The Alaska daily empire., 1919-12-27
THE FISHERIES QUESTION

MT. Grigsby's bill, if passed, would give the Territorial Legislature full control over the fisheries. But that is not regulating the fisheries, simply transferring the re- sponsibility for legislation which will make the industry an everncreasing asset to the Territory. There is no guarantee that the Territorial Legislature will be able to han de the fisheries question with any more in telligence than has been displayed for years by the Federal Government. One may theorize that home control of the fisheries would end all troubles in connection there with but there has been no proof submit ted from any source that would show that the Alaska Legislatures of the past have shown any special capabilities that would fit them particularly for the solving of this difficult problem. And it is fair to assume that the Legislatures of the near future will be of the same calibre.
 During the last Legislative session, al though it was generally recognized that the First Division paid more taxes than any other Division, it given less money Tor road building than any of the other three The reason was that Legislators from the Interior, Seward Peninsula and parts of tht Third Division willed it so, The same men, or others that might follow them from the same sections, are not likely to be especially qualified to handle the fisheries question. Nor are they likely to have any greater sympathy with the First Division, the fish . ing center than was displayed in the road appropriations
 Mir Wickersham, when Delegate to Con
 
 way of securing the passage of a fisheries bill. He knew that it could not be done to suit all sides He therefore let it alone, rcigiously and conspicuously,
 Then MT. SulZer took the seat. Con seentiously and fearessly he drew up fisheries bill, not perfect, perhaps but il was at least an honest effort to remedy the situation, And had he not been called beyond so suddenly he undoubtedly would have removed some of the features which he discovered after the introduction of the measure were objectionable. But in intro ducing that fisheries bill MT. SulZer placed in such light that it made it well nigh. if not actually. impossible for him to secure reelection Despite the fact that il was generally conceded to be political sui eide to attempt to regulate the fisheries. Mir. Sulzer went at it fearlessly.
 But now. Mr. Grigsby in the chair. by the bill which he introduced on December, , 4, Indicates that he intends to pursue the course adopted and carried out sos success fully for many years by Mir. Wickersham. His bill can be taken to mean little more than opportunity for the Delegate to Z say: T introduced bin to regulate the [ fisheriess'
 It stakes no prophet fo predict that MT. { Grlgsby's bill will never get further than the committee. And should 1t by any mira ole oTcr become law il will be far from meaning that the solution of tue fisheries ! problems has been found. - ikctchikan < Chronicles
 The Chronicle Is wrong in premises and con, E.
 In the first place MT Sulzer's fisheries bil most talked of portion of it at Washington, ed. in direct language. to bring control over ltries industry to the Alaska Territorial Leg e. Likewise his full Territorial form of gov nt bill, in direct language. proposed the ng.
 In the next place there is to infer ause Mir. Crigsby introduced a separate bill lg control over the fisheries to Alaska than not cooperate with the people of this Terri