The Alaska daily empire., 1916-10-11
RECORD SHOWS
 GALE BATTERED
 "WlCK'' BILL
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 cutiye Council. and to designate one of the United States District Judges to serve on it.
 The bill also provided for a Leg islature with limited powers which was to consist of two branches THE UPPER BRANCH OF WHICH WAS TO BE THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. ALL APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT, as stated. The other branch was to comprise fif' teen members to be elected by the people. but TO BE QUALIFIED FOR MEMBERSHIP TT WAS STlP- ULATED THAT ONE HAD TO OWN IN HIS OWN RIGHT TAX. ABLE PROPERTY. (No property within the Territory was taxable ex- cept within the municipalities. (The bill would have disqualified Dele gate Gale. himself, for membership in the House of Delegates)
 Sulzer Denounees Wickersham Bill.
 William Sulzer. the best and tru- est friend that Alaska ever had in Congress before the advent of the Wilson administration. at least ai' ter speaking on his bill-H. R. 4S2O, which he said that Mir. Gale intro duced at his reQuest-said:
 "Now gentlemen, desire, by way of comparison, to call the attention of the committee to the bill intro duced by Mir. Gale, II. R. 176iy, which was prepared by Judge Wick ersham. The judge is friend Of mine. and no one has a higher re- gard for his abilities or greater admiration for his learning and in- tegrity than I have He has lived long in Alaska and has given the subject of government for Alaska careful study and consideration. | dislike to differ with Judge Wicker sham, but this is a very important matter and l do not want Congress to make a mistake in legislating or this question. Judge Wickersham's bill has some very excellent proviS- ions, in which l concur, but 1t con tains some others which l do not like and which do not think ought to be incorporated in a bin for Ter. ritorial government for Alaska. For instance. am opposed 70 the pro vision for an Executive Council. That provision confers too much autocratic power and negatives gem uine home rule. It smacks Of the pro.consul, and is un-American. This Executive council is to be composed of some of the Federal officials, and they would have to agree to all leg islation to make it effective They would have the power to veto any bill that the people wanted. do not like that feature of the bill
 Mir. Lloyd. Is this the same kind of government that is provided for in Porto Rico2
 Mr. Sulzer Yes 1t is along the same lines l was opposed to that form of government for Porto Rico. and sooner or later we will have to change that law for Porto Rico. lt is unjust Co the Porto Ricans. They are not citizens. however and the Alaskans are; but am in favor of making the Porto Ricaus citizens of the United States. The Supreme Court, construing the act of Con- gress has declared that the Porto Ricans are not citizens of this coun- try, but citizens of Porto Rico. What an anomaly. But if the people of Poro Rico are only citizens Of Porto Rico. the people of Alaska are citizens of the United States. The people of Alaska are of our flesh and bone, They went to Alas ka from every State in the Union, and they are just as good and just as honest and just as loyal, and just as patriotic. and just as capable of making their own laws as the people of Missouri, or of Indiana, or of Michigan, or of New York There is no reason why they should not | nave tulS NuA-bAfNh AAbutt NHA tH deprive them of it is an outrage and disgrace to the American Congress. At this time l want to read letter just received from John W. Troy formerly editor Of the Skagway Alaskan, and one of the best posted men on Alaska in our country. The letter is as fol- lows:
 "The Alaska Club.
 Seattle, Wash, March 10, 1908. Hon William Sulzer, Washington,
 ID. C.
 My Dear Mir. Sulzer: find con- siderable objection to the Wicker sham Territorial government bill on the part of Alaskans with whom ] have come in contact. The princi' pal objections are to the following provisions:
 "Q) The appointive executive council for the upper branch of the