The Alaska daily empire., 1920-12-10

Secretary Payne discussing the proposition of a viGcg measure of self-government in Alaska in his annual report says:
 Many complaints made re govern
 mental conditions in Alaska. The problem
 of government in country like Alaska IS
 not an easy It is not homogeneous; the
 settlements widely separated, with no
 adequate means of communication. It is
 almost as difficult to get from Juneau to
 Nome from Juneau or Nome to Seattle
 The winters long and snows deep, with
 relatively roads trails, and these in
 the winter practically impossible. This
 will continue to a greater or less extent until
 the country is opened up by railroads.
 It is not clear, therefore, how a larger
 measure of local government would serve
 q useful purpose
 Mr. Payne has stated very clearly of the strongest arguments in favor of a full Territorial form government for Alaska. The very facts that Ie sets forth call for local self-government. Under the government have in Alaska the territory is treated county. The result is tiat the public moneys that received dis tlbuted throughout 600000 square miles, most Of which produces revenues, and much of which ia practically inaccessible much of the year from the Jerat0riai capital The of Alaska from all sogrces is about $665, ,000 This from Terri tcrfa levies $45oOOO; the occupational license 2safhe Alaska Fund $180,000; the forest 5.0aa The coastal regions, the First and Third divisions contribute about $615,0o0 of these funds. The Interior and Arctic region, the Fourth
 
 S&e9 900 of this vast is expended in the Second and Fourth Divisions. That the scatterin industries and business establishments of the First and Third Divisions taxed nearly $250 900 yea maintain schools, build roads and otherwise aid iE the development of great non-producing of t.to F rrtory. In addition to this, year or two ago Inc Fts and Third Divisions contributed $71oOo to iaht the influenza epidemic among the natives of the Second Division along the coast of Boring Sea aaa The Arctic Ocean. Never before was a widely scattaerd frontier people with their industries in a pioneer stage of de',o pment subjected this burdo of taNauan for 1he maintenance of government road ela school over such large of practically non Irod'teina Territory. This situation suggests lccal County governments 10 collect and cxpend the taxa. tat would be needed within their borders.
 Fhes. as taa Secretary says, there are areas ol Aia a&a sluated thousands of miles from capit and! lhe Territorial officers and boards. This make. il afcu t4 render ae multitude of public service. t7at usually are e,tormed by County governments from nearby County ts This too, suggests County acserHaasts.
 tieska had a full Territorial government SC they tanla Ike the people responsible for the gov enMeh5 a their respective localities through theil own ie#al ee' egnmcrts it would add immeasurably Co tle saieleaey of governnent in Alaska reduce th' herae9 el taxation the industries have in Gl1 ii5 nd Third Divisions
 ti ny conditions that MT. Payne cites are ha#5s for contending that Alaska does not need q v.dar measure of self-government are among the things which have caused Gov Swineford, Gov Clark Gof s.erle nd Gov Riggs President Taft and Presi- deni &4son to suggest the need for full Territorial taim government in Alaska