The Alaska daily empire., 1915-06-04
MEMORIALS GET COOL
 RECEPT ION


 Replies have been received by the Alaska Secretary to some of the me morials passed by the Territorial legislature at its recent session, cop les of which were mailed to the ya- rious offices at Washington.
 As a whole. the general trend of the replies is not frouSht with much that is favorable. and so far except in the case of mail service between Bethel and McGrath the memorials have been unfayorably passed upon, for various reasons.
 Joseph Stewart. of the Postoaice Department, writes as follows in re- ply to the memorial: "In reply so your letter of the 11th instant which the Postmaster General has referred to me. transmitting the House Joint Memorial No. .. of the Alaska Terri tcrial Legislature. requesting provis- ion for mall service during the sum. mer season on a route between ODhir and Tokotna. have to inform you thqt mail service during tho season of navigation Of 1915 has been author ized on the steamboat rout No. 7S04S from Bethel to McGrath. It may be practicable for Tokotna to receive mail from McGrath if boats be operat- ed between Bethel and McGrath SO that a material extent of service may be performed. However. the post master at Tokotna has been author ized to employ such special service from Ophir as he can obtain for an amount equal to two-thirds his com pensation as postmaster. The car rier 10 be paid by the Department at that rate
 siaska Insane A8ylum.
 Replying to the House Joint Memo rial, No. g. which petitions for the of an insane asylum within the Territory of Alaska, Steph- en T. Mather Assistant Secretary of the Departemnt of the Interior writes that the matter is being given very careful consideration and that de- cision will soon be reached.
 No Bristol Bay Wire.
 Henry Breckenridge, Assistant Sec retary of War, to whom was sent Me morial No. IF. requesting the estab- lishment of @ telegraph station at Dillingham;, on Bristol bay. has writ- ten that there are no funds at pres ent available Co defray the expenses of establishing such station and that the communication has been for warded to the Secretary of the Navy.
 Fiah Traps Federal Matter.
 William C. Redfeld replies to the Fish Trap Memorial. No. 16. as fol- lows I will take this opportunity to express my belief that the time Is not ripe for the assumption by the legislature of Alaska of full jurisdiction over the fishing in dustry. It is my belief that just as any legitimate business enterprise is to the legitimate protection so should those engaged in the taking of fsh lawfully by the use of traps and other appliances be entitled to lawful support If this protection cen be obtained by no better means than by allowing trap site holders to obtain title thereto. ] should favor granting such title.
 "It should be remembered in this connection that the fisheries Of Alas ka have an importance that is far greater than a local one. They are, by reason of the distribution of our products, a matter Of inter- trade.
 "For these as well as for other while any suggestions com ing from the Alaska Territorial legis lature will receive dilligent care, the present case must be very fully and considered in all it's import ant relations before any action can bel