The Nome daily nugget., 1915-05-06

body who keeps in touch with political affairs knows that congress does not go out of it's way to aid the people who do not appreciate such aid.
 There are about 6O,0O0 people in Alaska including the Indians who are about half the entire population This leaves probably 3o,O0O white people in the territory These white people do not own titles to land that can he taxed, with the exception of the people who live in incorporated towns. and these are already taxed to the fullest of their capacity to support such towns.
 As soon as Alaska becomes a state the law will prevent congress from supporting our local governments There will be no money sent here for schools no more for local courts. no money for keeping mp trails and roads. no more money for the federal govern ment for tho care of our insane and our
 
 down ordinary fugitives from justice, m money to nay the government or other local officials. and in short there will be nothing doing" when it comes to federal expenditure. with the eXcep- ton of maintaining probably one court, which will handle only such cases as involve federal laws.
 Just al present there is so much that Alaska has to ask for from con eress that it is not quite clear why Delegate Wickersham should weaken his own influence in congress and dis courage the national government from further aiding us by asking for such an impossible a thing as statehood, where there are not enough sources of revenue in the whole of Alaska to sup port a modest city government
 one of the cheif concerns of the pres ent session of the legislature was to figure out how the revenues can he in creased in order to give the legislature money for carving out it. various pro- jects Ii was first decided to ask for the revenues from the forest reserves for building roads and trails, but as much of this money already goes to the territory. it seems that the plan was abandoned.
 Since then bills have been introduced for taxing people in order to support the limited government we now have. The polltax law is to be enforced, it seems from the present indications. and every kind of property that can be taxed will be forced to pay for the support of our present legislature. When it is remembered that con gross already pays for all the necessary expenses of the territory. it is hard te understand how the people will ap- preciate this proposed heavy taxation. Certainly the average taxpayer or even the man who must pay poll taxes in order to support the plans of our law makers. will not look kindly upon any suggestion that tends to increase his burdens.
 Delegate Wickersham and the Jun eau officials who are suggesting state hood should center their energies in an effort to aid the people of the territory lrather than to suggest placing on them Increased burdens, and at the same time making congress believe that 1t made a mistake when it appropriated $35. GOO. 900 for building q road to de- Velop this territory.
 If this is an attempt on the part of lAIr Wickersham to play to the gal leries." and temporarily place a few cheap politicians in Juneau who want a chance to spend the public funds which are not controlled by the fed eral government. it will certainly do 1 him no permanent good He was elec- ted because the people thought he was q conservative man of good political judgment. and he should endeaVor 10 maintain that confidence of the pub llic-Fairbanks Alaska Citizen.
 --------------.