The Wrangell sentinel., 1922-12-14
Wrangell and
 ketchikan For
 The Game Bill
Local Organizations Urge Delegate Sutherland to
 Work for it's Passage

At a recent meeting of the Wran- gell Commercial Club a motion pre- vailed that the Club endorse the Alaska Game bill, and the secretary was instructed to write Delegate Sutherland urging him to work for the passage of the bill.
 Last month the Alaska Game Pro- tective Association of Wrangell pass ed similar resolution.
 Neither of the two organizations mentioned have any patience with the scheme of certain parties at Ju- neau and Sitka who are opposed to the creation of an Alaska Game Com mission as provided for in the Bill, and who propose to substitute there for the governor and four chief war dens under him, thus throwing the work wholly into politics.
 Briefly, the bill now pending before Congress provides for an Alaska Game Commission composed of five Alaska residents. Four of these are from one of each of the four Judicial Divisions. These with the chief rep resentative of the Biological Survey resident in Alaska, and who is the executive officer of the commission, constitute the Commission. The Con- mission formulates regulations gov erning the killing, possession and sale of fur and game and carries out other provisions of the act. Roughly, the bill provides absolute protection for all fur and game and the Commis sion may open the season, fix limits as to localities, numbers, methods of taking, sale, etc. By its provisions, and regulations which the Commits sion may make, the widely different and changing conditions in the va rious sections of the Territory can be properly met. The Commission could, and it is anticipated it would, re- move the protection from the brown bear. Where advisable the sale of game could be made.legal. Indeed practically any condition existing, or that might develop, could be proper ly met by the Act. The bill comes about as near fitting the needs of Alaska in relation to its wild life as it would be possible to make it. It is thefore greatly to be regretted that certain parties have ooncocted a heme to substitute the goveror and four chief wardens under him, there by throwing this important work wholly into politics. Under such a system a change of political admins tration would mean a change in the personnel of the Alaska Game Com mission. Contrast this plan with the one proposed in the bill which pro- vides for the selection of one new member each year who would serve for four years, thus assuring the elimination of politics from the or ganization and a constancy of policy and purpose rather than radicalism, or sudden ill-advised changes in pol icy.
 The wonderful service that J. Stockley Ligon, is now rendering in this section in the extermination of wolves with no expense whatever to the Territory or the people, is fine example of the good results that may be obtained through cooperation with the Biological Survey.
 The passage of the bill in it's pres ent form would give us an act under which Federal funds would pay for the work of protecting, upbuilding and developing the wild life of the region, and in the hands of an Alas kan Commission, such as provided for in the bill, the fur and game re- sources of Alaska, instead of being depleted, could be made to produce prodigiously.
 The Alaska Game Protective asso- citation of Ketchikan. in prepared statement, gives its approval to the proposed game law for Alaska. The prepared statement is as follows
 After carefully considering its pro visions, the Alaska Game Protective association of Ketchikan expressed