The Alaska daily empire., 1915-10-04
SCH00L ACTS PASSED BY LEGISLATURE NUL-IFIED
 EASEMENTS HANDS TIED

Two acts passed by iho last Ierri- toriai Legislature, both relative to schools arc without force, and Invalid according to Che Attoruey-General Of the United States.
 Governor Suong today received from Assistant Secretary of the Inter- for Bo Sweeney. the decision oi Pres ton c. West. of Che Attorney Generals omce. The opinion in response to an inquiry made by Gov. Strong two months ago as to tho validity of "An Act Go provide for Q uniform system o' schools for the Territory of Alas ka" and "An Act to amend Election 32I of Chap. 9 Of the compiled laws or the Territory oi Alaska"
 The second-mentioned act of tho legislature related to che amendment of the Nelson school law.
 Conflict With U. S. Lave.
 The letter says: "I have to state that the question submitted by you was presented to the Solicitor for the Department Of the Interior for opin- lon under date of September 21, and he rendered the same copies ol which are herewith enclosed.
 "I concur in the conclusion of the Solicitor continues the letter, Chat the acts of the Legislature of Alaska mentioned are without force and ef- feet In SO far as they materially com Tf.. ...f.n .r.. r.sr .r ftD-r-rnrn md are violative of the inhibition against amendment made in Che act of 1912 in the manner specified. Furthermore. that no action looking Go the execution ot these Alaska acts should be taken until they have been reported to and acted upon by Congress as provided in Section l2 of the act of August 24. 1912. if such action is taken when re- ported"
 in his opinion on the enactment Of the legislature concerning the uniform system of schools for the Territory, Mir. West states. "rhe government of the United States belongs primarily to Congress, and secondariiy to such agencies as Congress may establish for chat purpose. During their pupil age. as territories they are dependen- cies of the United States. Their peo- pie do not constitute Q sovereign pow er All political authority exercised by them is derived from the general government A territorial iaw is there fort without force and encct if it con aic,s with a federal statute. unless the enactment has been authorized by Congress.
 Le qisiaturc Overstepped Power
 The Alaska Legislature was. sub iect to specified limitation. clothed with the power to enact laws, by sec-| tions 8 and Of the act Of 1912 pro vided. among other things. That the authority herein granted to the leg isiature Go alter amend. modify and repeal laws in force in Alaska shall not extend to the act entitled An Act to provide for the construction and maintenance Of roads. and the es- tabiishment and maintenance of schools"
 Gov. Strong stated today that he would act In accordance with the rec ommendation Of the Assistant Attor- ncy General. and that no execution Of Che law enacted by the recent Legis- iature would be had
 Makes More School Money.
 Owing to the fact that 25ee of the receipts from the forest reservations have been appropriated for the estab- nshment and maintenance or schools, approximately si5.o00 would be avail able this year for that purpose. With the establishment Of the fact that the law creating the office of Assistant Superintendent Of Public Instruction is invalid. the appropriation of S500o. made for that purpose win revert to the school maintenance fund Tn oth- CT words there wiii be available for school purposes this year s500O more than was expected.