Douglas Island news., 1921-06-03
SECRETARY SAYS
 ALASKA TO GROW
After Sizing Up Situation at Ma. honal Capital, MoPherson Says
 Everything O. K

sympathetic federal administration. va Che statement made by J. b. Mephorsou. manager of Che Alaska Bureau of tbc Chamber of Commerce upon his return Go Seattle from Q trip Go Washington. Mcphomon had been called Go Che national capital by Congressman John F. Curry of California. chairman of Che house committee on territories Co testify at hearing before chat committee which was In progress an last week. This hearing. Mcphorson declared. win bc productive Of moro good than any governmental action in regard Co Alaska which has boon taken since uc United siatea acquired possession ol tle territory lt has already
 stirred Che various bureaus to ace uou. Inc assorted. but its most taste irr cGoct win bc thc passage Of % aw coordiuauue an Of Che govern mont agencies m Alaska under 90 committee or board In Che territory WIth such a law and Che friendly ate uudc which President Harding is known to have toward Che territory hc continued. nothing can koop Ale a.a from forging ahead as it has never been ablc Co do before.
 
 "Au tbc witnesses at Che hcar- ur." Mcphcuon aId "arrecd chat Naska's greatest nccd was moro ub- cuI laws and regulations Co cncour- are settlement of homo builders and aid in Che creation of new industries. They were equally unanimous iu pointing out chat Che value of co- orIuatod effort by au Che federal bureaus having to do with Alaskan e0aiu Nearly oI ot them agreed therc should be a single official in Aasba at Che head of aI Che bu- reaus"
 "Emc.cnt administration of a country cannot be expected of % resident of a ar country and Chat rulers arc deaf Go to Che relation of d.urt macrIcs. was Che tbome Of the testimony before Che committee ou territories The declaration was m.dc nat Che lack of constructive progress In Alaska Is due primarily to lack ol direct responsibility In ary rorcnmcu. department agency thlt committees aad commissions have made visit after visit Go Che country and chat report after report h.. bou mei a thc departments during the paat le.a aI nonpro- du.ure ol result. until Che saying has developed. "Nor. comm on .II committee. mu-. conrahs. more confusion" One committee has hardly reported and tbe results G.ed u U another .s sent to mako inc l.rIes That a body ol men who .l. mol directly ou .bc ground who ui. not personally acquainted with uU phascs of Che subject and who do mot have Ono responsibility oi Che consequences of har act to bcar cannot arrive at a satisfactory solu- uou of Che problem was declared That Che federal functions 1rc de vIoI in many departments. and then uhIuIcI into many bureaus. re- muue u confusion and delay was alleged. and thIs was supported by convincing facts and statements Of conditions borne out by records Of on. government
 That a constructive policy mcau- ne one thIus and one thing only
 h. utilization of Alaskan resources In creating local industries and a permanent stable population; ruard- m every possible manner against monopoly and assuring Che ud.v.d- u.I mnpor. and assistance In be- coming a producer Is absolutely a necessity That a board charged vtb tbs responsibility and rosie don't on Che ground where lhey may ... tho practical workings of Che pole i.s and who win suGcr Che conso- guauoos of its miscarriage would be ra solution. and ,hat In this mau- r.- Che ercatos. function of goyorn- u.a. Che welfare ot its citizens
 would bo promoted. and cha, thw .nfcad of land depleted Of its rich natural resources. Alassa win bc a land of Industry and Che homo of a strong and patriotic people was Che sum of Che testimony offered by Nh. Ncphersou
 \ formative policy on broad lines
 should be enacted. Che same meas me ol homo rule granted as Is given other cIazons Of Che western tcui- toIc. Che pr1apea.or encouraged and aided. laws guarding against monopoly enforced, s1rvog- cone duc,ed and maps published giving information to the homeeekcr and