Iditarod pioneer., 1913-10-25

During the session of the local legisla ture last spring an act was passed making education of white children compulsory in Alaska The bill was passed by the house on April F, by the senate on April l9, and approved by the governor April 25. The law is in force now and is published in its entirety as follows:
 Section l. That every parent, guardian or other person having possession or con trol of any white child or child of mixed blood living a civilized life in the territory of Alaska, between the ages of and l6 years, residing within two miles of any school to which such child is entitled to ad- mission is maintained, or within the limits of an incorporated town where a school to which such child is entitled to admission is maintained, shall cause such child regularly to attend school during the entire school year, unless the physical or mental condi
 ton of such child IS such as to render such attendance inexpedent or impractcable, or such child has been excused for other cause by an excuse in writing signed by the ma jority of the school board: Provided, That any child who has completed a course of study equal to that covered by the public schools of the territory shall not be re- quired to attend school
 Sec ?. That every parent guardian or other person having possession CT control of any white child or child of mixed blood living a civilized life, as hereinbefore de- scribed, who shal without legal excuse, permit such child to be absent from school fir total of five days on which sessions are held during any one school quarter, | hall be deemed guilty of misdemeanor and be punished by fine of not less than five nor more than twenty dollars and the cost of the prosecution, and shall be i'm
 ~iscned in the fedaral jail until such fine and costs are paid: Provided, That such
 erscn so convicted shall be imprisoned one ay for every two do lars of such fine and costs; and each absence of five days shall constitute a separate otfense: Provided fur ther That the court may suspend sen 1 tence, stay or postpone the enforcement of execution, or release from custody any per
 son found guilty in any case under this act 60 the best interests of the child and fair | under the circumstances but no sentence shall be expended or final judgment or execution stayed in the case of any person 1 found guilty under this act for a period to exceed the end of the school year during which such person is convicted. If at any satisfaction of the court that such person has compiled faithfully with the conditions of any suspended sentence, judgment CT execution, CT is for any cause in the opinion of the court entitled to be released there from, the court may suspend such sentence indefinitely, in which case such person shall be released and discharged, as he shall be in any event at the expiration of the school | year, from the imposition of any such fine | It shall be the duty of the principals of 1 the schcclS hcreinbefore described nearest tle place at which offending parent, guar dian or other person resides to report eacb case and violation of this act to the school beard, and such board shall if it sees fit to, lay the case before the United States com missioner in whose precinct such school is situated, and the said United Stales com missioner shall thereupcn issue a warrant fer the arrest of the said delinquent and have power and jurisdiction to act upon the complaint of the school board, and tale such action or impose such fine, under this act, as the circumstances justify.
 Sec. 3. That every parent, guardian or other person having possession or control of any Eskimo Aleut, Indian or other na- tive child (which shall include children of mixed blood not leading a civilized Efe) in the territory of Alasak, between the ages of 8 anad Is years, who shall, without legal excuse, permit such child to be absent from any United States public school for Alaska natives for a total of five days on which sessions are held during any one school quarter, when the residence of such child IS within one mile of such United States public school (unless such child IS being taught st some other school or by private tutor such branches as are taught in the United States public schools for Alaska na- tlves, or unless the physical or mental con dltion of such child renders it's attendance at school inexpedient or impracticable or such child has been excused for other cause by an excuse in writing signed by the prin clpal of such school or by the superinten- dent of schools of the district in which such school is located, shall be subject to the provisions and penalties of Section 2 of this act: Provided, That the word resi- dence in this section shall be construed to include any habtation of such child occu- pied for period of 30 days or more: And provided further That the complaint in the case of such child shall be made to the United States commissioner by the district rttNfo Ipv>+ L f