The Daily Alaska empire., 1945-08-20
RIVERS DENIES F0UNDATl0N0 OF
 TRIBAL RIGHTS
Attorney General Protests Iekes Withdrawal on
 Behalf of Territory


 Protest, "on behalf of the Ter ritory of Alaska" has been dis patched by Alaska's Attorney Gen. eral, Ralph J. Rivers, to Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes, against the secretary's administra- trive determination Concerning Claims of the Natives of Hydaburg, Klawock and Rake, Alaska, as to Aboriginal Rights"
 The Attorney General today dis closed that he had submitted his conclusions, observations and sug gestions to the Interior Departmen head, in the interest of the peopl of Alaska as whole" after carefl study of the Ickes ruling settin aside Southeast Alaska land reser vations for the three native com. munities concerned.
 Declaring, however, the presen miscarriage serves the useful pur pose of bringing the whole problen to the front at this crucia time, Rivers offered the fol!owin seven suggestions for Alaskas wei fare, with the hope that the Sec retary of the Interior will en. dorse them at least to some ex- tent.
 Extinguish Aboriginal Rights Urge Congress to immedi ately enact legislation expressly ex. tinguishing aboriginal rights coupled with provisions for ascer. taining the losses of all the native of Alaska and to make monetar, settlement therefor
 "If possible, have legislation SUD. plementing the Thlingit and Haid Claims Act, extending it to all tht Alaska Indians and Eskimos ane go so far as to authorize the Cour of Claims to make awards on tn basis of moral obligations as wei as legal and equitable.
 Express extinguishment of ab original rights would serve tht purpose" MT. Rivers contends. 70 clearing the air, even though dec. laratory of what has already hap. pened."
 "2-Call off all elaborations or fisheries regulations such as tho present administrative proceedings and thereby restore confidence u, here that we have government b, law instead of men, and admins tratiye proceedings for needed gov ernmental functions only on mandate from Congress for vel defined purposes.
 Halt Absentee Unfriendiiness
 "3-Haye your department dis. continue unfriendly expressions to- ward absenteeism in Alaska sine such only tends, without doing an good, to scare away large invest. ments which we so sorely need. We Alaskans often get disgruntled that the great percentage of dividends rom successful enterprises goes outside, but that can't be helped until Alaska gets built up.
 4-Continue to express yourself Tn favor of the development of the Territory as you did in your recent pronouncement for Alaska state hood.
 5-Take steps as soon as pos- slble to abolish the 80 = rod strip reservations between entries. so faf as compatible with harbor need, of the nation and the public in general.
 "6-Get the Land Office to ex- pedite steps on granting of patents to persons who have complied with the requirements, Prolonged in- action or endless bureau exacti- tude causes settlers to become bitter and discouraged
 "7-Let the department in gem eral do the things that will put Alaska ahead, and engender for the department as a whole the de- gree of goodwill from the people of Alaska that is already enjoyed by few of it's local agencies here"
 Reasons For Present Jam
 The Attorney General accom- panied his suggestions with obser- vations pointing out reasons why the secretary's administrative ac-