The Cordova daily times., 1920-06-28
CONCENTRATION AND CO-ORDl- NATION OF FEDERAL CONTROL

MA ION UT rEDENAE SON nSI
 Nearly all of Alaska's resources are directly or indirectly controlled by the Federal government. About 99 DOT cent of the land is still in govern ment ownership. The development of coal and oil deposits is under govern ment leases. Water powers and fish cries are under federal control, and nearly all Alaska timber is in govern ment ownership.
 The federal control of Alaska's re- sources is vested in a number of bu- reaus an departments. Rules and regulations relating to Alaska af fairs, under the existing statues, must be made by Washington authorities, who are also in large measure direct Iy charged with their execution. This long-distance administration has been serious handicap to the develop ment of Alaska. In many instances regulations have been made which did not meet the local requirements, and unjust decisions rendered because those making them were not familiar With local conditions. This situation has worked a particular hardship on the operator with small capital who could not afford to make the long journey to present his argument in person to the Washington authorities
 Owing to the divided authority and the limitations placed by statutes and appropriations, there has also been a lack of coordination between various Alaska federal activities. For example, there are four different fed eral bureaus who have funds for con- structiOn of wagon roads in Alaska, in addition to the grants made by the Territorial government. So far as possible this situation has been met by cooperation between the several agencies involved. Again, the duty of enforcement of game laws is shared by the governor of Alaska and the departments of commerce and agri- culture. To improve these cOndi- tions the committee recommends that:
 i. The passage of an act providing for an Alaska development board, To- cated in Alaska, and authorized to administer the federal laws relating to public lands, leases, water powers, fisheries, timber, railroad construction and operation, and wagon-road con- struction.
 2. That the Alaska development board should not take over the purely investigated work in Alaska forming part of the activities of the large federal scientific organizations. This, because such investigations as, for example, those of the geological sur vey, coast survey, weather bureau, and of other scientific bureaus, can best and most economically be car ried on by the existing agencies.
 MT Sherman, representing the de partment of agriculture, refrained from joining in the above two recom- mendatiOns. On May A the secre- tary of agriculture addressed a let ter to the departments of war, labor, and commerce, suggesting that any comprehensive legislation for the re. organization of the administration of national property interests in Alaska should be based upon a joint consid- eration of the departments concerned. Since the matter is therefore under nter-departmental consideration at the request of the department of agri- culture MT. Sherman did not feel authorized or qualified to give ad- wee in the premises.
 Pending the congressional authori- zation for an Alaska development