The Alaska daily empire., 1922-11-14
LETTERING GAME ADMINISTRATION.

Every year there crops proposal to enact new game for Alaska. In all these pro DO. als the inherent defect is in the fact that the ma jority the provisions of the drafted are prepared by individuals CT organizations foreign to the Territory and aimed at benefits for residents of other sections of the country rather than for Alaska. In other words it is not legislation by and for Alaskans but by and for everybody else except residents Of the Territory.
 In the measure introduced by Delegate Sutherland during session of Congress, that same ground fer criticism is present. While MT Sutherland is sponsoring the measure, at no time has he claimed authorship and it's striking similarity to the copies Of a measure circulated in Alaska almost two years ago by Dr. E, w. Nelson Chief of the Bureau of Biological Survey makes it virtually certain that it is the bill with but few minor changes. The Delegate frankly recognized the origin of the measure as is shown by his decaraton in a recent public speech here that Aaskans might as well rc-lize once fer all time that it is impossible get any bill through Congress that does not meet with the ap- prcyal Eastern game conservaonists. At least scme of that element probably the most powerful faction in it, willing for Aaskans to have any voice in the control of game animals in the Territory II is that fact coupled with their sponsor ship of the pending game legislation, that leads to serious distrust of it and to doubt as to the good faith of the proposal in it for Alaska com mission And it is patent the face of the that the proposed commission is of the rubber stamp
 
 authority is vested in the Biological Survey through its Territorial agent. Even concedng these defects, the introduced by the Delegate is i'm provemen the existing law.
 Many people in Southeastern Alaska, however, do favor the bill When briefly purport was sub mitted to several hundred of them by the Alaska Fish and Game Club only very small minority approved it. On the other hand suggested substitute presented at the same time by the club approved The substitute proposed four divisional commissions composed of a commissioner from each a Territorial Commissioner and the Governor the two latter thus being every commission and in position to CO., ordinate their activities However, it is made exactly clear how the commissions would function. it is intended that they will be bureaus under the Department of Interior which would issue the game regulations under law drafted by itself, there would be no change in the system. merely switch in the departments from which authority is derived. All that would be gained then would be minor step in centralization of power at Washington If. however t is the intention of the of the substitute to give the suggested commissions full power for nulate regulations for each division and to put them Into effect to make them responsible the Territorial Legislature through the Governor rather than to the DepaFzn of Interior, there many advantages to De gained It would mean extending to Alaska some portion Of home rule that Aaskans have been demanding for years.
 At present administration of legislation and regu- lauons affecting game and furbearing animals is in rather chaotic condition. Either of the/ measures being decuseed would bring about improy ement if enacted into law. The Nelson measure is defective and needs many amendments. The substitute ad- yanced is sketchily outlined present form 10 be presented to Congress