The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-12-31
UNWISE LEGISLATION.

The measure recently introduced in Congress by Delegate Sutherland by which the Federal Govern ment would reserve portion of the harbor front in Ketchkan for the of Indians, and would vest title in the Alaska Native Brotherhood to the tract is absolutely unwise and wholly unfair And it would be equally vicious if instead of Indians and their organization the measure had said whites and named as owners the Elks Knights of Colum- bus or any other association of individuals.
 It seeks to do something which has in the past been rejected as unsound public policy The Inter for Department and Congress, in the past have taken the position that they will hold intact the tidelands of Alaska, regarding themselves trustees for the future State of Alaska to which they will turn over some day all of its tdelands unencum- bered. The fundamental wisdom of that policy has never been seriously questioned
 The effect of the measure would be to turn over some of Ketchikans most valuable waterfront prop erty to a group of private individual to operate and maintain certain facilities for the benefit of special class and to the exclusion of all other classes As essential for ownership t would require membership in designated organi- zation composed of certain individuals of one class and excluding not only all other classes but all members of that particular class not holding mem berships in the designated order Thus the Delegate puts himself and seeks to place Congress in the position of recruiting agents for the preferred or ganization-the Alaska Native Brotherhood
 The area it is proposed to grant is in the heart of section of the harbor included in an improvement project for which Congress has just appropriated $272,ooO to accomplish The purpose of this betterment is to provide sheltered an chorage for all of the small craft using the port. It is not larger in it's entirety than the needs of the harbor demand. Public funds are being ex- pended for the benefit of the whole public and not for any favored class of individuals. The enact ment of this measure would be to defeat at least in part if not altogether the object sought in the Thomas Basin anchorage.
 Of course, the Delegates readiness to foster this legislation is easily understood He has received at the hands of the Alaska Native Brotherhood series in Territorial politics To it he owed his extension of political life Delegate from Alaska to Congress from 1928 to 193O. Without it's vote he would have been consigned to the graveyard of defeated candi- dates two years ago. For value received might well have been added to his bill
 The Empire is not directly concerned about the effect of grant of this nature on the town of Ketchkan. That is of course, of greater moment to the community there than to Juneau But we are concerned by it's implications So is every other port in Alaska If this measure is passed and approved, designating the Ketchikan Alaska Native Brotherhood camp it's beneficiary, there may be no end to the system so started Every Southeast Alaska town has it's organized Indian encampment and each has much right to special port priv ileges and harbor concessions in their respective towns their fellows in the First City The Ket- chkan bill is vicious and the beginning of ar equally vicious cycle and should be defeated.