The Alaska daily empire., 1915-08-10

The facts do not justify tho Fairbanks newspapers in the attacks they have made the members of Che Legislature from the First Division and the people Of Juneau in connection with the suit to test the validity Of the Territorial act appropratng the funds from the rongass National Forest The Fairbanks Citizens ref erenee to the Juneau political machine and Represen tative Drscos talk about cheap politics. are entirely uncalied for There is no politics in it. The Citizens statement of the case is not in accord with the facts at au It mquotes the letter and the spirit of the Fed eral statutes
 In the first place members or the Legislature from the other divisions including Senator Gaustad realized that there was enough doubt about the intent of the law under which Che money in controversy was paid into the Territorial Treasury them to say that they would like to the matter tested in the courts
 Contrary to the editorial statement of the Citizen the Federal statute does certain receipts from the forest reserve over the Legislature to be used s that body of political lawmakers should desire for the good of the Territory generally" The Federal statute under which Alaska secures part of the re- eeips Of the National forests not enacted special ly for this Territory It is general statute and was made with conditions in the States in view And again contrary to the Citizen the law does provide particular sections of the States and Territories in which the funds shall be expended
  al forests (nost of which are not located in AIaska) provides that twenty-five per cent of the receipts of the national forests shall be turned over to the States and Territories to be expended for school and road purposes n the county counties in which the reserves are situated.
 The members of the Legislature from the First Di vision contended that in Alaska the Judicial and Legs lave Divisions which are coextensve. are the eQuya lent of counties" in other States and Territories The Comptroler of the Treasury held that there are no counties in Alaska and that therefore the money is sbieo to the use of the entire Territory of Alaska Act ing on this ruling the Alaska Legislature divided the money into four equal parts giving fourth toi each division.
 Lawyers in the Legislature disagreed as to the application of the law in Alaska and they stated that they would welcome a court decision on the matter The members of the Legislature from the First Division realizing that precedent was being established that not only involved the s50Oo0 in the Treasury from the Toncass National forest. but the moneys that would come from it in Che future. decided to secure ruling from the court on the matter and started the suit
 There is nothing in this to warrant the talk about political machines" where exists, nor the cheap politics. accusation against such well known business and professional men of Alaska those who compose the First Divisions membership in the Legislature
 The First Divisions members of the Legislature are not politicians.
 Further the First Division has not been selfish in the matter of distributing public money. The First Division has never received any portion of the S125ooo to s25oO0O that has been appropriated annually by Com eres for roads in Alaska the major portion of the First Divisions contribution to the road funds through the license taxes have been appropriated the other Di visions and the First Division is now, 1t has been since the organization of the Territory contributing far more taxes to the Territorys upkeep than other Di, vision It has not complained about this because 1t has realized that other sections Of the Territory have needed the money The First Division supported the proposition to locate the Territorial agricultural college and school of mines at Fairbanks the appropriation of ss5Oo00Oo for Q railroad the Third and Fourth Di- visions and has constantly supported the proposition to secure OOOoO0O for wagon roads to make the Inter for resources available.
 There is no place in Alaska, out of it. where people are more broad minded generous or public spr- tied than here at Juneau Juneau has supported every movement for the advancement of every part Of Alaska There is probably no section Of any country where peo pie take less interest personal politics and more in the fundamental principles involved in com nonwealth and community building than they do here To attack and misrepresent such people as the em pre builders of Juneau in the that Fairbanks rapers and Dan Drscon attack them is unfair They owe it to the people of this section of Alaska who are contributing SO much to the stability of the Territory to put the facts squarely the people of their section.
 As far as the law involved in the case is concerned that is not matter that is properly subject to discus son That is in the hands of the courts. and it is matter for the courts to determine regardless of the desires and interests of anybody However it is fair tC say that the intent of Congress in the premises is plain
 THE AMERICAN POSITION