The Alaska daily empire., 1915-03-02

pfovitcd wili be potent factor rct only in the development of our min. Ing resource8 br, Ia Che production ol many clectrochemlcal products. Our fisheries whose output in moncs value now ranks well up ie our prcdrc- don or gold and other arecious met. ais. arg capable of sseai expansion f ;fey hc properly conserved and their tevelorment crcoDraEed along legiit uaio lines.
 Legislative PoWera
 rac rovcrs conferred upon the Tor riicriol Iecislature by thc Organic Act passed by Congress aed approved Aueust 2i I9fe. are ln nay opinion somewhat limited. and they should be 'asued While there hos been a dl. rcrsity cf oNinlcu thcrctoicre as to the pcwcrs conferred by the Organic Acf upon the fegisiAture it win prob thls he conceded that the limitations are such os Co edii for iiocroi enlarge meat nt tho hands ol Congress SO as Co eashic ine Territory Co work out les destiny nhampercd by unncces. s1rr limitations. Tho Alaska Lesis- .aUre under the creative act or Con srcss does not appear Co enjoy tho powers that wore conferred uNon msrv Of tho other Territories of the unicl States and under which they rose Co tte dignity or Statchood' ueith- or does it pcsscss sacR powers as are cnieyed by tbe legislatures of Hawaii ar Porto Rice or tho Philippines and lt does nos aprcar clearly. it [ com parstivciy bro1d and comprehensive measure CT scifgoveramcnt has been rgantoi to ,ho other territories and nossgs oas. why A'aska shonld be iius handicapped by severcr limita- lions or authority. \ "fuli territorial form Of Government" ior Alaska was recommended by President Wiiscn in a acssasc Co Congrese at tho begin nIng cf iasf year. and in view oi the intcrcet thus manifested in recon mcnding Increased power for tho Ter. ritorial Iorislature youy honorable body should .ake such steps 1s may in yonr indsmcnt be required To se- cprc frora Che Coneress an enlarge mont of powers. ] am not enc ot thosc who look forways Co the speedy admission or Alaska as @ State oi the Union for Che reason shat am firm ly of tho belief tha; before statehood s achieved by the Territory steady and persistent light that win last for wears must he made. because princi- nal'y oi Che fact that Alaska occupies @ pn'qre eeographic position With ref srcnce Co The Urited States proper, and for other reasons which viii be obvious
 Taxation and Revenue.
 An impcrtau question that con. fronts thc legislative assembly at this ,lme is the enactment Of an adequate srstcm ot taxation and revenue. and fo formulate a simple workable and sound system ot taxation and revenue riif rsuuire thc earnest thoucht of the Lecisiature The revenue law passed by the first legislative assem- h.f would undoubtedly have met the reTenre requirements Of tho Territory tut ir was rendered Imperative in De- cemher 1918. first by ga opinion or the Attorney Gene-al Of the United States. followed shortly thereafter by 8 decs>ion or The Circrit Court of an- 1cais for ihc Ninth Circuit. both hold ing that thc Legislature exceeded its 0oWcrs by imposing duties upon ce-- tain federal officials ln connection oith fhe collection of taxes. Thc ir.- red.7ie result was the drying ur of ,ne chief resources or revenue. 7ith .ie exception or some taxes received 'rcm insrrance companies arc the territorial fer on corporations eoi-f eeira inrongh the office or tho Sec -eiarr ot tbe Tcrritory A few sal- .noa canneries paid the t3Scs upon .afir products Tor thc year 1919. the axes thus paid having come iror1 .he ''la..er coacerns ccsaE ousiuesg in Ae Territory. None Q, the larger 'orpcratons paid thc tax. nor did any .tince 8 disposition % do so.. It isf -ratliylne. howcvcr. 70 hc abic Co 't1to tfat no material necessity of ne Territory has suffered by reason T 8 pauciry or revenue Co dcfray run- .ile expenses.
 I1e taxing power Is one by virtue 'f which government determines the mount which citizen shaIi pay iu- Q fhe public treasury and 6niorce pay aent if necessary it Is therefore a oYcrclgu power. The power to tax g thc power to destroy and tho pow r % keep alive This idea should 70 borne in mind when the sources