fettiar&Itoiltjiatenmi)
OF SEWARD, ALASKA — Established August 19, 1904
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MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
REGULATION OF FISHERIES
In his report and recommendations to the Legislature,
the Attorney General presents a case against the canning
and herring salting establishments, based upon knowledge
he says he gained in complying with Senate Joint Reso
lution No. 2. He says he found many things warranting
correction, although there was an improvement in the mat
ter of law infractions. On the basis of these findings, as
shown in the report in full, published in yesterday's Gate
way, itj is recommended that the Legislature include in its
activities is a bill designed to1 regulate contracts signed by
labor brought from the States, at the same time advising
the lawmaking body that “the Constitution of the United
States accords everybody the right to make any contract
one sees fit except such as may be against public policy.”
In seeking a way out, the Attorney General recom
mends that the ‘‘Labor Commissioner should be given au
thority to hear and decide disputes over compensation for
labor, and his decrees should be prima facie evidence that
they were correct and just.. He should also have authori
ty, in exceptional cases, to require the Attorney General to
prosecute claims for labor at public expense.”
Going further, the Attorney General recommends that
the Territory should assume the responsibility, by statute,
for the wording of any contract signed in the States and
made between employer and employe.
Both recommendations are open to criticism. The
first places the Territory in the position of usurping pow
ers now delegated to the courts—that of settling civil ac
tions between litigants, and at the same time would place
within the power of the Labor Commissioner opportunities
for great abuses, which would further involve the Territo
ry what is a purely civil matter, involving the possibility of
great expense with the final result of the statute being
declared unconstitutional.
In the absence of knowledge, and accepting the Attor
ney General's and current reports as facts, it would appear
that some of the canning interests have been guilty of ac
cording an unfair deal to their labor, a thing that often oc
curs in other lines of business. But it is a moral rather
than a legal question, as was considered when the Con
stution was written. The framers of the Constitution
had in mind the exclusion of the State from purely person
al litigation, in which no element of crime as understood
by its definition, entered in.
The question of legislating for labor has presented
many impediments, principally among which is the Consti
tutional provision. Experience has taught that whenever
the government intrudes in a labor dispute—unless it be in
a matter where public interest is jeopardized—it has found
itself impotent.
Every man engaging to labor for another has the
right to say how, when and for how much he will engage;
the employer enjoys an equal right. If a man cannot ne
gotiate a good bargain for himself, be it employer or em
ploye, there is no statnte aside from communism that can
reach the situation.
A business man never signs a paper unless he under
stands it; if he does not, he seeks advice. A laborer is as
much a business man as a merchant, for he has goods to
sell. Those who recognize this fact choose one of two al
ternatives, they either interpret contracts for themselves
or organize and entrust their welfare to their fellows who
know how to drive a bargain.
If there are those who, as the Attorney General
points out, have been sufferers because they did not
understand their contracts, it would seem a better plan
for them to warn their fellows of what awaits them. The
matter is not one for legal action on the part of the Terri
tory, unless it desires to become embroiled in every labor
dispute arising, and assume the role of sustaining the
cause of one wing of society against another.
With respect to sanitation, safeguarding the fish in
dustry against employment of diseased persons, and exer
cising police powers to check the abuses complained of,
such as dope peddlers and other unlawful persons, the
recommendations of the Attorney General will meet with
approval, but there appears to be danger lurking in the
expediencies he recommends with respect to the labor
question.
A good, progressive labor union gets further along
on such questions.
T
E
THE ICE
DETAILS OF RECENT ESCAPE ON
LAKE SKILAK IS RELATED;
IN WATER TEN MINUTES
The details of the narrow escape
from death by George Nelson, one of
the best known guides and big game
hunters in the Territory, and a part
ner to Henry' Lucas, when he plung
ed through (the ice on Skilak Lake
last month, February 5, was learned
last evening for the firsit time.
In running his trap line over the
lake the ice suddenly gave away and
down he went, a 25 pound pack,
snow shoes and all. In coming up
he bumped the ice but fought his
way clear and then the struggle be
gan to get back to solid ice. For
ten minutes-the thermometer had
registered seveh below zero that
morning-Mr. Nelson fought through
the slush ice for at least a distance
of 20 feet, it is stated, before he was
able to get on ice strong enough to
bear his weight. While in the water
his fingers became numb from the
intense cold and contact with the
ice and it was only by the use of
his forearms was he able to get out.
During the struggle he loosened the
pack which weight alone was enough
water it had absorbed, was enough
to pull a man down. Lt was impossi
ble .to discard the snow-shoes, how
ever, and there was many times
when Mr. Nelson feared he would
become entangled in them.
It just happened, it is said, that
in his pack he had about the bes.t of
everything he possessed including a
high priced camera and extra good
clothing. An ax and an automatic
revolver also went to the bottom.
After crawling on his stomach for
a distance of about 50 yards he rose
from the ice and headed for a tem
porary camp located a mile and one
half from the lake. It was with
great difficulty that he finally reach
ed it. Skin peeled from his face,
hands and body and even at this late
day, a month after the accident, his
finger tips are still far from normal.
It was the narrowest escape that
he ever went through and for that
reason he -seriously contemplated go
ing on to Moose Pass station today
and hiking down Quartz Creek to the
lower landing, Kenai Lake, in order
eo escape the propability of the lake
ice being in poor shape for traveling
over.
Mr. Lucas, who .has been in town
with Mr. Nelson the past week, also
departed today.
It is said that two-thirds of the
inhabitants of Canada live in their
own homes.
FOR SALE—Bundles of old papers,
25c per bundle; Gateway office.
Seattle Tee Cream at Schallerer*s
Alaska Shop. tf
Soda pop in all flavors for
the kiddies. Ten cents a bot
tle. Candy Cottage.
CITY EXPRESS
Agent for
The American Express Co.
Sample Room in Connection
Baggage Stored
Connection made with all steamers,
trains and hotels.
“We never sleep” Phone JWain 122
Harold Painter, Prop.
Successor to Billy Patterson
■ ■ ii !•,;
LIBERTY
THEATER
8 O’CLOCK — ONE SHOW 8 O’CLOCK
ROD LA ROQUE AND JACQUELINE LOGAN
in
“Code of the Sea”
A Roaring Action Tale of the Sea
An Ocean Melodrama Full of Thrills
A great story of family cowardice and its final
Overthrow
SOMETHING GOOD
And there will be another 2-reel Our Gang Comedy
‘CIRCUS FEVER'
And a Reel of Jokes
m
Harbingers
of Spring
A Riot of Gay Colors
at
THE BLUE SHOP
A Complete Line of
GROCERIES
Fresh Vegetable Received
Each Week.
PHONE MAIN 34
P. C. M’MULLEN
Prompt Deliveries
ALASKA’S BEST AND MOST POPULAR
CAFE
Merchant’s Lunch served from 11:30 to 1:30 p. m.
50c Plate
BANQUET ROOM AND PRIVATE BOXES
SEWARD CRILL
MEL HOLBEN, Proprietor
ANNOUNCING THE OPENING OF
Yago’s Hand Laundry
also
CLEANING AND PRESSING DONE
TONY YAGO
Proprietor
On Second Avenue ' Phone Now Being Installed