Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-17


assigned to the ONCE Of the Judge advo-
cate general Of the
The Navv,. navy, the strictly legal
Law Work. w w, ns,a, including
every question of law which arises with
reference to the personnel of the Navy
and Marine Corps. both in connection
with internal administration and rela-
ton to the civil authorities. This
branch of the work necessarily In
creases with the growth of the Navy
and the Marine Corps, and the estab-
lishment Of reserve forces for use In
time of war. 1t is pointed out by ex-
perts in this branch Of the navy's work
that as the various questions embraced
by this office of the work intimately
concern the operations of the service
in every field and frequently cause DE-
probation of the law by this office, every
effort is made to prepare the necessary
legal opinion in each case with the
greatest possible expedition consistent
with such complete thoroughness as
the Importance of the question present
ed and its value as a precedent for flu
ture guidance demand
In connection with this branch OF the
service the work is said to be greatly
aided by the legal publications which
now in course of preparation. Omcers
say that the ready reference afforded to
previous decisions facilitates to
marked degree the expeditions and &C
presented for decision. 1t has been
found particularly that the work OF
compiling the laws Of the navy. which
is being done in the Office. has given the
law officers grasp on the statutes and
decisions relating to the navy which
makes it possible now to prepare in the
shortest time cases which have up to
now required extensive research and
study.
To the average person it often seems
that more passengers are on board a
steamer than are actually
Excursion present, say experts Of
c1 the steamboat inspection
service, whose duty 1t is
to see that not too many people are all
lowed to board excursion steamers.
There are many who will sincerely say
that on a steamer permitted to carry
and that the inspectors at the dock had
not correctly counted them. Others.
more conservative. will say that, while
a larger number of persons were not
on board than permitted by the certifl-
cate Of inspection. the inspectors have
permitted too large a number in the
certificate. These last persons are
nearer the truth. undoubtedly. than the
former ones. This does not mean that
the local inspectors. who are charged
with the responsibility of passenger al
lowance. have not exercised care in
making that passenger allowance. They
are undoubtedly the best informed per-
sons as to the number Of people that
should be permitted to be carried on
excursion steamers subject to their
denied that the local inspectors are
human and that the judgment of men
is not the same.
Therefore. while in one instance an
inspector may refuse to permit a suf-
ficiently large number of persons to be
carried. in another instance an inspect
or may permit too large a number to
be carried. The question therefore
arises. What Is the solution for this
condition Of affairs?
officials Of the steamboat inspection
service believe that 1t would be found.
II due consideration were given to this
matter. that the question would be very
difficult to answer without taking into
Upon the one hand, 1t is pointed out. 1t
may be suggested that legislation
should be enacted to control this fea-
ture of inspection. On the other hand.
1t must be said that no matter what
legislation is enacted there is hardly
any measure that could be provided
that would not work hardship. Fur
thermore, probably. no matter how care
fully law might be worded. it might
overlook some unsafe conditions that
officials are now working out new plans
by which they hope to control the sit
uation and bring about safer conditions.
In addition to maintaining schools
for, the native children in Alaska. the
bureau of education Is
Education continuing it's endeav-
A., ors in behalf Of the en-
III Alaska. tire native communities
by extending medical relief. by main
tanning sanitary methods Of living in
the villages. by promoting the indus
tries conducted by the natives and by
relieving destitution.
Experts Of the bureau say that much
of the sickness prevailing among the
natives of Alaska Ia caused by the eat
ing Of food which has not been properly
prepared. The waters Of Alaska TEEN
with fish. and wild berries grow in pro-
many villages. according to the ancient
practice. it is said. fish for winter
use are dried In the sun. crudely
smoked or buried in the earth, while the
berries are preserved in oil. In order
to replace these primitive methods, bu-
reau officials have sent some canning
outfits for use in preserving fish and
meat as well as berries and vegetables,
to three of the largest villages. 1t is
hoped that the use OF such outfits will
become general
Those experts of the bureau who make
a speciality Of this Alaskan work say
that one Of the most effective agencies
for the advancement in civilization OF
a native village is the establishment In
1t of cooperative store owned by the
natives and managed by them. under
the supervision Of teacher OF one OF
Uncle Sans public schools. 1t Is said
that these stores result in the securing
Of articles of food and clothing at
equitable prices, the division among the
natives themselves OF profits which
and in the acquiring by the natives OF
self-confidence and experience in bust
ness affairs. The bureau experts say
that IT is most encouraging 70 note the
ability which the natives have shown
in conducting these enterprises. Ac-
looked closely into this work, the In
come Of one OF the villages has IN
creased $50 per cent because of the es-
tablishment Of one of these cooperative
stores.
policy on the part of our government
r. act aside carefully selected tracts
to which large numbers Of natives can
be attracted. and within which. secure
from the intrusion of INSCRIPTIONS
white men. the natives can obtain fish
snd game and conduct their own indus
triaI and commercial enterprises. One