The Alaska daily empire., 1921-08-18
New Alaska Legislation.
Seattle Times. ]

Seattle Times)
 Practical Alaska reforms combined with trans portation experiments in the bill of Senator New, n troduced today in the upper house at Washington.
 Hearings on the measure will afford opportunity to strengthen the good feature of the and 60 expose it's weaknesses, such they may be. The act finally passed by Congress probably will differ materially from that submitted today for considera tion of the Senate
 Most important of the provisions in the bill those consolidating territorial departments and agen- cies and placing them all under the Secretary of the Interior. This is long step in the right direction
 While the controversy the jurisdiction the black bear and the brown bear of Alaska seemingly has been terminated, extraordinary situation still exists. Practically every department government pas a hand in Alaskan affairs, Congress from time to time having passed new legislation affecting the territory and having committed administration of laws to various executive agencies.
 Certain islands in Alaska for instance, are under one department because dedicated to the fox farming industry; others are under another department be- cause devoted to different purpose. The bona fde settler, desirous of taking up homestead has do business with bewildering variety of bureaus his papers have to make two more trips to Washing ton. his title to the desired property obtained only after prolonged delay and he is certain that in the end he will be successful in his efforts
 These illustrations are cited merely because they are typical In very few instances governmental actions direct. definite even reasonably speedy Naturally, under this extraordinary msadmnistration of territorial afairs the country has prospered in fact, has lost population, capital and initiative
 Centralizing of authority in the Interior Depart ment will eliminate much of this costly and time- consuming duplication of effort The New bill is desirable, in this respect
 The measure trenches doubtful ground in en- ceavoring to set up additional and competitive water transportation by authorizing the President to draw carriers from the Shipping Board and by linking them with the Alaska Railroad establish a govern ment-ow system.
 This is in response to the ambition of Portland and San Francisco to force steamship connections with the territory. Every private effort to this end |ias failed We're it profitable operate ships from these ports, those formerly engaged in this traffic would have prospered. The fact that they have sus- pended is sufficient proof that there was no economic excuse for their existence
 When Alaska has been further dey eoped other ports than those of Puget Sound may expect to obtain direct service to the territory. There may, at some future time, be sufficient business to support these Hines. whether publicly or privately owned but at tempts to build service In advance of cargo move ment justifyng it merely would involve heavy losses for the government and for the companies operating from this city.
 The New bill deserves and should have Seattle's support in every instance where it promotes the ter ritorys interests but the attempt to fos steamship servce upon the territory before business conditions justify the innovation should and undoubtedly will be met by convincing statement of facts