The Alaska citizen., 1911-10-09
THE WICKERSAAM BILL.

THE WICKERsHAM BILL.
 T. has been announced that thc Wickersham bill providing for a Ter. ritoria1 form of goyemmcuf for AIa-- ka. has been reported hE ta. h Use committee ot rongr, Therefore. We believe that il is proper 10 ,aU attention 10 certain features of tht bill and 10 submit rh same to the people for their consideration iu order that if there he serious fauIt that such may he corrected h,rrc congress takes final ..t.#u.
 IT is particularly advisable to sJb. mil the matter ar this time iu view ot the fact that Delegate Wiehyr~ham is Il w in rhc ctl Mr. Wiuher-aam is especially invited ro Is, n. ea.- umns of the Citizen for he purpose of meeting objections raised
 The Citizen f~ mol unmmG,a of the fact that all territorial toms a government are limited in raelr scope; that there can l.. no Teal home rule" where 'hcr. ts DO soy. ereignty. and rha n. d,neudtaos has sovereign rights
 Our couten'ion i- 'aat provisions
 f the bill which do tu ,m- phasize such dDp,Hd,h.H IF, suporfuous. We nilI assume that under The proposed mn Alaska will have the pow.r ro pa~- certain legislative acr~. raa' WfH become the law ef the Iafd if such ac,s do not conflict wjth some coHgre--f HaI law already in force. until such time that congress st.s rl' to di-appro}e and annul such acf~ Tas bciug 1bs case such legislative hodg should he created to serve the win of rhu prO- pie Its construction should h. sim pie, and the rcpreseurariyc~ which compose it ar all times subject r.. tHe will f the people This would give true epreseutatiye government.
 Section five of rhc bill which has 10 do with The construction of he rhe proposed Iegislatur. is herewith submitted:
 Section j. Legislative Assembly, That the legislative power and ru- thority # said TelriI ry shall he vested in a legislative assembly. I'm legislative assembly shall consist of a senate and a house of representa- tives. The senate shall consist .. eight members, TWO from each uI inc four judicial divisions into wll.a Alaska is now divided by act of congress. each of whom shall have al the time of his electi n the qual- ifiCations of an cIectOr in Alaska and shall have been a resident and an inhabitant in the division from which he is resident and an iuhabi- tant in the division from which he is elected for al least TWO years prior to the date of his election. The term of office of each senator shah be four years Provided. That inn mediately after they shall be as sembled in consequence Of the first
  be divided in each division into two classes, the seats of the members of the first class shall be vacated at the end of two years ard the seats of the members of the second class shall be vacated at the end of four years, so that one senator shall, after first election, be elected bi- ennially at the regular electirn from each division; and if vacancies hap pen by death, resignation, removal from the division. or otherwise. the same shall be filled al the next regular biennial election for the bal ance of the term. The house of rep resentatives shall consist of sixteen members, four from each of the four judicial divisions into which Alaska is now divided by act of congress. each of whom shall have al the time of his election the qualifications of an electOr in Alaska. and shall have been resident and an inhabitant in the division from which he is elected for al least two years prior to the date Cf his election The term Cf office of each rep, ,esentative shall be for four years: Provided. That immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of the first election they shall by lot or drawing, be divided in each division into two classes; the seats of the members of the first class shall be vacated at the end of two years and the seats of the members of the sec ond class shall be vacated al the end of four years, so that two representa- tiveS shall. after the first election be elected biennially at the regular election from each division; and if vacancies happen by death. resigna- tiOn, removal from the division or otherwise, the same shall be filled at the next regular biennial election for the balance of the term. The persons having the highest number of legal votes in each of said divis- ions for members of the senate shall be declared elected by the canvass ing board, and the persons having the highest number of legal votes in each of said divisions for members of the house of representatives shall be declared elected by the canvass ing board
 The Citizen takes the position that the double house is unnecessary and also undesirable, for the very good reason. that legislation eminating