The Alaska daily empire., 1919-04-28
Dan Not Playing Fair.
Fairbanks Citizen )


 Wednesday when the Citizen received dispatch from Juneau saying that Senator Sutherlands action in claiming mileage allowance from Poorman to Juneau was causing wonderment and talk we saw nothing strange about it from own viewpoint, put printed the story it came giving our readers the news as it was regarded in the Territorial Capital But we did wire correspondent at Juneau asking for an explanation, which give this morning Tn our news columns
 The claim for mileage if it is correct lays Suther- land open charge of illegal voting, if incorrect all the allowance he is entitled to is what is neces sary to cover his expenses from his Juneau home to the capital building at 15 cents per mile
 Here the situation it placed before the people of Alaska Sutherland and Mrs Sutherland, after a residence of two years, whereabouts, in the First Division having all the required qualifications or voters and establishing residence there did vote at delegate election of 1918 in the Juneau precinct By this action gave full and sufficient notice that he citizen of the First Division and was a fde citizen of Juneau His home at that time was Juneau and so far we know he has not es- tablished another residence anywhere else since that time and we do know that he has not established one Poorman, Ruby any other place in this Division
 Now as to his claim for mileage. Section Of the Organic Act, the Alaskan Bible compiled by Dan patron and overlord Wickersham, says, That each member of the legislature shall be paid by the united States the sum of $5 per day for each days attend while the legislature is in session and mileage in addition at the rate of fifteen cents per mile for each mile from his home to the capital and return by the route" And this covers Dams case com petey. Last November he said, My home is Ill Juneau or words to that when he cast his bal lot Wckersham in that precinct The very physical circumstances make it impossible for him to have acquired residence at Poorman
 The question next arising from the situation, and interest in the Fourth Division, is whether Mr Sutherland is still entitled to hold office There will probably be difference of opinion on this matter but the Citizen believes that the seat occupied by him should be declared vacant. We hold that it is impossible for who is not legal resident who is not legally qualified voter, who, even should he return to this division tomorrow and set up resi- dence would be legally qualified to at the next Territorial election fill the office he is holding
 to fill such office It logical to believe that such l proceeding as is now going on is illegal. The qualifications for desiring to fill the office of Territorial Senator have been plainly stated by the Organic Act Section 4 of this Act reads, "The Senate shall consist of eight members, two from each of the four judicial divisions into which Alaska is divided by the Act of Congress, each of whom shall have at the time of his election the qualifications of an elector in Alaska and shall have been a resident and an inhabtant in the division from which he is elected for at least two prior to the date of his election"
 the delegate election of 1916 and has resided the coast almost continuously since that time not resumed his residence here. He abandoned his claim to residence here when he voted in Juneau No vember or his vote will have to be thrown and Wick loses there.
 The evidence, however, seems clear that he did abandon his residence here. Believing that he did and is resident of entirely different division we think that the rule in such is declare the land has plainly lost all qualifications he possessed to be elected Senator from this division. And we hold that this fact makes him ineligible to continue |, in his present office.