The Cordova daily times., 1922-01-14
SATURDAY, JANUARY If, 1922
FALCON JOSLIN SAYS SELF-GOVERN-
 MENT IS THE REMEDY

Falcon Joslin offered his remedy for the betterInent of Alaskas government in very strong speech delivered at the last session of the American Mining Congress at Chicago in October, and the speech has been printed in pamphlet form for distribution by the Con- gress Mr. Joslin sees very little hope for inn provement in governmental conditions in Alas ka until this Territory is given even more self government than is provided in the usual full Territorial form. He believes that Alaska should be given control of her own resources, subject to the approval of the Governor and the President, and always subject to review and reversal by Congress, just as the Philip pines Porto Rico and Hawaii have control of theirs. He sees little hope for improvement in the New Bill ~
 After reviewing the history of government in Alaska and fixing responsibility upon it for the lack of development in the North, he offers the following remedial suggestions:
 "In seeking for the real escape the conclusion that it is not lack of resources but mis- and bad policies in handling these resources Too much governmental control of industries and sys tenn leasehod permit titles instead of freeholds Nothing than that the form of of country has much do with it's prosperity This is pecially true in Alaska where the government is both sovereign and proprietor More nnety-eight per the land there belongs to the government and individuals Of course, the terms and conditions which this land is offered for sale or for con- trols the development of the Territory.
 For many years after Alaska bought from Rus it had government at all. What it has is quite bad, except that there courts peace officers and the criminal laws enforced No other state or territory ever had government like that of Alaska
 Congress created legislature for the Territory some years ago, prohibits it from legislang most sub jects of real importance It is legislature almost without power. At the time Congress continues egisate all subjects great small which really affect the welfare of the Territory.
 we thus have legislatures, sitting in Wash ington acting hearsay and reports; the other sitting in Juneau composed of citizens of the Territory familiar with its problems and needs but without power to remedy them. A committee from Congress visited Alaska about fifteen years ago and much good resulted it's trip but there have been no visits since.
 The Alaska legislature however has power to impose taxes which collected and disbursed through the Territorial Treasurer Congress also 1evies taxes on Alaska local purposes which collected and dis bursed by United States Treasurer In addition there are the general Federal Internal and income We thus have three systems of taxation with two treasuries to collect and disburse them.
 "The administration of the Territory is even more absurd. is administered not in Alaska, but from Washington four thousand miles and away.
 administration is not centered in one department and in one bureau, it is for the Philippines and Porto Rico is through all ten of the depart nents divided among than thirty boards, com missions and bureaus.
 Naturally. this form of government is sufficient to devastae province It is certainly returning the Ter ritory to the bears
 Various measures been proposed to remedy the situation. The Curry bill pending to development board in Alaska and transfer the administration from Washington to Juneau. The board proposed however would not be properly other authority and therefore would not be ible executive body. The Cummns bill proposes to au thorize the President to consolidate the bureaus in Wash ington redisribute their functions. The New bill to consolidate the bureaus in Washington the Interior Department All of these propose tc consolidate the bureaus, which is certainly desirable but is only step in the right direction It be, how ever, all that be attained at present.
 Tt just essential to place the administration in Alaska it is to consolidate it in department But administration, whether consolidated in Washing.