Douglas Island news., 1911-05-31
Lust or Uniust

L
 In February, 1909, the Thlinget print ed an article under the caption of Thlinget Jurisprudence that gave to the readers some idea of how justice was, and is yet, administered among Alas kan natives when they are left to settle their own differences, says recent is- sue of that Interesting little paper. Their laws or customs and their meth ods of procedure were certainly pe- culiar, and, according to the white mans way of reasoning, exceedingly illogical
 It is very doubtful, however, if the application of their legal system pre- sents to the minds of their paler breth- ren a greate anomaly than some of the processes of law and the modes of pro- cedure employed by governmental of acials in their enforcement, do to the native mind, aud, indeed, to the minds of some Alaskaus who are not natives.
 Recently an officer connected with the customs service dropped iuto our little town. In less than twenty four hours, acting as plaintiff, prosecuting attorney, judge and jury, which of course is legal, he assessed fines of from two hundred to five hundred and fifty dollars on the owners of number of motor boats aud sailed eagerly away 10 the next "camp" where motor boats dare to exist. In three cases, and one of these was that of native who can not read English, but who has as good standing both financially and morally in the community as could be desired the fine imposed was S250 because each of the three boats failed 10 have aboard two copies of little blue book of pilot rules. Of course the officer did not collect the money. He required only that each man give bond in the sum of the fine imposed, with two sureties who must be citizens of the United States. This fine may be remitted or mitigated at the discretion of the secretary of commerce and labor
 Even though the fines are fully re- mitted, imagine, if you can, from the standpoint of the native people, the justice of this procedure. Here is a native who more than year ago, when his boat was in the process of construc- tion, got friend to write to the proper authorities asking for directions about equipping his launch. The reply came and he equipped his boat accordingly. He was not instructed to have any pilot rules aboard. In fact, he never heard of and knew nothing of the necessity of having the little blue pamphlets un- til the inspector bounced upon him and informed him that he was under 6ne of S250 because the pilot rules were not in his possession. What though the launch in question is but the 'sfamily carriager What though the owner has piloted in the perilous straits, channels and passages of Southeastern Alaska waters for thirty yearsi What though he cannot read the Pilot RulesL What though the law in question had never in any way been made public in the community These avail nothing. The owner of that motor boat has trans gressed-no, he wanted conformity un- to the law. He must suffer for the con- sequences of his rash recklessness of not knowing.
 The native people do not question the authority of the government. They have tried to keep all laws probably with more sincerity than have others. But they are almost as ready as are those of lighter color to resent pun ishment for a first offense when they