The Alaska daily empire., 1921-08-22
THE NEW ALASKA BILL.

The Washington Bureau of the Seattle Times, i a special dispatch to the Seattle publication, says tn Alaska Bill introduced by Senator New, rather tha that introduced by Senator Cummins, represents tn Administrations plans concerning Alaska. In descrit ing the measure which it says the result of con ferences which Senator New, Secretary Fall an Governor Bone had with President Harding, tn Times dispatch says
 The bill transfers to the Department of
 the Interior all the jurisdiction exercised
 by the Department of Agriculture over
 national forests and over the leasing of
 islands for the propagation of fur-bearing
 animals. Also, it lodges in the Department
 of the Interior the control natives
 the fur seal island exercised by the De-
 partment of Commerce through it's bureau of
 fisheries, although not otherwise interfering
 with that bureau. The Board of Road Com
 missioners, in the War Department, also
 is transferred the Department the In-
 terior, and the Federal Power Commission is
 divested of jurisdiction and control over
 Alaska waerpowers lodged in the De-
 parment of the Interior
 In addition Senator News bill adopts the
 proposal contained in Senator Cummins' re-
 cent bill requiring the Shipping Board to
 transfer to the Secretary of the Interior such
 ships may be designated by the President
 to operate in connection with the govern
 ment railroad to constitute continuous
 line of transportation", from such points in
 Alaska required by said railroad to
 the mainland Nof the United States. But
 while the Cummins bill proposed only gov
 ernment operation the New bill makes that
 optional and authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to lease to private individuals
 corporations such ships part of them
 and any railroad railroads owned by the United States such terms conditions
 as he may find to be in the public interest,"
 The New bill provides further, that the
 Interstate Commerce Commission shall have
 the same Jurisdiction these land and
 water lines as it would have if the transpor-
 taton from points in Alaska to the mainland
 of the United States wholly by rail
 While this measure makes it optional with tn Secretary of the Interior whether ships shal be operated from the terminals of the Alaska Railroa to the States it does not make 1t clear whether o not he would have authority to operate steamship from all Alaska Pacific Coast ports to the States o between all Alaska Pacific Coast ports It is essentia ernment enters the water transportation business i Alaska at all, that it be prepared to handle all the business, for it would not be wise destroy tn business of the companies engaged in this servc and not give the people something to take place The Empire believes also, that it would not b wise to change the character of the Alaska Board Road Commissioners The record of the years ha proved this organization to be in competent hands It has an excellent organization and is functionin in very satisfactory manner. It has been the mai factor in formulating program of cooperative roa building that has been generally approved by tn people of the Territory. It should be permitted t go with its work.