The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-07-18
BY ALL MEANS INVESTIGATE.

In the resolution of the House Committee on Indian Affairs to appoint a special committee Oo investigate certain alleged conditions existing among Alaska Indians as the result of alleged Government neglect and oppression Delegate WickerSham US author has depicted situation that does not really exist His recitation is more of an argument TOT the passage of a bill introduced by hlmsel WHICH seeks to give certain of the Alaska Indians authority to sue the United States for reimbursement of claim ed alenated rights and property than it IS cola recital of facts
 The Delegate, in effect argues that all of the land and it's resources and the resources Of the waters contiguous thereto, owned by these tribesmen and not the Russians at the time of the Alaska purchase; that the United States did not acquire title to any of these things by that pur- chase and that everything fish, timber, minerals and other resources since 1867 that has been turned over by the Federal Government to private owner ship was taken away from it's rghtful owners-the Indians-by force and without their consent; that the Government is indebted in sums not mentioned to the Indians for these lands and resources and ought to pay that debt; that such resources, par ticularly the timber lands set aside National Forests and it would logically follow any agricul- tural and mineral lands now held in the public domain which have not passed out of Government control is wrongfully held by it and ought to be restored to it's rightfu payment made to them for it.
 If Congress should accept such construction of the Alaska purchase that advocated by the Delegate and authorize the suits to be filed it probably would follow that the Indians would de- mand reimbursement for the gold that was taken from the Treadwell Chchagof, the Alaska Juneau and other famous gold mines of Southeast Alaska; for all the timber that has been cut and sold from National Forests; for all the fish that have ever been taken from the inland waters of South east Alaska; and for all the land that is now owned by private individuals and companies. They could demand a royalty from every stick of timber cut from the National Foretss and for every fish taken from Territorial waters of the Panhandle. It is almost unthinkabe that Congress would decide, and it passes belief that Delegate Wickersham is in earnest about this matter. To bring about such a state of affairs he proposes would make develop ment so costly that of it could be attempted
 Matters of this kind had better be left alone. Stirring them up result in little real benefit to the Indians and could easily lead to friction between them and the whites that would be harm ful to both Any Indian who thinks he has deprived of property has to the courts of the Territory now the basis any white Congress years ago recognized the right of Indians to hold lands in this Territory and made adequate provision through the Interior Department to protect them in that right Judge Wickersham charges that the Indians have been denied the right to fish in salmon streams for food for their own use That is not the case. There is no law or regulation prohibiting them from fishing for domestic food anywhere they please at any time they please All in all the Alaska Indian has not been so badly treated by the Government in that respect.
 He may not have been provided with enough schools to educate the hospitals sufficient to care the ill., funds adequate to relieve suffering and distress, but at least he has had good maesure of all of these aids. Each year he is given some additions these facilities, and in times like these appropriations his benefit feel the pruning knife of economy much less than any others for Alaska He hasn't been entirely neglected, nor has he been oppressed in any degree more than his white neghbor in fact not nearly much
 Perhaps it is just well that the Indian Affairs Committee has granted the Delegates request for investigation by responsible subcommittee. Any study it makes ought to be searching and compre hensve not hastily conceived and skechily executed It will offer opportunity to air the entire subject and give the Territory chance to look after its interests, which enormous, in the subject that could have been had under present circum- stances had the matter been passed upon by Con- gress without reference to Alaska