The Alaska daily empire., 1916-09-22
SEEING THE LIGHT

The people of the Interior are seeing the light in the matter Of the forest reserve fund which the last Legislature divided among the several Divisions of Alaska notwithstanding the law Of Congress pro- yiding that such funds shall be expended for the benefit of the county or counties in which the forest produeine the fund lies The Iditarod Pioneer which was one Of the papers to condemn Senator Sulzer and the other First Division legislative members for opposing such division Of the money. now frankly and fairly admits that the First Division was right Further than that. it says that the people ot the Interior whether they agree that the First Division was right or not should have nothing but praise Tor Senator sulzer for making fight for what he be- ueved to be right
 The Iditarod Pioneer discussing this question un- der the heading. Senator Sulzer and the Forest Fund" says:
 One of the very few enactments of the Alas,zr-f-erisfature which has stood the test of the courts Is that by which the forest LuuUs were distributed among the four Judicial Dl- visions in which the forests are located Sena- tor Sulzer as a member of the Legislature vigorously opposed this enactment, ana aiIer its massage and approval fought it in the courts The law was upheld by the District Court of the First Division, and the matter is now on appeal before the United states 1As matter of fact the case was not
 As was to be expected. MT. sulzer's poli- tical opponents are making capital out or this incident in the hope or defeating nm ms In ms race for Congress He is accused Of endeav- bring 10 nuIify a just law in behalf of his home district Mir. Suzer has no reason to be ashamed Of his part in the matter, anu when the facts are known to and understood bv the people of the Territory 1t should re- dound to his credit But whether one agree win him or not the fight he made open and above board. and it would be rather an undemocradc proceeding to attempt to punish him for his honest convictions.
 The controversy arose over the distribu- ton Of funds set aside for the benefit or tne Territory out Of the sales Of forest products by the United States government. Under the law 25 per cent. of the funds thus received is deposited in the Territorial treasury, and an additional 10 per is for the purpose of building and maintaining roads and trails in the forests The law provides that this 25 per cent deposited with the Territorial treasurer shall be used for the benefit of the counties" in which the forests are situated, but Alaska is not subdiyided into counties, the residents of the coast divisions contended that for the purposes of the act the divisions themselves were counties in the general mean ing of the term. DiSregarding this contentlon the Territorial Legislature determined that the funds should be divided pro rata among the four Divisions. irrespective of the fact that the forest reserves were situated entirely within the two coast divisions Senator Sul ger led the fight against this measure, and later he Joined in the suit attacking its valid
 The fight resolved itself into a contest between the coast and Interior divisions. The Interior press almost unanimously supported the law. and the coast sections opposed it Under the terms Of the enactment the funds may be used in any section Of the Territory and money collected from the shores of the Gulf of Alaska may be drawn upon for the building Of roads the shores of the Arctic Ocean or Boring Sea if necessary.
 This surely was the intent of Con- gress in providing that the funds should be used in the counties" in which the forests were situated. But for the reservations made by the government these forests would have passed into private ownership. and thus be subject to local taxation. In the event that counties created the use of the funds would be localized automatically.
 The law may be upheld appeal but
 
 intention of Congress to give the localities in which the reserved forests were situated the benefit of the revenue derived therefrom. Nor will it detract from the credit due Co Senator Suzer for making fight for what he thought to be right when it was an un- popular position.