The daily Alaskan., 1914-10-10
AAnIUNITIoN Is TOO LIGHT

At a mass meeting Of citizens at Nome recently, the greater part of the gathering comprised, presum- ably, of patriotic democrats, who befors President Wilson's cleo ton, scrambled after office in the republican ranks, a unanimous pro test was raised against the pas sage of the Wickersham bill for a Commission form of govern ment for Alaska, denouncing it as an attempt to folst apon Alaska the old BeTeridga bill"
 Without going into details and taking up space, we quote from the official report of hearings be- fore the committee on territories in the house of representatives, had ou June 3 and 5, 1914, having un- der consideration H. R. 1576S, a bill to establish a commission form Of government in the administra- tion of national affairs in Alaska the Wickersham bill.
 Section l, in part, reads:
 That for the purpose of es-
 tahlshing a commission form
 Of government in the admins
 tratton of national affairs in
 the territory of Alaska, there
 shall be, and is hereby, creat-
 ed ia said territory, the Alas
 ka Administrative Commission.
 Section s to 14 inclusive, pre- scribes the duties, power. authority and jurisdiction of the commission which includes all of the admins tratiye functions now exercised by the numerous departments and bureaus in Washington ia the con duct of national affairs in Alaska.
 MT. Wickersham, in his state . meut before the committee said:
 This bill has nothing to do
 with the local government of
 Alaska. It is a combination Of
 the forces of administration un-
 der :he national government
 only.
 Chairman Houston of the com mittee, in course Of the hearing said:
 The purpose of the bill is
 to have a board upon The
 ground that can deal with mat
 ters expeditiously, and deal in
 that way with matters that are
 to the interest of Alaska with
 out having to have them come
 up through the various de-
 partments here"
 Mr. Wickersham further said:
 The purpose in preparing
 this bill was to create an ad-
 ministration commission only,
 having no legislative power
 whatever, and no judicial pow
 CT, except that which is given
 to a single officer or ex-ofticio
 commissioner of the general land office in Alaska. That
 Is all. sec. 31 reads: That
 nothing in this act shall be
 construed to give the Alas
 ka administrative commission
 any power, authority, control,
 or jurisdiction over the political
 Or internal affairs of the terri
 tory of Alaska, nor to grant
 to said commission any legis-
 latiys power or authority"
 The document from which the above quotations are taken is a rather yoluminous report, contain ing in addition to the statement of MT. Wickersham, letters from the heads of the various departments, in Washington City, and Is very interesting reading throughout, and we regret greatly that there are no copies for distribution in the terri tory of Alaska, as it would with out doubt greatly enlighten the pub lie, on the. system of red tape in the conduct of our affairs at the national capital.
 The Nome mass meeting was eith- CT woefully ignorant Of the true status in regard to the bill, or 1t was a cheap political trick em- anating from some of Nr. Wicker shams opponents who gre trying to create public sentiment against him in the coming campaign. They will have to use heavier amunition than that before they will make any im- rrassiOp ou Tha rOtaua