The Cordova daily times., 1920-12-30

| Tn an interview at Juneau last week in the Capital, John Rustgard, attorney general-elect, outlined a few of the laws that are likely to come before the members of the territorial legislature when it meets in March.
 Among the laws have heard dis cussed," said MT. Rustgard, lis the school tax law. The demand for ere ating new machinery for collecting this tax seems to be widespread: Un- der the present system the city coun- cils appoint collectors in incorporat- ed cities and the governor appoints them outside of incorporated towns, each collector getting 10 per cent af- ter sum collected or 50 cents for each person paying $5 into the school fund annually Under the present system the tax collectors get commission on voluntary taxes, contributed by the large firms out of employees wages, while not much effort is made to solocit those who are not employed by firms, as they are more difficult that all of the money may be se- cured and secured directly for school 1 purposes, is the problem to be solved
 "At the last session of the legisla- ture an industrial insurance bill was drawn up, to be submitted to the people of the territory, in order to get wider expression of sentiment on the subject This bill will come up again. Copies were sent out by the governor after election. 1 referred to l it in my prediction campaign as being in favor of having the compen- sation act when amended extended to industries other than mining. which l it now alone covers. I am not pre- pared to say how many classes of in dustry should be included.
 ''The present compensation is not effective as to contractors, as a rule. Should an employee or a contractor III tle liliV SSl q ltS LII ohe, lliC SOlll pany who employees the contractor is not liable, and most probably the con- tractor is not worth anything and l therefore judgment against him would prove useless. The laborer is out leg.
 "The insurance system provides for territorial board to whom insurance premiums for all men employed shall be paid, and the compensation is then paid directly to the injured party from the territorial fund. The employer has nothing to do with it.
 "I shall recommend to the legis- lature the creation of a court of conciliation in Alaska, the same cs they have in many states, and which have met with great success in elimi- hating costly legislation. Outside, these are mostly for the settlement of small claims, but the work is be- ing gradually extended to all subjects.
 "The court is authorized to call before it both disputants and try to get them to agree to an equitable settlement, regardless of legal pro- cedure No attorneys are allowed to be present. If not satisfied, the dis putants still may go to law.
 "The Cleveland court of concilia- ton tried 36 coo cases during it's short existence and only two persons re- fused to abide by it's decision.
 "My plan would be to have the dis trict irdees appoint tho board of conciliation.
 "The big question before the terri tory. of course. is how to create and collect taxes to meet current reve- nues. The bulk of the taxes in the past came from the salmon canneries and the copper mines. The Kennecott alone one year paid over S200,00O into the treasury. This year the mine is not likely to pay more than $4O.OOO or s50000, and the salmon industry has rapidly dwindled, probably being not more than half what 1t was be- fore.
 "Where shall we get the money? Unless expenses are reduced it Is probable that the legislation may have to create machinery for levy ing and collecting direct proper ty taxes. That will mean assessment