The daily Alaska citizen., 1920-01-20
CENTRALIZING AUTHORITY

Bureau of the Seattle Chamber of Com having been suggested by him shortly after he first entered the cabinet of President Wilson. It is claimed for the plan that it would do away with much of the red tape which now enmeSheS Alaskan governmental departments and would create system of orderly procedure which would be of material advantage in the development of the territory.
 Some idea of the confusion existing under the present departmental systems can be gained from the last annual report of Governor Riggs, who urged cOnsolida- ton of all governmental authority. In this report the governor declared:
 As time goes on and new legislation becomes effective the confusion existing as a result of conflicting departmental author itv in Alaska becomes more and more evi- dent Those interested in Alaskan cOndi- tiOns can do no better than to read the bull letm written by Secretary Lane, entitled, "Red Tape in Alaska.' More than any thing else that has been written this shows the absolute necessity for a consolidation of authority In the forest reserves the de- partment of agriculture has full charge un- til a settler appears, when. after satisfying the officials of the forest service, he must comply with the land laws executed by the department of the interior. This causes unavoidable delay The fisheries are un- Il z o,.@ 4l,o cannery sites, if in forest reserves, must be procured from the department of agri- culture while the fish-trap sites must be procured from the war department. Of the wild animals those noted as game animals are under the department of agriculture, while the fur-bearing animals are under the department of commerce. Separate war dens are appointed for each service
 Road building is so mixed up it is almost impossible to make a start in the telling. The war department builds and maintains roads under direct appropriation by congress and with money derived from the Alaska fund. Some roads within the forest reserves are constructed entirely by the department of agriculture, while others are constructed by the Alaska Road Com mission of the war department with funds furnished by the department of agricul- ture. Other roads within the forest are constructed by the department of agricul- ture under cooperative agreement with the war department and the territory Still other roads are built by the territory from f1ndS HacIvnI thn more roads are built by the territory from it's own resources. The various operations are comparatively small; yet each organi- zatlon must have it's distinct overhead
 With the permission of the depart ment of agriculture, birch wood so much needed in the manufacture of furniture can be exported from the forest reserves but the best stands of birch lie within the public lands and are prohibited from export by law. As there is no local use for birch, except as firewood much valuable timber Is destroyed and good revenue lost This should undoubtedly be rectified.
 ''There are bird and mammal reserves and islands for lease to fox farmers ad- mlmstered by the department of agricul- ture. There are other islands leased for fox farming by the department of com merce. National park and national monu- ment reservations are under the depart ment of the interior There are other re- serves under the jurisdiction of the war department, the interior department, the navy department, the department of agri- culture, the department of commerce, the department of justice, and the treasury de-