The Alaska daily empire., 1921-06-02
ALASKA SOON TO
 i. ENTER UPON ITS ERA PROSPERITY
McPherson Says Hearing on Curry Bill will Result in
 Benefit to Territory.

was the statement made by J. L
 McPhersOn, manager of the Alaska
 Bureau of the Chamber of Commerce
 upon his return to Seattle from (
 trip to Washington. McPherson hat
 been called to the national capita by Congressman John F. Curry o California, chairman of the House committee on territories. to testify at a hearing befote that committee on the proposed Development Board
 This hearing, McPherson declared
 will be productive of more good than any governmental action in regard tC Alaska which has been taken since the United States acquired posses sion of the Territory. It has already lie asserted, but it's most lasting ef | feet will be the passage of law co-ordinating all of the government agencies in Alaska under commit, tee or board in the Territory. With such a law and the friendly attitude to have toward the Territory, he con tinued. nothing can keep Alaska from forging ahead as it has never been able to do before
 Need Liberal Laws.
 "All the witnesses at the hearing" McPherson said, agreed that Alas kas greatest need was more liberal laws and regulations to encourage settlement of home builders and aid in the creation of new industries. They were equally unanimous in pointing out the value of co-ordinated effort by all the federal bureaus hay ing to do with Alaskan affairs. Nearly all of them agreed there should be single official in Alaska, at the head of all the bureaus
 ''Efficient administration of a country cannot be expected of a res ident of far country, and that rulers are deaf to the relation of distant miseries, was the theme of the testimony before the committee of the territories. The declaration was made that the lack of construc tive progress in Alaska is due pri marily to lack of direct responsi bility in any government department Or agency, that committees and com missions have made visit after visit to the country and that report after report has been filed in the depart ments during the past years, all non productive of results, until the say ing has developed, more commissions and committees more confabs, more confusion One committee has hard ly reported and the results filed un til another is sent to make inquiries. That body of men who are not directly on the ground, who are not personally acquainted with all phases of the subject, and do not have the responsibility of the consequences of their act to bear, cannot arrive at satisfactory solution of the prob lem was declared. That the federal functions are divided in many de. partments, and then subdivided into many bureaus, resulting in confusion and delay was alleged, and this was supported by convincing facts and statements of conditions borne out by records of the government"
 Resident Board Urged.
 That a constructive policy mean ing one thing and one thing only the utilization of Alaskan resources in creating local industries and a permanent stable population; guard ing in every possible manner against monopoly, and assuring the individual support and assistance in becoming a producer is absolutely necessity | That a board charged with this re sponsibility. and resident on the ground where they may see the prac tical working of the policy. and who | will suffer the consequence of it's miscarriage would be the solution and that in this manner the greatest function of government the welfare of it's citizens will be promoted, and that then instead of land depleted of it's rich natural resources Alaska will be a land of industry and the home of a strong and patriotic peo pie was the sum of the testimony offered by Mir. McPherson. Grant Home Rule. A formative policy on broad lines should be enacted, the same meas ure of home rule granted as is given other citizens of the western terri tories, the prospector encouraged and aided; laws guarding against mo noroly enforced; surveys conducted and maps published giving informa tion to the homeseeker and pros. pector. roads and trails should be constructed, reduction plants and al. lied industries established; coal and water. power developed, the coal util ized for public and private use; con. servation of the fisheries, preserva tion of the fur animals; utilization of the timber resources; and aid to pioneers in agriculture; adequate mail service; coast surveys com pleted; aids to navigation placed {: and other necessary matters are urged as part of the program. All this is necessary and it will result in the develepment of the resources apd {, tb.- atfahIish mant of stable