The Daily Alaska empire., 1928-02-20
CONSTANTLY INCONSISTENT.


 Two of the most important pieces of Alaskan legislation enacted by Congress since 192l are the laws which deal with the fisheries and the game and fur-bearing animals. The first subject is covered by the so-caled White Fisheries Law which bestows complete authority on the De partment of Commerce to administer the fisheries resources of Alaska. The second is dealt with in the Alaska Game Law of 1925. The latter act is unique of it's class in that the hunting of game and the taking of fur bearing animals are absolutely prohibited It was necessary Tor regulations to be issued having all the force and effect of law before this prohibitory clause set aside
 Roth of these measures were enacted by Con gress with the approval of and, in fact the ac- tive support of Delegate Sutherland. sugges- ton that the Territorial Legislature might pro- perly be authorized to administer the fisheries was rebuffed by him. Both were and are now, properly regarded Administration measures, that is, they sponsored by the leaders of the Republican Administration in power at that time
 At the time each of the measures were under consideration by Congress The Empire main tained that Alaska's representatives in Congress should undertake to have authority conferred on the local Legislature to handle the resources 5 concerned It believed then and still is firm in frs conviction that local people better quail fled to legslate these subjects than Con- gress possibly be- Both are almost entirely local matters and Congress necessarily does not have the time to devote to such things as they require in order that they may be equitably handled with due regard for all the local ditions that affect them. It is evident that Con gressonal leaders recognized this fact fully, be- cause there was created system of admnistra- ton, organizations of control, under which rules and regulations would be instituted in the place of such laws otherwise Congress would have to pass from session to session. Thus an other advance made in fastening bureaucratic control upon the Territory's resources.
 Delegate sutherlands supporters in Alaska disagreed with The Empires position these measures. Mistakenly they regarded it partisan viewpoint. There are lately, indica- tions that there has been a shift in opinion these matters in quarters. Partsans, warmly defending the Delegates position in the past, coming around to The Empires way ], of seeing the inequity of the two laws. In sub stantaton of this we quote two extracts from the recently adopted platform of the Ketchkan Republican Club which itself prepared by of MT. Sutherlands closest political allies:
 We believe that these fisheries will
 be best preserved and perpetuated by
 their natural owners, the people of
 Alaska, and therefore urge upon
 the Congress of the United States pas
 
 law vestng these fisheries and their
 control in the Legislature of Alaska
 We further believe that the present
 Federal Game Commission should be
 abolished and Alaska game be under the
 control of the Alaska Legislature.
 The Empire is glad to admit that this is sound doctrine. It has quarrel with the Bureau of Fisheries over it's methods of admin istration Of the fisheries resources. It and the Alaska Game Commission have been saddled with heavy responsibilities well with authority to meet them. We believe they are exertng every possible effort to do their duty in the premises and, also, that they are succeeding in as large rightly be expected Charges of abuse of power inevitably will fol low the use of power. Naturally there have been some mistakes made in regulations as well as < in administration. But of wilful abuse of author ity, we are convinced both bureaus have been singularly free Our objection to the system is based the principle that Alaskans ars entitled to the fullest possible measure of leg islative control the resources of their own homeland and this is denied them under tho two laws
 And while we have no desire to question tht sincerity of the demands of the Ketchikan Re publican Club, cannot refrain from noting that they based upon accusations of abuse and injustices alleged to have been perpetrated by the Bureau of Fisheries and the Game Com mission. There is little in their brief for tn, principle involved. In fact, while declaring theii belief in local self-government, they exhibit x woeful lack of understanding what that insttu fion really is by advocating the enactment of 'confr01ler bill' as mean of obtaining 1t. On, & ran but conclude from reading the platform .s s4hat 1t is remarkable for one thing--the con S rfancv of the Inconsistencies of it's authors.