Iditarod pioneer., 1912-11-16
POWERS OF THE LEGISLATURE

Citizens throughout the territory have been much ecised of late the merits and demerts of the act gv ing home rule to Alaska The usual trend of the argu mens to be not much to find out what the legis lature do to discover what it is prevented from doing under the terms of the act Some of the objections the may be we'll taken and doubtless there many n the territory who believe that the people have not been granted that full control of their affairs to which they entitled, just there others-an insignificant mnority-wo believe that Alaska should not have been granted home rule at a But for the most part the critics of the appear be interested in beittng the great work of the delegate than they in arriving fair estimate of the act itself In that know of it is evident the critics have not considered the at all while in other instances the reading has been perfnctoy and entered with bias Such meth ods inexcusabe and unworthy of intelligent men, who should be interested in the good government of the terri tory which their home. Were they devote much time consideration of what the act permits they have to what 1t prohibits, they speedily would learn that the powers conferred not inconsiderabe and that the limit atons by unreasonable.
 In granting home rule a sparsey-setted, but rich territory like Alaska hitherto governed by appontive officials Congress had to protect the people residing therein from the possibility of experimental legislation the part of enthusiastic but inexperienced lawmakers. They also had to protect them from the schemng of opportuns and from the power of special interests corporations whose ends might be served by class egation control of the executive or judicial offices.
 Therefore it is not surprising that Congress, anxious to do that which best for the whole of the territory and not for particular class should refuse power to the legislature tamper with the judiciary to alter the laws providing for the taxation of business enterprises to dis pose of public ands to give special privileges to corpora tions to assume bonded debts; to legaze gamblng to change the laws regulating the fisheries etc. These things the legislature not do and it doubtful if thoughtful will say that thus early in it's the legislature should be permitted to deal with the matters enumerated
 But now let us see what the legislature do
 Although it has power to remit abolish federal taxation business enterprises yet the legislature is empowered to levy additional taxation the extent of per centum per annum the same: it place tax the gold output the profits from the indusy it horze the formation of corporations for mining and featuring purposes, for shpbudlng and railroad n6 nd foyc cJ1ph corporations to the extent of ceum At the end of five from the passing of the act the legislature will be empowered to tax all private railroads in the territory Thus ann pie revenue is assured for all purposes.
 With the money provided from taxation the legislature may find itself in position to abolish the road tax It amend the mining laws pass lien law which will include the property we'll the dump; establish eghthour day for miners pass regulations for underground mnng provide schools and colleges; build homes for aged pros pector and hospitals for the sick repeal unsuitable laws provide for better system of recordings insist upon pay