The Alaska daily empire., 1921-10-19
JUNEAU AND THE NEW BILL.

JUNEAU A1ND 4>G W DALL.
 At moment when the administration at
 Washington is showing such an active and
 helpful interest in Alaska and really endeav-
 bring to do something in the development
 of the Territory, it certainly seems out of
 order-a tactical bunder, to say the least
 for the Commercial Association of Juneau to : display a spirtsfof antagonism toward the
 first administration measure proposed.
 Yet this has already happened in the case
 of the so-called New Bill, which aims to
 consolidate few of the bureaus under the
 department oft the Interior Alaska has
 seemed to be agreed in the past that bureau
 cratic rule is inefficient, cumbersome and un-
 successful It has been tried and found
 wanting. It has tended uniformly to handi-
 cap enterprise and deprive the Territory of
 that individual initiative which any country
 must have if it would grow and prosper
 The Governor has made it clear ever since
 his incumbency that he wants to see the ad-
 ministraton of Alaska affairs brought closer
 home to Alaska and busness-like methods
 substituted for the bureaucratic, red-tape
 system
 The New measure it's face, is step
 in the right direction. It may not go far
 enough, but manifest1y it is step.
 Antaeonism of an administration measure,
 pending the hearings which will follow in
 Washington is mntinlely and potent for no
 good Juneau is too, prune to get off on the
 wrong foot and thss is clearly an instance
 in point, Happi 7, the sober second thought
 prevailed and the aseociation held action in
 7 The real ibasis of opposition to the meas
 use is Section 3, which authorizes the Pres-
 dent, iyf his discretion to assign vessels of
 the Unfteds States Shipping Board for use in
 Alaskan waters. This is not mandatory
 provision and it is a,rather far-fetched con
 ctusion that the authorization would be un-
 wisely used. There has been evidence to date that the present administration favors
 policy of paternalisnl Ahd embarking upon
 the operation of steamships in this part of
 the world. Therefore. the uneasiness this
 score is unwarranted and the fears
 largely imaginary
 The Juneau Commercial Association may
 well hold itself in check for the time being
 and give friendly government at Washing
 a chance to do something for Alaska.
 There is occasion for resolving at this
 juncture.-- (Ketchikan Chroncle.)
 It must not be understood that while mSny mel ITS of the Juneau Commercial Association and ma her thoughtful citizens of Alaska can see no chan good to come from the proposals of the New B it's present shape that there is any antagonism e neN administration at all In fact there are sol opleswho cahnot see any benefits from the New B it is who have not favored fatly opposing cause of the almost universal conviction, that it W fered in good faith by friendly Administration remedial measure for this Territory.
 The objections to the New Bill are not confin Section 3, which gives the President authority tablish steamship lines in Alaska. Objection h zen raised to this section, it is true, because of als Of steamship eompanes have said that if ould. become a law 1t would be such menace e private shipping business in Alaska that tn ould be unable to improve their service in this Tt tory, meaning that it would not be possible for tht secure the money that would be necessary to pl ase new ships make other needed improvement hp atpst hat hac haan rnico I zen the fact that the bill proposes to transfer fro e War Department the Alaska Road Commission a om the Agricultural Department the Forest Burea ork in Alaska It is pointed out by those peoI ho do not favor disturbing these organizations tf ley are both functoning in very satisfactory ma sr at sthe present time and that nothing but del Id uncertainty could come from the proposed chan There is no Similarity at all between the IN III and the Curry Bill, sometimes called the Lar lrry Bill The Curry Bill is designed to elimin; e Bureaus from government in Alaska. At t esent time Alaska is the only non-contiguous ter ry in which the Bureaus and many branches ecutive departments function just the same as e States In many they have much wid overs here than in the States because they do I we to divide authority with the State and Cour here they do in the States. Hawa e Philippines and Porto Rico control their O, Iblic lands, natural resources, fisheries, game, e le purpose of the Curry Bill is to cut the lir at bind Alaska to Washington and to have thu notions of government exercised by Deveopme 'ard resident in Alaska. It provides for separati our Government from the Federal Government ashington. The New Bill does not propose this . It does not reduce the number of bureaus col ssions. etc.. that are functioning in Alaska by lgle one. It does not cut of the strings tn the Territory to the National Capital It simp anges the stakes to which the Washington end of