The Alaska daily empire., 1915-03-04
TREASURER SMITH
 TILES HIS REPORT

ID his report to Cor. }. r. A. stronss which yesterday was transmitted co the legislature. Territorial 1reasorer walste.n e. Smith says;
 The present imperative condition of the revenue measures enactei oy the First Territorial legislature through rulings Of the United states Attorney-General and through decls- ion ol the United States Circuit Court or appeals relative Co the poll tax acI is. doubtless. too well known to oil- clals of the Territory and to members of the Legislature Go need detailed mention here lt should be noted, however. chat with the exception of che annual fees paid by foreign and domestic corporations to the Secre- tary of the Territory. and by him GOV cred into the Treasury, the Territory is nacdcally without income of any ixind The Alaska Pioneers Home at Sitka has been enabled to keep open its doors through funds received from the Judges of tho District Courts for support or Inmates of the Home from their respective divisions. By reason of exhausted appropriations and de- pleted fluids Of tho Territory, the Home must have long since closed It's doors but for tho moneys received from this source. The funds collect cd under the provisions of the reye- une measures. prior Co their declared nlegality. and the amounts received rom foreign and domestic corpora- tions have, thus far been sufficient to meet the expenses of the other ter rilorial departments without recourse to issuance of interest bearing war rants on the General Fund of the Tor rltory. Each balance ia this fund will show. however. that this condition of affairs can not be long maintained.
 Chapter 52.
 "An act to establish Q system Of taxation. create revenue and provide for the collection thereof
 Attempts Co enforce the provisions Of this ac, met with no very great sue cess. Printed matter. blank license certificates. and other supplies neces- sary to its enforcement were placed ln the hands Of the clerks Of the courts ot the several Judicial divisions ! However. as much doubt had been expressed as to the legality oi the act. and the United States Attorney | General had been asked for an opin- lon In the matter most of the clerks of the cour,a declined Co perform the duties prescribed to them In the act untU such time as che Attorney-Gen- eral had been heard from So far as is known Co this office no collections under provisions of the act were made by tho clerks in the Second and Fourth Judicial divisions The clerk of the court of the Third division made col l lection Of some sums Of moneys un' der provisions cf the net which were paid into the Treasury and covered Into the proper funds However. near the close Of Che year Of 1915 ruling [ was received from the United States ! Attorney.General that action in Terri torial capacities by Federal officials In Alaska was contrary to and forbidden ! by provisions of Sec. II of the Alaska organic act. and. as consequence. no further revenues have been received from the Third division with the ex- ception of some small amounts in pay ment for fur shipment permits. lt is understood by this office that the clerk Of the court of the First diyls- ion has in his possession 9 sum of money approximating in amount some twentyG three hundred dollars received