The Alaska daily empire., 1922-12-08
GOV. BONES REPORT.

Although The Empire cannot subscribe to all OIL
the propositions advanced by Governor Bone III ms
annual report the Department of the INTERIOR 1t
nevertheless admres the vigor displayed IN us
straightforward presentation of the steps the Governor
believes to be taken by the Fedefal ooFe
ment in establishing a new Alaskan policy. one may
possibly disagree with the Governor IN some IN
stances and there are many who will co so, put no
one can Justly question the very evident sincerity
manifested in the report with which he sets forth his
convictions.
There will be considerable objection to the very
first of the Governors recommendations which asks
all the Governments rights and functions in Aaska
except the fisheries and their administration, to be
turned over to the Department of the Interior And
those who oppose the most part just as deeply
sincere in their conviction of its futility. as is the
Governor practical usefulness So too, slhere
room for disagreement his recommendation or a
diversion of sufficient Forest Service funds to con-
struct tourist roads into Mt. Mckinley National Park
and Mt Katmai National Monument. The principal
fund that the Forest Service has for road building is
given to it fer expenditure in the National Forest
of the Territory in lieu OF money that would
otherwise be derived from taxes if the tmberands
were in the hands of private owners TO divert any
part the money acquired to any non-contiguous
district would be gross violation of the principle
governing its appropriation by Congress
The Empire, however credits Governor Bone with
the conviction that the need for roads in the districts
he has mentioned is great that it would be a
greater injustice to deny them such ROADS lhah 10
violate conception underlying the whole structure
Of the Forest Fund provision of the Federal Highway
Act OF the other recommendations made by the Gov
ernor have nothing but praise to offer His
stand on the need Offering every possible induce
ment to bring in new and big capital to create an
industrial community is timely, forceful and does
not overstate facts. his recommendation for tourist
steamers to be allotted by the Shipping Board to
existing steamship companies for summer operations,
he has pointed cut possible means of building up "a
considerable increase in Aaskas tourist trade which
should be far less expensive and more rapid than
would obtain the companies forced to build
steamers designed take of that class of bust
ness 1t should be welcomed by the American COM
panies seriously considered by the proper officials
Washington In pointing cut the great need for an
executive headquarters Territorial capitol building
Gov. Bone has fulfilled his duty and his request for
sufficient additional funds to carry out the building
plans should aid in getting the necessary recognition
of Alaskas claims from Congress when it takes the
public buildings bill There will be di-
vergence of opinion to the necessity for lib
era appropriations for the construction spurs
and branch lines to the Alaska Railroad, revision of
the game laws, the adoption of colonization plan,
extension of mail service facilities will permit, the
allotment of fair percentage less than onehalf
of the net derived from the Pribilo Islands
and ether things he has recommended
As the in making his first report a year
the Governor refrained from recommending a
writing of Alaskas Organic Act the end that the
people OF the Northland might have fuller measure
OF self government, the ambition of all patriotic
Americans The Empire believes in this respect he
might have farther. II is to be regretted that
he did not feel justified in 50 doing thus following
the example set by several off his distinguished pre-
decessors in office, including Governor Swneford
ernor Clark and Governor Riggs. Delegate Suther-
land has pledged himself work attain that OBJ
jeetive and it would be comforting to Alaskans to
know that their Governor, the representative the
National Administration in Alaska, supporting
him in the undertaking
The report is finely written broad in its scope
courageous In spirit and optimistic in tone but not
unduly so. IL is a paper well worth preserving and
should be studied carefully by every Alaskan re-
gardless CT possible differences opinion as to The
necessity or wisdom of of the steps recon-
mended.