. And yet does it occur to Mir. Novel;, that there would be very few, if any, municipal governments in Alaska were they not necessity to getting back, to the use and benefit oi their own people, the license and oc- cupation taxes assessed upon them by the general government? However. the municipal governments are doing fairly we'll, and demonstrating to a certainty the capacity of the people for an intelligent exercise of the priv ilege of self-government. But Mir. Nowell fails to take notice of the fact that all these towns and mining dist ricts, unlike those of any other terri tory at the time of its organization, are in telegraphic touch with the out side world, while the means of travel and communication, even in the win ter season, are equal to those of not a few of such new territories, and even of some of the states for years subse- quent to their admission to the Union.
 ''Legislation might reasonably be expected which would hamper, if not retrict, the operation of our present and future large mining companies, etc." Does it not occur to Mir. Now. ell, that his fear thus expressed can be construed as nothing more nor less than a serious reflection on the intel ligence of the people of Alaska, as a whole? And by what prescriptive right does he assume to esteem ma iority of the neon1a of Alaska losc