The Alaska daily empire., 1913-04-15
THE JOINT CAUCUS
 BRINGS NAUGHT


 islative assembly met in joint caucus at s o'clock last night in the Hall of the House in accordance with a con current resolution passed by each house. The caucus adjourned, how ever, without taking action on the sub feet matter which was the object of the caucus.
 There was a full attendance from both branches of the legislature when Speaker Collins rapped with his gavel and stated the object of the caucus which was to discuss the tentative draft of a bill prepared by the bureau of fisheries and the cannery interests for introduction in Congress as law governing the fishing industries of Alaska.
 President Ray, of the Senate, was chosen to preside at the caucus. Rep resentative Milo Kelly of Knik, nov ed that the bill be taken up section by section and passed on until the entire bill had been made to suit the wishes of the joint caucus and that it then be forwarded to congress as a memorial from the legislature asking that which Alaska wanted in the matter of legis- lation affecting the fishing industry.
 Senator Sutherland, chairman of the Senate committee on Fisheries, oppos- ed the motion for the reason that there are fish bills pending He fav- ored waiting until an opinion can be received fro the attorney-general as to whether the Alaska legislature has power to act on the question. He could not see that it would be of any advantage to pass a memorial asking Congress to make laws and regu- lations governing the fishing industry if the legislature had power to act. He believed the legislature should wait until the opinion had been rendered first and then it would be time to pe- tition congress.
 Senator Tanner and Representative Gaffney also supported the position ta- ken by Senator Sutherland.
 At this juncture Senator Willard arose and moved that the joint caucus do now adjourn. Senator Bruner was recognized and said that he thought that now that the two houses had met it would be well to improve the time by discussing the bill and taking action upon it. Representative Al drich said that he was opposed to taking any action whatver until it had first been determined whether or not the legislature had power to legis- late on the subject He believed the legislature had power to legislate and was opposed to asking congress to do work that the legislature should do.
 Representative Ingram said that he could see no reason why the bill should not be discussed and such ac- tion taken as would express the views of the legislature on the subject It was not at all necessary to forward a memorial to congress, but the legis- lature could arrive at an understand ing on the subject.
 Representative Jones was in favor of going into the subject He said that he did not know much about the fish question but was anxious to learn all that he could.
 Senator Willard said that he was op- posed to considering the question at this time. He had made the motion to adjourn in the interest of harmony He was convinced that no good could be accomplished by continuing the caucus For himself he would refuse to take any active part on the sub ject for the very reason that if the legislature had power to act he would follow a certain line of action, if the attorney general decided that the leg islature had no authority on the sub. ject he would choose a different line of action.
 At the conclusion of Senator Mill lard's remarks the motion to adjourn was carried