The Alaska daily empire., 1915-07-17

It would not be diffcut to agree with the posi- tion of Reprssenlatiye Hickman and the Ketehikan Miner and au consent to drop the suit for an niune- ton to restrain ,he distribution throughout tRe Terri tory of the proceeds from tho Tongass National forest if it were not for the precedent that such distroo ton of this First Division money would establish if there were assurances that in the future the First D vision would be permitted to keep that which is her own we could reduce this whole proposition down to the point of measuring the advantage Of taking the sso0oo allotted to the First Division by the board of road commissioners and letting go he slightly larger amount of the forest receipts that of right belongs to Southeastern Alaska against the danger that we may lose both-ior this year. at least
 That it may be clearly understood just what 1t IS ,ha, the First Division is asked to give up 1t might be stated: The rerritorys share of the Tongass Nation al forest receipts which Congress has decreed should be expended Cor roads schools within the eoun- U or countless in which the forest Is situated, now in the Territorial treasury amounts 0n round numbers) to S52o0o The First Divisions contribution to the road fund of the Territory through the Federal H. ccnse tax law in 1914 was Calso in round numbers) ss2o00 and this years payments win probably be as large There has been appropriated from the Federal Treasury for road purposes in Alaska for the current
 fiscal year Sl6500O II the First Division were to re- eeiye fourth of this last sum- her own contribution to the road find and the money from the rongass National forest that should be expended within the county or counties in which the is situated there would be grand total due the First Division of Sls50o0.
 Bu, the recent Legislative session passed law dividing the S52O0O from the Tongass National forest equally among all the four Divisions. thus leaving the First Division but one fourth of this amount or about SlsO00 Wheruupon the Alaska Board of road commis- soners allotted for the First Division to be expended upon new roads S5oOOO The amount allotted for the maintenance of the roads already constructed in this Division has not been made public However would probably be approximately correct to say that the al lotment for new roads and for maintenance would be equivalent to the amount of the First Divisions con trbpon ,hroueh the Federal license taxes the road funds that are expended under the direction of the road commissioners. as stated, s42ooo accepting last years contribution basis At no time has any body attempted to figure the First Division in on the si650OO general appropriation On the other hand the road commission has served notice that Ssoooo ofi the si2ooo ths Division pays into the road funds will be withheld n the suit instituted for the establishment of the First Divisions claim to alI the $52oOo from the rongass National forest results in tying up those funds SO that they shall not be available for expendt ure in the other Divisions
 It must be said however in behalf Of the road commissioners that shey were counting upon the Ter ritorys devotny large part of the forest moneys toI the maintenance of established roads when they made their alotments for new work and It would be unfair to crteise them harshly without having their view point No man can impeach the members of that com mission of wilu unfairness the First Division. or of lack of earnest interest in Alaska's welfare
 However the First Division should not be asked to surrender Che major part of her contribution through the license law to the other Divisions to waive all claims to participation in the general road approp rations and agree to precedent that would amount to waiver of her claim of right the receipts of the Tonsass National forest now and forever.