The Ketchikan miner., 1908-05-23
ENDORSE ADMINISTRATIVE
We en7orsi. fhe administration Q

Of the measures Of reform In leglSla- tion and administration the President has accomplished. We especially com mend the progress he has made in minimizing the influence of great az gregations of wealth in the federal government and the abolishment of special privileges.
 URGE HOME RULE.
 Second: We believe that Alaska is entitled to all the benefits of the ordi- nance of l7S7, ard we demand the ex- ension of that patriotic compact to the management and control of the terri tory in order that the people of Alas ka may have a voice in their own af fairs. We favor the adoption of d congressional amendment to the or ganic laws of Alaska Territory remov- ing from the jurisdiction of the judges of the district courts those executive and administrative powers which op- press the courts of the people, and inn posing such executive and administra- tive duties upon the governor of the territory.
 COAL LAND LAW AMENDMENT.
 Third: That Congress should inn mediately enact amendments to the coal land laws. which in their present form are prohibitive of the develop ment of the great industry of coal production in Alaska, which is of vi- tai importance not only to this terri tory but the entire Pacific Coast.
 NEED OF RAILROADS.
 Fourth: That one of the most vita needs of A aska is the construction o1 railroads throughout the territory tc permit the development of regions oi rich resources now inaccessible except at enormous expense, and in order tC promote the construction of these great arteries of commerce we favor financial aid by the federal govern ment of all legitimate railroad enter prises organized to build trunk lines in Alaska whenever such companies shall, with their own capital, make substantial progress with their pro- jects, and we urge that all railroads so aided by the government be placed directly under government contro in the fixing of a freight and passen- ger tariff.
 Fifth: We favor the immediate creation of fourth judicial division Alaska by the erection of the southern or coast division of the present third division into separate division. MONEY FOR LIGHT STATIONS.
 Sixth: We urge the immediate ex. penditure of moneys already appropri ated by Congress for the construction of light houses and fog signals on the coast of Alaska and the further appro priation of liberal sums for the same purpose.
 ENDORSE ROAD COMMISSION.
 Seventh: That the work of the Alaska Road Commission in the con struction of government roads il Alaska is deserving of the highes comm endaton for the capable an( economical expenditure of the funds d the disposal of the commission, anC for the excellent results accomplished in opening avenues of transportation where the same will prove most val uable; and congress is urged to in crease the annual appropriation fol that purpose.
 BETTER CABLE FACILITIES.
 Eighth: That Congress is urged tc make appropriations for the extension of the Alaska cable system to all ports from which railroads are building, particularly Cordova and Katalla.
 COALING STATION.
 Ninth: The attention of congress is directed to the fact that in the Con. troller Bay and Matanuska regions ot Southern Alaska ate vast deposits ot the best grades of anthracite anG semi -bituminous coal to be found or he Pacific Coast. Wolk is under way to provide facilities for transportation for this coal from the mine to the sea- board. A government coaling station in this reg.on is one of the necessities of the near future.
 REVISION OF MINING LAWS.
 Tenth The mining laws of the United States should be revised. Our present mining laws are inadequate. They permit unlim ited stalking of claims by individual, agent or power of attorne y They providethat as much assessment work shall he done upon a small fraction of claim as upon a group of eight claims comprising 160 acres Definite limitations of the indi- vidual's right to separate mineral land from the public domain, specific methods of doing assessment work. and clear definition of what consti- tutes discovery will be of great as sistance to the legitimate miner. Our present laws open the doors to too much litigation. Since the discovery of gold this litigation has burdened the courts of the distrct, and has been a serious detriment to the development of the country.
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