Seward daily gateway., 1926-02-25
AMEND THE LAW

For many years the question as to how United States Commissioners possessing necessary qualifications may be retained in office in Alaska has been brought to the public again from the Gateway correspondent at Bristol Bay and Dillingham; At the present time under the ex- istng laws the Commissioners are appointed by the Dis tct Judges of the respective Divisions The emouments for their governed by fee system and the maximum allowed to them is the of s 900 per annum
 In the larger and popuous Precincts there has been trouble in securing lawyers those who ed in the law to accept these positions However, thru out the Territory, you will not find half dozen Commis sioners who receive fees amounting to the maximum How about the than fifty other Commissioners who stationed in small remote Precincts? TWothrds of them making less than S1O0O annually. In those cases can wonder that lawyers others qualified with smat terng at least, of what law consists will refuse to cept COmmissonership in such Precincts? What won der then that there many lacking necessary eff ficiency who holding down berths United States Commissioner.
 United States Commissioner in Alaska has to per- form the duties of oice and has jurisdiction great those required of County Judges in the staes,even for in Alaska, United States Commissioner is EX-OfficO Justice of the Peace EXOficlO Probate Judge and Ex-offico Recorder and Coroner No novice be expected they adequately and efficiently perform the duties required of them For these reasons it but just that the United States should place the Commission salary of such amount that will suffice to at least their actual living expenses For instance, as done in the early days of the Territory when the capital stationed at Stka the Commissioner was al lowed salary of 00O and fees that amount not to succeed the of 5000 annually Later this was abolished and the office reegated strict fee system If the old sysem followed in the early days to be revved-n that event there would be trouble in se curing good and sufficient officers for that position
 To the initiated on looking the records in the average small remote Precinct 1t Is found in most in stances the records badly kept-glaring inaccura ces occurring of such dimensions that many absolute y useless if they needed in the Court of Record
 files reckessy kept and stored in places where even the proverbal Philadelphia lawyer could find them and if found would probably be fatally defective for use in the Courts.
 The situation can only be remedied by Congress and should take immediate steps to correct existing cond tions By doing the government would be saving ey and get better results Thousands of dollars annually would be saved in cosscost of witnesses costs of trans portation for the reasons that with efficient Commis sioners there will be less of holding to the District Court and less of appeals from the Commissioners court to the District Court, in criminal matters.
 If the people of Alaska wish to aid in securing results along this lne and avoid such conditions were publish tct they should in every community in which there is
 commissioner petition the Delegate bring this mat ter before Congress for adjustment