The Alaska daily empire., 1920-12-07

must be promulgated by authority To- cated within the Territory and not four thousand miles away. In the interests of good citizenship, to pro- mote self reliance, and to strengthen the. desire for public welfare. the greatest possible need of, self gov ernment should be allowed the resi- dents of the Territory. Under the law, the Government regulates, pro- tects and conserves, but in reality it performs few of these functions, and prevents Territorial action. Should the Alaska Development Board Bill, H.R 12870, introduced in the House of Representatives by the Chairman of the Committee on Territories. be come "a law, several of the recom- mendations contained herein will automatically be disposed of This bill has a fair, chance of being en- acted as both the great political parties recognize the benefit to be derived from the measure It will, however, probably receive great deal of bureau opposition. Many bu- reau chiefs have talked with seem to approve of the measure as applied to all other, bureaus excepting their own. The desire to perpetuate bu- reaucratic power seems to be inner ent.
 Defines Aims of Board
 There is danger that when the Development Board becomes estab- lished, it may possibly endeavor tol become the law-making and law-en- forcing body of the Territory in per petuity. It's true aim should be- to turn over to Territorial control. as soon as it consistently can, all pos sible authority in all matters Of Fed eral concern. A good citizenry can only be developed through placing of responsibility on the individual. An elected State or Territorial legis- lature may make mistakes. and often does. but the public mind Is normally sane and holds it's lawmaking body more quickly responsible to the in- terests of good local government than it, can the Congress of the United States, so deeply concerned with matters of great national inter- est
 Besides the Development Board Bill, there will, however, be num- Der of measures which should stlll be considered I think l am not un- reasonable in any of my requests, and should Congress. in its wisdom see fit to pass legislation in accord ance herewith, I can safely promise that appropriations for Alaska can be cut below similar amounts ap- propriated for any state, and that the Territory, instead of being the great est per capita contributor to the na- ional revenues will in addition soon become self-supporting and self-sus- taining. In brief, my recommends tions will provide chiefly for per mission to utilize the natural re sources of Alaska and for Territor- ial participation therein.
 Enormous Tax Rate
 Tn my previous report l made the statement that Alaska paid taxes which, if paid in proportion per cap 'ita by the whole United States would have resulted in national revenue of between five and six billions O. dollars. wish to correct this state ment If the collections by the Gov ernment from people, industries and resources of the United States equal ed similar collections from Alaska then the national revenue would ex ceed twenty billions of dollars. And yet legislation for Alaska is difficult to attain It is true our actual cash contribution is relatively small, but taking into consideration the income taxes paid by foreign and domestic corporations for business done III Alaska. as we'll as direct taxes and other revenues, the Government re ceives an amount annually, which is far over and above the appropria' tions made for the Territory, in cluding the amounts appropriated Tor the construction of the Government railroad extending from Seward tc Fairbanks. For instance, the Gov ernment's profits from the seal IS lands alone for furs either sold or on hand exceed all appropriations of any kind whatsoever, except for railroad construction, made for Alaska, and in these profits the Territory par ticiuates not at all, not even for the protection of the fisheries. The mil itary Telegraph and Cable system IS self-supporting, but new stations which would also be self supporting can seldom be attained. Alaska is not allowed to participate in the Public