The Alaska daily empire., 1915-02-23

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 M 0 N s
 The disposition Of fund exceeding S60O00 paid into Che Alaska Terri. Itorial Treasury as 25 per cent eot Che ! proceeds of the safes of timber and leases of lands within the Tonwss and chugacb forest reserves is one of the matters mat me Legisiature wiu be called upon to decide, and t s one that now promises to create some division of sentiment It is contend, ed by some that this fund should be expended for tho benedt of che roads and schools within the Frst and Third Divisions. as the forest reserves are situated within those Divisions.
 Others contend that the funds should be distributed throughout Che Territory
 The Law on the Subject
 The Federal satte which controls the expenditure Of this money reads as follows
 Thot hereafter twenty-five per cent Of all money received from each forest reserve during any fiscal year, including the year ending June 80, 1908 shall be paid at tho end taere. Of hy the Secretary of the Treasury Go che State or Territory in which said reserve is situated Go be eSpcnd- ed as ihe State or Territorial Leg 8, lature may prescribe for iae oeneHt of .he public schools md publ.c roads that when any forest reserve is in more than one State or Territory or county che disrdbutiye share to each from tle proceeds of said reserve shall be proportional to It's area theren
 While Alaska has no counties, mem bers Of the Legislature from the lifs1 Division contend chat Che Judicial Dis visions under the Alaska organic act are equivalent Of the counties of other States and Territories
 However, members of the Leg sla- ture from the Second and Fourth Jn- dicial Divisions. who favor the aiFis- ion of the fund mo iour equal parts for expenditure in an four Divisions have ruling Of the Treasury Depo e ment to justify the legality of the fund
 Department Ruling
 The following is decis.cn oi me Comptroller Of the Treas0ry, rendered fer the guidance of Gov. J. x. A. Strong at dme when the disposition of this nsnd was matter of cores pondence between the Governor and the Treasury Departments
 The underlying purpose oi Che stat .utes Is that their benefits shall go to the public schoole and public foaas of th, fiscal subdivision whose re- sources have been impaired by the withdrawal of land tor national TOT ests. If Alaska has no fiscal units #corresponding to counties in other States or Territories then Che Terri ! tory of Alaska ls itself the fiscal unit in which any of its forest reserves arc located and should be so considered ID deaiing with these statutes.
 Alaska was divided nto political subdivisions called 5udioiai divisions. do not find however that m tne col lection of revenues anu their applica- elon to Che expouse of public ehools and public roads divisional Ines have beer. recognized by her fiscal laws
 .Revenues Of incorporated towns Iwere applied to school and manicipal ! expenses of the municipality in ana for which they were collected, but revenues collected outside oi 'neorpor ated towns were carried in what was known as che Alaska Fund which was available for school and road pur poses throughout the Terr.tory goner ally. There was no segregation oi ! the revenues Of each division ana he separate apportionment by divisions of the revenues collected.
 sThe national forests of Alaska were not taken from any county or counties or coresponding fiscal division or ol visions. The Territory itself E th' i fiscal mt from which the forests Wef- taken. and Che Territory IS the unn to which any benefits Of the acts mus