The Alaska daily empire., 1920-10-14
STRONG ALASKA GIVEN, SAYS MO PETERSON
Constructive Act for Rational Development Soon to Be
 Up in Congress.

iaska this summer to personally tell you of the strong support that Alaska now has with our members at Congress- declares J. l.. Me Pherson, President of the Alaska Bureau of the Seattle Chamber Of | Commerce. in a letter just received by the Juneau Commercial Associa- tion MT. McPherson expresses his regret at being unable to visit the Territory this year as he had plan ned saying that he was deeply dis appointed at not being able to do so
 It had been his intention, he said
 to spend three months here this summer but the duties of his new position connected with the fact that many Congressional delegations
 visited Seattle with whom he felt f to be necessary to consult regard ing Alaskan affairs forced him tt forego the trip. My only consola- ton is that I am increasing Alaska,s strength, both with the members O. Congress and with influential offi- cials and individuals throughout the country" he stated.
 Rational Development Promised. ! Referring to future legislation fo' Alaska MT. McPherson writes as | follows:
 when the campaign for authori- zatjon of the $17,000,000 to com plete the government railroad wa! finished. we received the assurance of the Congressional leaders whc were responsible for this splendid result. that we could count on thelr support for the enactment Of a con" | structive act that would result II the rational development of Alaska an act that will state that Al eska's resouces, with every safe guard against monoply and eXplol- tation, shall be utilized in creating lccal industries and encouraging settlement by a stable population.
 "I am requested by the chairman of the Committees on the Terrltor' ies. to aid them in assembling al possible data and facts for thor ough study of Alaskan conditions by the committees that will result IF the development of law that VIII assure a permanent and prosperous development.
 Reports Called For. | Chairman Charles F. Curry O the House Committee on the Ter | ritories, early this spring called on all of the government bureaus for 1 detailed reports covering their Ali askan activities. These have al been analysed and condensed so that when the committees take up their study early in the next session they will have before them complete statement of fact covering all Fed eral activies in Alaska. study oi this great array of data, reports and results of investigation will conclusively prove that Alaska non development has been due to | two causes: First, lack of any con | structice policy of and and encour- agement; second, lack of any direct responsible administration. It Is the | intention of our friends in Congress to cure this by first enacting a na- tional policy of aid and encourage ment that will result, as l have stated previously, in the utilization of Alaska's resources with every safeguard against monopoly and eX- ploitation, in the creation or loca
 industries and the encouragement of settlement by stable population
 This law will provide for the ad~ ministration of the national re- sources by Federal Board that can be held responsible for results, 2, board that will have it's office in Alaska where it can be reached an be in touch with every Alaskan, in stead of the many Federal bureau l now being directed from Washing
 ton It was net until this year tha
 fully realized how hepless we have been in our effort for the construc
 tive measure we have all been lab
 bring for, and how hopeless woulc have been our cause had we no' been able to get Congress to see the | necessity for a complete change II | the handling of Federal affairs il Alaska, as they relate to the devel- 1 opment of the national resources. Az these are federally controlled, not ! even SldlcUcUu TUT AidShd WOuiA have solved this problem, and if w ! can secure the administration of these federal functions by a board or other centralized agency ir 1 Alaska. we will have secured I greater measure of home rule than has been secured in any of our pub 1 lie land states.
 Will Assure Progress.
 Tt is expected that Congress in ] the enactment of this measure will set forth a national policy such as l have outlined This with a CO., ordinated administration in Alaska must result in progress, for this board or agency will not be able to pass the buck to some other bureau l or commission or department. It alone will be held responsible for results anG it will be where it can | learn at first hand the requirements