Saihj Proapfrtnr
PUBLISHED BT
STEWART A SELBY, 1'roprletora
VALDEZ, ALASKA
Published Dally Except Sunday_
Entered as Second-Class Mall Matter,
July 23. 1912. at the postofflce of Valdez,
Alaska, under act of March 3, 1S79.
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1917 MARCH 1917
iSUNlMONiTUEjWEPlTmjlFRI |SAI
i I I I 123
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1017
FILIBUSTER UNDEMOCRATIC'.
THE defeat of the armed ship reso
lution by the filibustering tactics of
a few congressmen has revived inter
est in the closure rule recently adopt
ed making it impossible to take a vote
on any measure so long as any sena
tor objects. President Wilson took e
decided stand against the rule and
pointed out that “the senate of the
United States is the only deliberative
body in the world that cannot act
when its majority is ready for action."
He refused to call an extra session of
Congress until the rule was changed.
The far-reaching potentiality of the
filibuster is emphasized at a time
when the eyes of the nation and the
world are centered upon the stirring
drama being enacted “somewhere in
France.” Probably few Presidents
have ever before presumed to dictate
to the Senate the kind of rules it1
should adopt in a crisis like that now j
confronting the nation. In the pres-!
<nt instance President Wilson adopted j
the role of autocrat by enlisting pub
lic sentiment behind him.
Why this rule was incorporated i
tlie early days of the republic is no;
clear, but no doubt it grew out of the i
common iear that the minority might j
he ruthlessly overriden by the ma- |
jority. The senate itself is a conces-1
sion to the minority in our govern- ;
inent of “checks and balances,"-—a j
vermiform appendix as it were —and I
the filibuster has been its favorite
minority weapon for decades.
Efforts have repeatedly been made j
to pass a “closure rule”—that is a
rule that v'ould give the majority
power to close debate—but without
.* uccess.
Up to the lime the President took J
exceptions to it the filibuster had heen
used with good and bad effects. The
Democrats found it a handy weapon
when the Republicans were in powe-.
It has been used more effectively in
recent years, however, by the pro
gressive Republicans than by any
other faction. Senator LaFollette
has the record for making the long
est speech in filibustering tactics, and
Senator Jones (republican) of Wash
ington, we believe, comes second.
Senator Burton made effective use of
the filibuster only two years ago in
defeating a Democratic rivers and
harbors bill because of the “pork” it
contained.
Whether the rule was more harm
ful than beneficial it is hard to say. It
is admittedly undemocratic in a sense
and, as the president says, the major
ity in the face of a well conducted fil{
buster was helpless. It also may b<*
argued with authority that it is an
odd rule that prevents a deliberative
body from closing debate except by
unanimous consent. Not only a ma
jority helpless but ninety-five sena
<ors are throttled so long as the nine
ty-sixth who conducted a filibuster
was able to talk.
Incidentally opposition to such ob
structive tactics was not of partisan
origin. Mr. Hughes denounced the
filibuster in the recent campaign as
being most mischievous and undemo
cratic. And yet probably Mr. Hughes
would not say that the minority
should be deprived of a reasonable
advantage. The better remedy woul l
have been to leave the question of clo
sing the debate to a two-fhirds or a
three-fourths vote of the entire sen
ate.
STEAM HEAT NEWLY EURNISHED
SEATTLE HOTEL
MRS. K. MlLIj, Propr.
VALDEZ ALASKA
THE DEADLY TYPEWRITER.
THE great Spring drive planned
last fall by the Entente Allies. ha«
arrived. All along the New York bat
tlefront the enemy is being slaugh
tered in countless thousands. The
battery of typewriters deployed on
the enemy have made great gaps in
their ranks. Daring deeds are done'
Countless towns taken! Vast armies
! march and countermarch and are
! blown into oblivion by the doughty
typewriters in New York's newspa
per offices and still the dreadful
slaughter goes on and on. RiV'**,s
.are reddened with blood, the shrieks
] of the wounded and the groans of the
I dying arise over the click-click of the
! machine. Superhuman deeds are
:done! Battleships are sunk hy suhma
I rines. and submarines go to the hot
I tom from deadly gunfire by armeti
merchantmen! The carnage is fright
ful. Kings abdicate! Monarchs cow
er before their subjects’ appeal for
bread. Stopping only long enough
to swipe a drink of stale beer from a
cracked pitcher the pitiless typist pur
sues the foe into and beyond the fifth
line of trenches. Mopping his pers
piring brow he touches a match to his
his cob pipe and shoots the deadly
gas into their ranks. With one swipe
of his deadly finger he sends corpses
hurtling skyward and the air is riven
with the detonations of heavy gun
fire. The jawbone of an ass killed its
thousands in the hands of a Samson
but the deadly typewriter in the
hands of an ass has killed countless
pillions along New York’s newspaper
jrow.
EXCEED THEIR AUTHORITY. J
! . i
SO FAR as we are understand the
duties of the members of the Terri-!
torial assembly they consist of mak
ing laws for their benefit if they
know how, of the Territory of Alas
ka. This is what they were elected
for and for no other purpose. The
adopting of a resolution endorsing
the reappointment of Governor Strong
is entirely outside of their province,
and in so doing they have stept a long
ways outside of their jurisdiction.
When the people of Alaska wish the
members of the legislature to select:
their governor, surveyor general or
other official they will undoubtedly
indicate to these gentlemen their de
sire in terms unmistakable. Until
that time the legislature, as a body,
should keep their hands off, and con
fine themselves strictly to the duties
for which they were elected. They;
will have all they can do to accom
plish this. Sucli endorsement as eat
may individually give Gov. Strong
or any other official is wholly within
their rights, but when as a body they
endorse a candidate without the ex
press permission of the people of the
Territory they are going too far. Tin
people are fully competent to do
their own endorsing and the action
of the Legislature is inexcusable un
less the members take it for granted
that incompetence has been shown
in the election of the members of the
Legislature.
, m T
THE BILL introduced in the Terri
torial legislature the first of the week
to allow employes of the Legislature
a month’s wages as extra compensa
tion should not be passed. It smacks
loo strongly of petty graft to be
countenanced. If an employe of the
legislature is not satisfied with the
remuneration allowed he should :iot
take the job. There are plenty of
near-politicians who are willing to
travel to Hades and sell their souls
for $5.00 per day, without giving
them an extra $150 as a tip. At the
rate the money is flying there will be
a deficit in the Territorial treasury
equalling that of the Nation if a halt
is not called on these reckless expen
ditures.
AND while we are about it it might
be well to remove those officials in
the Second Division who are drawing
a salary from the administration and
throwing their support to the party’s
opponents. Politics are not to be con
fused with sentiment, and if a Dem
ocrat or Republican persists in flirt
ing with the opposition they should
be promptly classified and labeled as
j "doubtful.” This makes for good pol
jitics and is playing the game squarelv.
I
THE Territorial House and Senate
yesterday recommended the reap
pointment of Governor Strong. The
Governor has shown himself such a
staunch, true-blue Democrat that he
is certain to receive the endorsement
of the Territorial Democracy.
Wednesday evening service at the
Episcopal Church will be held this
evening at 8 o’clock by the Rev.
George John Zinn.
NEWS dispatches inform us thnt
the government has instituted pro
ceedings against the Steel Trust; and
, further along, in another column,
state that the government has award
ed the Steel Trust a $36,000,000
contract. Er-r-r-umph!
CANADA has placed an embargo
on the exportation of potatoes into
the United States. Australia has piac
cd an embargo upon many necessaries
including wheat. It is unneutral for
no other country to do this but the
United States.
WITH a deficit of $1,650,000,000
accumulated by the last congress it is
disturbing to think upon who is going
io pay for the music.
Il.\ V I'ROPOSKS (TtRATION
OK .A T.A.X COMMISSION
The fiist bill introduced in the Ter
ritorial Legislature was that of ('has.
AI. Day of Valdez, providing for a per
manent tax commission for the Ter
ritory. The bill, if it becomes a law,
would place all the matters of taxa
tion, assessment, and equalization in
the Territory, both within municipal
ities and outside of them, in the
hands of a board of three members.
This board for the first term would
, ''e named by the Legislature and aft
:er that one member would be elected
!every two years at the General Terri
jiorial election.
The only qualifications that the
I bill names is that the "members of
jthe commission shall be such as are
i known to possess knowledge and ex
;peiience in the subject of taxation
iand skill in matters pertaining there
to, and who shall have been residents
of Alaska for five years previous to
•.heir appointment."
The commissioners will draw a
-alary of $4,000 and would be allow
ed $3,000 a year for clerk hire.
The duties of the commission, aside
| from general supervision of the sys
jiem of assessment and taxation of the
I Territory, would include supervision
•over assessors and boards of equali
'/ation in the towns of the Territory,
iThey could confer with the assessors
and would act in an advisory capac
ity to boards of equalization. They
could conduct investigations in mat
ters that come before them, as com
plaints, applications for adjustment
of taxes, and other matters of similar
•.ature.
Investigation of the tax systems of
iolher states and territories, to the
end that Alaska may derive benefit
from the good in other plans of tax
ation in use in the United States,
would also within the scope of
i he commission's work. The tax com
imission would make recommendations
every two years to the Legislature,
i.ased upon these investigations. Pen
alties are provided in the act for vio
lation of its provisions, or for false
statements on the part of persons pos
sessing taxable property.
The bill carries with it an annual
• appropriation of $25,000 from the
Territorial treasury for the purpose
of paying the expenses of the com
1 mission.
Representative Day says that the
bill is based on the tax commission
measures now in use in Arizona, Col
! orado and Oregon. He says he will
i press its passage, both in committee
Sand on the floor of the House if it is
I reported favorably.
j WAR COSTING ENGLAND
$30,000,000 PER DAY
LONDON, March 21.—Andrew Bo
J uar Law, chancellor of the exchequer,
'in an address before the House of
'commons this morning states that the
i expense to England of carrying on
the war amounted to $30,000,000 per
day.
TRANSPORT IS SUNK BY
GERMAN SUBMARINE
BERLIN, March 21.—An armed
! transport steamer of 4494 tons with
'about 500 colonial troops, artillery
land horses on board was sunk by a
German submarine in the Mediterra
| i.ean on February 24, the admiralty
announced today. Several hundred
troops on board were lost.
A troop laden transport of about
1 5,000 tons was sunk on February 23,
! it was also announced.
NORTHWEST BASEBALL
SEASON OPENS APRIL 24
I
i SPOKANE, March 21.— Directors
iof the Northwestern Baseball league
; who met here Saturday to consider
■ the 1917 playing schedule, the salary
limit and adoption of a new consti
tution, resumed their deliberations
last night. The directors voted to
open the season Tuesday, April 24,
and close Sunday, September 9. This
was the only action, taken last night,
although the board remained in ses
sion working out the details of th"
schedule.
Announcement was made that Rube
Gardner, formerly first baseman of
the Oakland team of the Pacific coast
League had been signed by the Seat
tle club.
Spring is here, today being the first
! of the season.
Good Moderate
Goods Phone 12 Price,
ATTEND
l
The “Pure Food” Show at the Moose
Hall to-day and this evening and
Visit Our Booth.
“HOLLYHURST”
PRIZE CONTEST
Secure a ticket at our booth and mark on it your guess of the
Number Of “Hollyhurst” Eggs In The Baskets.
FIRST PRIZE 10 Doz. Eggs.
SECOND PRIZE 5 Doz. Eggs.
THIRD PRIZE 3 Doz. Eggs.
Sample the S. & W. Fruits on display.
S. BLUM & CO., Inc.
GOOD GOODS
VALDEZ HOSPITAL
5 A finely equipped institution
S for the care and treatment of
5 cases of every character. SUU1
5 ed nurses in attendance.
Private Rooms,
c Terms Reasonable.
jj Jss. A. Silverman Pb. G. M. D.
c Proprietor.
? Boyle Block Valdez
NEW ENGLAND SWEPT
BY A SNOW STOKM
BOSTON. March 21.—New Eng
land was in the grasp of one of the
most severe snow storms ot the win
ter today. With the exception of the
southeast coast, where rain was gen
eral, the storm raged fiercely during
the early hours, with a stiff north
easter blowing. Many points reported
more than a foot of snow, the storm
being especially severe in Maine.
Six inches of snow had fallen in
Boston at 8 o'clock this morning and
it continued as the day advanced.
Gentleman Burglar Jailed
CHICAGO, March 21.—Adam Pro
chowski, called the “gentleman bur
glar,” pleaded guilty in court today
of robbing a number of millionaires'
homes in fashionable Lakeshore
Drive. There were four indictments
against Prochowski. The sentence in
each case is from five to twenty-five
years in the penitentiary, to run con
currently or separately, as may be
desired by the state.
Spitzenberg and Yellow Newton
Apples at Keystone Produce Co. 3t
Hot drinks are in full swing at the!
Candy Kitchen. ^
CRESCENT
IS SURE
BECAUSE
IT
RAISES
(f
THE
BUU6H
ALWAYS
HOLD BY GROCERS
25c lb. Can.
CRESCENT MFC. CO.,
Seattle, Wash.
LOUIE S CAFE
Open Day and Night McKinley Street, Below Cable Office
Fresh Bread, Pies, Cakes,
All Kinds of Pastry for Sale.
EVERYTHING THE BEST ANDY MAROVICII. Propr.
Candy Kitchen
E. W. HUNT—In Owl Drag Store.
FOUNTAIN DRINKS
HOT— -COLD
WE PAY
28 cents j>er pound for Popper
18 cents per pound for Brass
8c lb. for Rubber Shoes.
7c lb. for Lead.
$20.00 jier ton for cast Iron.
$15 per ton Wrought Iron.
5c pei- lb. for Rope.
:i c |>er pound for Rags.
$20.00 per ton for Paper.
27c per doz. Beer Bottles, qts.
17c doz. Beer Bottles, pints.
F. O. B. SEATTLE.
ATLAS JUNK CO.
1043 Railroad Avenue, So.
SEATTLE, WASH.
VALDEZ CAFE & BAKERY
Cake*, Cookie* ft Boa*, 15c per detea.
French, Rye and White Bread 12 1*2
cent* per loaf. Order* taken for tpecial
occaiion*.
BERGSTROM ft ROGSTAD. Prop*.
PHONE 17 - TItm J**rt blow Owl Dn*
. - - - « ■ * - » w rn ^ ^ ^ ^ »
When In Seward Stop at the
COLEMAN HOUSE
GEORGE SEXTON.P*OP
SlRICTLV FIRST CLASS
Fourth Avo, Seward. Alaska
Arctic Hotel
Is for the present closed.
Watch for the 0|<ening An
nouncement.
PHONE 133 KRS. STRING, Pr.p
Just received, a new line or Toilet
Waters and Perfumes. Owl Drug Co
Furnished rooms at Mrs Osland’s.
Prices reasonable. •
Rev. G J. Zinn returned on the Ad
miral Farragut from a short visit to
Seward.
I'ROFKSSIONA 1. CARDS.
DR. S. WICKES MERRITT
Offices over Valdes Drug t o.
Plioue ’16 McKinley Street
Contract Surgeon, U. S. Army
A. A. Surgeon, U S. Public Health Serv
(Marine Hospital)
JOS. A. SILVERMAN, PH. 6. M. D.
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON
Over Owl Drug Co.
—OFFICE HOURS:
1 to 4 P. M. 7 to 8 P. M
Sunday by Appointment.
Res. Phone 176 Office Phone 11*
DR. H. COCKERILLE
Gndiale Kafloul Valtertlt;
WaaUaftaa, D. C.
DENTIST
Fourteen Vann in Valdez.
PHONE 110
Office Rooms in Whaling Building
DONOHOE & DIMOND
ATTORNEY S-AT-LA W
Ullrr Opuaaltf Court House
Phone 34 VAI.DK/. ALASKA
JOHN LTONS « IT RITCHIB
LYONS & RITCHIE
»TTOKNEV#-»T-LA»
Oflicra Id » kalUic Bulltllnn
Phone 101 VAI.11ICZ. ALASKA
ROBERT SIMPSON Opt. D.
. JUNEAl1, AliASKA
(ilAssOi Kitted l/ensew tirouiid
VALDEZ LODGE
NO 168
Free ud Accepted Nuoat
Regular Communications tlrst Wed
uesday in ©ach month in McKInla^
Hall Visitors always welcome. I
F. K BROWN, W. M. *
KD WOOD. Secretary.
Valdez Miners Union No. 188]
Western Federation of Miners
W. H. GARNER. President.
Granite Mian
GUST KR1NG. Secretary
Valdai Alaska.