The Wrangell sentinel., 1923-03-22
Hon. W. D. Grant : Introduces Two
 Joint Memorials

The following joint memorials have been introduced in the legisla- ture by Hon. W. D. Grant of Wran- gell
 In the House By MT. Grant House Joint Memorial No. 1
 In the Legislature of the Territory
 of Alaska, Sixth Session.
 To the President and the Congress of the Uuited States
 Your memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the Legislature of Alaska, respectfully present:
 That we deplore the indiscrimi- nate creation of fish reserves in the Territory of Alaska and consider the same not only unjustifiable but inexcusable. We know them to en- tail numerous evils, which, added to those which already afflict the Territory, are more than loyal and self-respecting people should be ex- pected to bear uncomplainingly. We have been taught to believe, and we do believe, that all the law making power of the Federal Gov ernment has been by the Constitu- tion confided to Congress. The creation of fish reserves in Alaska is for the avowed purpose of suspending the laws enacted By Congress and to substitute others made by Bureau. We regard this as vicious infractioh of the funda mental law of the land.
 It is astounding for patriotic citi- Zens of republic to contemplate. that whenever the Chief Executive is dissatisfied with the laws enacted by the legislative department of the government, or with the failure of that department to amend those laws in such manner as the Presi- dent may desire, he may authorize some officer to substitute arbitrary rules of conduct in place of statutes enacted under Constitutional pow CTS.
 A government of a reserve is es- sentially a government by men in- stead of by law and places the indi- vidual fortunes at the mercy of of- ficial whim. Irrespective of the good intentions of present officials, the privileges upon a reserve must. in the very nature of things, go to those who maintain the strongest lobby. It cannot be presumed that before the Bureau of Fisheries, any more than before a tribunal pri- marily created to administer justice. a claimant who can neither appear in person nor by counsel can possi- bly have an even chance with one who is constantly represented by men specially skilled not only in presenting but in misrepresenting facts.
 The people of Alaska crave that equal opportunity in the pursuit of happiness and that equal protection of the laws vouchsafed by the Con- stitution which they have been taught to respect.
 To remove from the entire fish ing population of Alaska all those constitutional and statutory pro- tections for equal opportunities is such violent departure from sound governmental principles that we can view the new system with only the greatest apprehension and as an unnecessary affront to the people of this Territory.
 Your memorialists beg to submit that the Territorial Fish Commits sion of Alaska in no manner repre- sent the sentiment Of the Territory on the subject of fish reservs In. recommending that system. they, moreover. went not only beyond their authority but beyond their legitimate sphere of activity. The l commission was created for the sole purpose of conducting fish hatcher ies and kindred enterprises for the propagation of salmon. Through an obvious oversight the legislature failed to make the members of the commission responsible. either di- rectly or indirectly, to the people of the Territory, and as a result they made themselves the spokesmen of foreign cannery interests. There is no official authorized to speak for the people of the Territory ex- cept the members of this Legislature and the Delegate to Congress from 1 Alaska,