The Daily Alaska empire., 1947-08-09

V. odll1lCiQ OAi sAAP w 'sAN ington in support of legislation paving the way for a pulp timber development in Southeast Alaska:
 Mayor and Common Council,
 Haines, Alaska
 Douglas, Alaska
 Petersburg, Alaska
 Juneau, Alaska
 Wrangell, Alaska
 Chamber of Commerce,
 Juneau, Alaska
 Wrangell, Alaska
 Petersburg, Alaska;
 Sitka Business Mems Association,
 Gentlemen:
 The following report is submitted to the above named organizations which asked me to represent them in Washington, D. C., for the pur- pose of trying to secure Congress sional legislation which would as sure pulp and paper companies that Forest Service contracts for the sale of timber would not be af- fected by any claims of native persons arising out of their abori- ginal use of land in the Tongass National Forest.
 Since I was representing com munities which are composed of both natives and whites, l con- sidered myself as representing the interests of both groups. It was necessary to get something passed which was acceptable to the pulp companies and I am pleased to say that H. J. Res. POS which was passed, has in no way jeopardized the possibility of the natives re- covering as a result or in com promise of their claims. It will also result ill the creation of a fund which the natives can claim.
 What Was Discovered
 On my arrival In Washington, l found that off ia,S of the De- partments of Agriculture and h. terior had been in conferences with representatives of the pulp companies, party of natives rom Alaska, their attorney, MT. Curry and Delegate Bartlett. These nego- tiations brought forth numerous proposals. The natives on the advice of officials of the Interior Department and MT. Curry were asking forsthe entire proceeds from the timber sales and were unwilling to take 10 percent of such sums. Such proposal met with the inn mediate opposition of the Depart ment of Justice, which can find no legal basis for such disposition Of public funds and the Budget Bur eau was also opposed to it.
 The natives then countered with proposal to give them patents to large tracts claimed not only as result of actual occupation and continuous use but lands through which they had intermittently picked berries or hunted deer. This proposal was impossible for the reason that it could easily include all of Southeastern Alaska and any timber advertised for sale would immediately be claimed by indivi- dual natives or some heretofore -existant tribal organization created for the purpose of making claim.
 As stated before, MT. Curry and his cohorts in the Interior De- partment were chiefly responsible for such claims being asserted by the natives, whose representatives seemed quite reasonable when not under the influence of these indiv- idualS.
 Proposals of Measure House Joint Resolution -205 pro- posed nothing more than author izing the sale of timber on wa cant, unappropriated and unpatent- ed lands" and placing the proceeds in escrow in the Treasury until the rights to the lands and tim Der are finally determined" The passage of the bill in the House resulted in a campaign by MT Curry among Senate members with the claim that natives would be tdispossessed of their lands, throwr out of their homes and deprived o1 hunting, fishing and timber lands which they must have to make living. MT. IckeS on July 23rc wrote column headed Attempt i to Grab Timber Land Owned bJ Alaskan Natives" and which stated that ownership rights to great stretches of this forest were con- firmed in the Indians by the In. terior Department in 1945' and tha' the Interior Department had thu authority to make that finding. He then wrote personal letter to dozens of Senators urging then to protect the natives from thiev.