The Washington times., 1923-07-12
ALASKA IS DYING,
STRANGLED BY
RED TAPE
Settlers Quit Because of Treat
ment Accorded Them by
U. S. Officials There.
JUNEAU, Alaska, July H.

JUNEAU, Alaska. July IA
The Alaskan problem.
which President Harding and his
Cabinet aides have travelled 5000
miles from the National Capital to
study, can be summed up in six
| words, according to those familiar
with conditions there:
"Choked to death with red tape"
Administration of the affairs of
Alaska, a territory equal in size
to ine-fifth of continental United
States, is in the hands of no less
than thirty-five separate depart
ments and bureaus at Washington.
Anyone who has ever endeavored
to get action from Washington will
appreciate what that means.
Each department and bureau
has its finger in the Alaskan pie,
and when a hardy pioneer wishes
to take up a homestead in this
far-flung outpost of American life
he must deal with all of them.
Each has it's regulations, its rules,
it's procedure, and the conflicts
able.
To this division of authority,
this enormous ball Of red tape,
the natives of Alaska ascribe the
steady dwindling of the population
and the consequent decrease in the
commerce Of the Territory during
the last ten years.
Authority Is Divided. :.
Disguised settlers, after battling
for months, even years, with thirty
five departments in Washington
over rules and regulations, have at
last reluctantly abandoned their
claims and their mines and gone
back" to the States. They have
told their friends that Alaska Of
fered no opportunity and thus in
fluenced others from coming north.
Congress is chiefly to blame for
the conditions now existing, ac-
cording to the Alaskan experts who
are accompanying President Hard
ing northward. For the last TWEEN
ty years-in fact, ever since Alas
ka disappeared from the front
pages. of American newspapers
through the decline in gold mining
l-Congress has legislated for the
northern Territory in an extremely
haphaZard manner. Bills have been
introduced and passed automati-
cally simply because no one ever
took the trouble to inquire inrefli-
gently into the why's and where
fores of their passing.
The result has been this:
Many Quit Disguised.
The Department Of the Interior
has control Of the territorial Gov
eminent, including the governor.
It also has control Of its public
lands, allotments, homesteads, coal
and oil leases, the Government rail-
road, it's natural parks, education,
surveys and game protection.
The Department of Agriculture
has supervision over national for
ests. it's fur-bearing animal life,
public roads, migratory birds and
agricultural development through
the operation of five experimental
stations.
The Department of Commerce
controls the fishing industry, the
principal revenue producing indus
try of the Territory; and it has SUI
1 maritime and navigation laws.
The War Department operates
the cable and telegraph lines,
maintains army posts and, through
it's engineering corps, provides for
| improvements Of rivers and har-
bors and construction Of trails and
roads.
| The Navy Department has con-,
troll OF the radio stations, Of which
there is one in every important
town: 1t operates a naval patrol
along the coast. mines coal from
the naval reserves and exercises
jurisdiction over the immense oil
preserve.
Has Varied Duties.
The Treasury Department has a
heterogeneous variety of functions,
including collection of customs
and taxes, construction and Gus
tody of public buildings, super
vision Of banks. maintance Of
| hospitals and protection Of public
health.
| The Department of Justice exer-
cises jurisdiction over all courts;
the Department Of Labor controls
immigration; the State Department
deals with the foreign consuls: the
Post Office Department delivers
the mails; the Federal Water Power
| Commission deals with all appl1ca-
lions for water power sites; the
Shipping Board controls steamship
rates, and the Interstate Commerce
Commission handles railroad rates.
Thus If a free-born American
citizen wishes to take UP a home
stead in Alaska he must get 1t
| through the Department of the In
terror; if he wishes to supply his
table with meat from the abun-
dance of birds and wild game he
must consult the Department OF
Agriculture: If he wants to do
little fishing on the side he must
get permission from the Depart
ment of Commerce.
If a public building Is to be erect
ed on the public domatn-and prac-
ttcally all Alaska is public domain
the sanction of the Department
of the Interior Is first necessary;
then the Treasury Department
erects the building. and if a road
is to be built to it the War Depart
ment has TO do the job,
The net result Of al this division
of authority and overlapping OF
duties is confusion worse con-
founded, according to the COM
plants which the Alaskans have
lodged with President Harding and
members of his official party,
How this situation can best be