The daily progressive-miner., 1916-01-04
WICKERSHAM
 ON WARPATH
FEARS MONOPOLY IN TRAP
 SITES IN ALASKA

rom Iacosaa2 A'allI NsWSt
 Delegate wieSersham is of the opinion that movement Is on foot to grab the salmon fisheries of Alaska and that the effect of a bill now pending before congress would be to facilitate efforts of Chicago meat packers and allied interests to get possession of one of the richest resources of the ter ritory.
 The fisheries of Alaska are worth, conservatively speaking, s40a .O00 600. and wickersham be- lieves that f the meat packing in sereStS and affiliated capitalists ger through congress the bill that has been started in the grind they will get the Alaskan fisheries.
 ReprsSenatives Charles c. Carlin. of Virginia, introduced the bill on the opening day of congress. IL WIS referred to the ways and means committee. Wickershani's first move will be to try 10 have the measure referred to the committee on ter ritorieS-
 Thelbin provides that ~in lieu of all other federal or territorial li- eense fees and taxes" every person or company engaged in fishing shall par certain stipulated nominal h- oense fees. including si0o per an mum for each fish-trap site. from three 10 six cents $ case ot canned salmon, acoriing 10 the grade. and other snail charges.
 Wickersham holds that this language not only would make it impossible for the territory to tax the fishing industry on large hold ings. ineladinr about S12,000, 900 worth of shore property. canneries. etc. bur tha7 II probably would re- lieva the fishing interests CT pay nen- ot the federal corporation and income taxas. The bill thus describ- 6 2 tish-trap site:
 Each tiSh-trap site shall consist q 2 reserved area 1T the water. rec tangu,ar in form. The size ito be determined by the locatorl shall noE bs nnore than 1000 feet one way nor mora than 5000 feet the other way < trap may be built anF- where within the limits Of sucln area Thz general course of the trap shall be lengthwisa of the rap site Not no-e than one trap CT other fishing appliance may be constructed or operated al the same tins= within the limits Of any such reserved area There shall be clear side spaces or passageways Of not less than 2,500 feet lateraily be- tween trap sites and clear end spaces oy paszage-ways Of not less than S0s9 feet endwise between all tish-trzp sites and between all con S1r1cted traps.
 W-ickarsham has calculated that unda- this language every fish-trap sic can ba made to cover 279 acres. n other words. for a license fee Of 2 parity sl00 the exclusive fishing righ5 to 279 acres is conveyed.
 Another section Of The bill reads:
 From ard after the location of any sueh trzp sic ard after the approval thereof by the secretary of cornrsroe the claimant thereof zns zis heirs, executors, admins .ra-. IF, successors and assigns shall have ths exclusive right to occupy, maintain and fish the same; 10 re- new license thereof year by year un abandoned. forfeited CT term hated through operation Of law; to mortgage, sell and transfer such rights during such time as he or theE shall comply with the laws of tha United States pertaining there -o.
 T. is asserted that this would en- able the meat trust to send locatorz to rzke possession of the trap siteg oz. if T did not care 70 do that, il could tEE of other locztors and se- eare 2 monopoly.
 There are indications that the biil mil create as big furore ss maasures in preceding congresses Hai-h, ii wss alleged, were design ed to procure msoaopolistic control Of AlasEzn coal deposits