The Alaska daily empire., 1923-02-14
Nlr. Sutherland Again.
lCrrdnYa Times


 MT Sutherland's inordinatc attack upon the Bureau Fisheries yesterday before the Senate Com Committee hearing the bill to regulate the sale Of saalskns taken from the Pribof Islands. IS perhaps the most deporable of the several deporable ntterances of which the Delegate from Alaska has lately be guilty. In charging the Bureau of Fish cries with being rotten from top bottom. MT Sutherland commits fragrant breach only of good taste but of authority. As the Delegate from Alaska Mr Sutherland purports to speak at Washington for the public of this Territory When therefore, he dcclaims he has recently in mmoderate language against the taken by the Department of Commerce in behalf of the fisheries of Alaska. Mr Sutherland gives the impression that he is vOcing the sentiment Of the majority of Aaskans.
 As matter of fact in this instance MT. suther- land does nothing of the kind. Mir Sutherands cent polemics against the policies Of the Fisheries Bureau with respect 10 reservations, and to the conduct cf the seal industry. dc represent the conconsus Of intelligent opinion in the Territory.
 To what extent the effort to break the alleged monopoly of the Fauke Fur Company, expressed in the Johnaon bill, is dsinerested remains 10 be seen Other corporations have lately been formed with the ayowed object Of ousting the St Louis company from that action would be to the advantage Of the seal rookeries is the mporant queation In just what the eleeed monopoly of the st. Louis firm consists is another
 The taking, skinnng. curing and tanning Of seal skhs IS hlghly technical business In order that the valuable hides carefully guarded by the Government shall have the proper treatment these respects the Government entered into contract with an expert lnr company Each year there sent to the
 
 sealefs from the New Foundand coast who together with two experts from the Bureau of Fisheries and ahder strict regulations, supervise the killing skin hng and curing The skins then shipped to the tauke Company at St. Louis. where they are plueked tanned and dyed, ready for market Fer this service the fouke Company receives a contract price When the sklns are ready for sale public agtcon is held under Government supervision that anction con,e buyers from all parts of the world and the skins arc sold 10 the highest bidders Government reservino the right to reject any unsatisfactory bid nst where
  l1he Fouke Company does not buy or sell the skins It acts merely in the capacity of agent and as sucb lih8ureS 10 the Government expert care of biobly NalHaple commodity What would be the eneot unon the qualliy and prices of these skins if indscrmina ana lheXpert hands had the meddling with them io easy to imagine.
 lhis IS no brief for the Fouke Company Tbere iaa9 pc other companies capable as Fouke. thare may pc better terms to be made In tho absonco of liellaDle information do not know But it is saf llo say that any plan which has for it's obiact th parcelnS out of the seal industry 10 any less exnart Hahds IS one which would be costly at any price and vigorously te be condemned. ~ As for Mir Sutherla.a's attack cn t5, u;,. bureau including as il docs everyone from Heishsyt Hoover to local fish wardens it is ae absnrd M ,t :, uhauthorlzed IL will do Mr. Sutherland m ooaa eilher in Washington Alaska and he ,loo t Ieacuaoie damage to the Tertcry befcre tbo nati1 ana Tn quarters where the Territory neeas e,n,,u | oct- not reflect the general sentiment. cf ,Iasl "heIe It's expression is deeply regretted