The Nome nugget., 1920-07-17
Ssssnd| lasiallmsnt
Concentration and Coordination of
 Federal Control
(Continued from last issue)

cent of the land Is still in Government ownership. The development of cocl and oil deposits is under Government leases. Water powers and fisheries are under Federal control, and nearly all Alaska timber is In Government ownership.
 The federal control of Alaska's re- sources is vested in a number of bu- rea1s and departments. Rules and regulations relating to Alaska affairs. under the existing statutes, must be made by Washington authorities, who are also in large measure directly charged with their execution. a This long distance administration has been q serious handicap to the development of Alaska In many instances regu-l lations have been made which did not meet the local requirements. and un- just 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. J
 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 federal bureaus who have funds for construction of wagon roads In Ahhka. in addition to the grants made by the Territorial 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 a"d the departments of Com- merce and Agrieultu%";. To im- prove these conditions the Committee recommends that:-
 1. The passage of an act providing for an Alaska Development Board. located in Alaska. and aAtherised to administer the federi.l laws relative |" public lands. leases. wa:'r powers. fisheries, railroad construction and op. eration, and wagon road construction.
 ?. That the Alaska Development Board should not take over the purely investigative work in Alaska forming a rart of the activities of the large fed- eral scientific organizations. This. be- cause such Investigations az, for ex- ample, those of the Geological Survey, Coast Survey. Weather Rn"oau. and of other scientific bureaus. can best and most economically be ccrried on by the existing agencies.
 Mir. Sherman. representing the De- partment of Agriculture. refrained from joining in the above two recom- mendations. On May 24 the Secretary of Agriculture addressed a letter to . the Departments of War, Interior. La- bor. and Commerce. suggesting that any comprehensive legislation for the reorganization of the admtnistration of national property and interests in Al aska should be based upon a joint con- alteration of the departments concern ed. Since the matter Is therefore un- der inter- department consideration ~h> nR he novN rtV nf Agriculture. Mir. Sherman did not feel authorized or qualified to give advice in the premises.
 Pending the congressional authori- zation tor sn Alaska sDevelopment Board and as "a. temporary sexpedieht. the Committee further recomends:
 H. That an Inter- Departments AL aska Committee be organized. to be composed of representatives of all Government departments concerned In Aiaska affairs. Also that the Cover nor of Alaska be made an ex-ofhcio member of this Committee.
 2 That an additional Assistant Secretary of the I1terior Department be appointed who shall be Chairman of the Committee and shall devote eli hIs time to Alasln affairs.
 !. That the Chatrman of the, Com mittee shall spend e large part of his tkns in AlaSka and thus by personal contact become intimately acanainted with Alaska conditions.
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