The Daily Alaska empire., 1929-03-06

will be appropriated to enable the Secretary of the Interior to employ an alienist from the United States Public Health Service to be station- ed at Morningside Hospital or such other institution as may be awarded the custody of the insane. The doctor will have ample authority and will be responsible for the well fare and proper treatment of the patients. This plan was suggested by the Pioneers of Alaska at their convention last year and is long step toward the desired goal of a home in Alaska. The present con- tract expires January l. 1930 and although it was the opinion of those present at the conference that there should be an institution in Alaska it was realized that this could not be provided in the short time that remains. It was agreed that small appropriation should be requested from the Federal Gov ernment for the purpose of provid- ing plans for an institution iii the Territory. I believe that if we can present suitable plans and a definite building program to Con gress during the next five years they will give the project sympa- thetic consideration.
 Relief of Destitution
 An analysis of the expenditures for the years 1927-1928 shows that about 14ae of the total was incurred in the relief of destitution. This includes the Pioneers Home, pen sioners, care of dependent children, and relief of indigents. The laws governing the administration of these funds are containedNn eigh- teen separate acts which have been passed since 1913. Some of these are indefinite and ambiguous, thus creating a doubt about the proper interpretation of them. Some time ago the Attorney General undertook the work of revising and codifying all of the laws on this subject. Much time and no little effort has been devoted to this work and he has for presentation to you the re- suits of his research. Careful con- sideration should be given to this compilation because the appropria- tions involved are large and there should be no doubt about the mean ing of the laws which govern their distribution.
 Mining
 Chapter 18, Session Laws of 1927 authorizes the payment of transportation to bonafide prospec- tors and prescribes the manner in which it shall be expended About l50 men have availed themselves of the funds and while we have not received returns from each indi- vidual there is no doubt but that the plan has encouraged prospect ing in the Territory. Janury l, 1929, there was $2696 of this appro- priation unexpended, however, out standing obligations will absorb this balance. It required about one year to complete arrangements for distribution. hence the actual ex- penditures did not begin until 1929 when the amount disbursed was $16,620. This plan, with some notifications, should be continued during the next two years.
 "The mining industry everywhere is recovering from a long period of decline and we should very care fully consider every suggestion which may be made to encourage the development of our mineral re- sources. We can well afford to provide the. necessary funds that may be necessary to aid in this work even though we may have to restrict our activities in other less important projects.
 Medical and Dental Boards
 "The laws which provide for the examination and registration of doctors of medicine and dentists and creates examining boards should be revised to meet exist ing conditions.
 Under the present law the Board of Medical Examiners is compcaed of eight members, two from each Judicial Division. It is impossible to comply with this law because