The Alaska daily empire., 1919-02-27
New Yukon Council.
(DaWSOn News

1le brought by Gold Commissioner Mackenzie that the Yukon council |, hot to be abolished but fransht with much meaning to Yuko"crs. It means that the federal of Canada has fdoncc in the future of Yukon.
 Ottawa is not willing abolish the machinery Of territorial government in Yukon. Ths is proved in the action of the cabinet in continuing the life of the council It is wise It also is in keeping with the traditions of British processes of expansion and development of her territories, that is, to give each region representative government and to give in great degree practicable sef-government. To have withdrawn the local territorial government from Yukon this period would have been placing on this part of the Dominion the seal of condem- nation To continue the extension of the legislative form of government although the membership is re- duced, is as much as saying to Yukon: You have your local problems of legislation, and local needs, and those within your borders best quali- fled deal with them At this particular period trenchment is necessary and in order to enable that entrenchment and still afford the desired representa- tive form of for the various sections of the territory will leave the craft of state stand ing, but let it be manned with a smaller crew
 It is we'll Considering the shrinkage in population, which, in all likelihood is but temporary, Yukon will have many members in her new legislature per capita she had when the territory was more DOT uous. In fact, in the most populous period o the territory, the rush days when 10000 to 3O,O00 people here, the territory had but six members, aside from the commissioner.
 It was until 19OS that wholly elective coun- c of members provided. Even then the nopuation was so large that each member repre- scnted people than each of the three members of the next council will represent, should the popu- lation remain down to the present low ebb that long.
 The arrangement is flexible Parliament last winter provided that the cabinet could abolish the council at any time should it see fit It has not seen fit. For this Yukon doubt, can thank in large degree her present member of parliament, Lieutenant Colonel Alfred Thompson, and her present chief eX- ecutive George P Mackenzie They have been in consultation jointly this winter with the cabinet, and they have the and the confidence of the govern ment The Dawson News, months ago, when abo ton of the council recommended by some of the weak -kneed, advised the maintenance of the council in curtailed form rather than abolition, point ing emphatically the danger of canceling rep resentative government and dwelling on the great fight Yukon had make to get her representative government and how difficult it would be to re- store it if once lost.
 Were the council abolished today it might be Yu- kon would lose her identity entirely, and be merged with adjoining province. That would mean Yukon affairs would fall within the purview and the sway of people entirely strange to this land and unftted to handle local problems peculiar to this sub-A Arctic Yukon, being remote, might peti- tion and protest in vain, and suffer mmeasurably.
 But Ottawa wise. It preserved the great boon of autonomous and direct form of government for Yukon.
 Ottawa had confidence in Yukon and Yukoncrs days of Yukon ahead. Her loyal sons are girdins themselves for the development of her latent re sources to the full Watch Yukon grow and re deem herself and justify the judgment of her friends at Ottawa.