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OF SEWARD, ALASKA — Established August 19, 19(14
Published daily except Sunday by
THE GATEWAY PUBLISHING COMPANY
Entered in the postoffice at Seward, Alaska as
second-class mail matter.
H. V. HOBEN and E, F. JESSEN, Proprietors
E F. Jessen, Editor and Manager
C. J. Lincke, Associate Ed:tor
’ MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE
If President Coolidge and his Cabinet should issue an
order that, due to the fact that prices charged for the ne
cessities of life by the merchants of Washington, D. C.,
were higher than could be charged by the Federal govern
ment, were it in the grocery business, and introduce the
government commissary his administration would last no
longer than it would take to count the votes in the next
election.
Yet this is what the Secretary of the Interior does in
Alaska and yet no one has asked his impeachment, nor
will they ask it. One of the reasons for not doing so, is
that no attention would be paid to such a request.
Price fixing by the government is an expediency of
war, and isthe outgrowth of possession of competent evi
dence that profiteering is in progress and that the con
suming masses are being unfairly dealth with. Even
then, it must be shown that there is no relief such as be-L
ing able to obtain necessities of life from an independent' -
source, or a combination in restraint of trade, all such!
ters being fully covered by statutes therein provided. !j
Such things as goernmental competition with pri-'«
vate business is a radical departure from common usages,
and contrary to business precedents in the nation. j<
When The Alaska Railroad was under construction
it was necessary to provide for the army of workmen af
ter the manner of providing for an army in the field. This
was done by providing a supply base from which the es-!
sentials of life and labor could be secured.
There were no mercantile institutions established inr
the construction zone capable of handling this volume of
business, unless it was done through contract or engage
ment dealing with the entire range of necessities.
When construction was finished, it was anticipated,
that the government considered its supply base as an ex
pedient born of the necessity of the hour and would be
discontinued. i
It has not, and will not, according to the statement of
the chief of The Alaska Railroad Bureau
From time to time hearings have been held by mer
chants and commercial bodies seeking to elimination of
the government from competition in the grocery, meat
and clothing business. Surveys of current prices for the
necessities of life have been made by succeeding railroad
managements, with the published verdict that the prices
charged by local mercantile institutions were not exces
sive.
When the townsites along The Alaska Railroad were
put on the market, among the influences used to persuade
the public to purchase them and set up business was that
as soon as the railroad was completed, the government
vToulc! withdraw from competition with those engaged in
the mercantile business.
As a result of this promise, large sums were invested 1
in buildings and stocks assembled that were capable of 1
supplying every need. But still the government remains 1
in the mercantile business.
One of the arguments advanced by the railroad ad- j
ministration is that the grocery and meat shop are ne-P
cessary as a matter of economy to the employes. Read- !
ing between the lines, this means that it is a part of the 1
wage scale. Then why not dispense with such matters (
as readjustment of the pay of other employes of the gov-v<
ernment and instead of making advances equal to what 1
is received in cheap groceries, establish the national But-!1
tter and Egg Bureau, the Corned Beef and Cabbage Bu-I
reau, etc. Surely here is one way to answer the Farm 1
Bloc agitation for farm relief. By such a method, so fine ‘
an example of which is being presented in The Alaska
Railroad, such measures as the McNary-Haughen bill
may be relegated to the limbd of forgotten expedients and,
the government solve the entire matter overnight merely
by eliminating all middlemen and establishing a few more j
thousand governmental sinecures in the form of garden1
sass dispensers. Instead of the great grain and livestock
markets of the country we could have one immense in- ■
stitution in Washington where all distribution would be 1
carried on through a distinct and separate bureau. ji
The situation with respect to The Alaska Railroad!1
involves a principle of government. It is a matter of ]
whether citizens shall be permitted to engage in competi- 1
tion among themselves or whether it is within the intent!
of our national institutions to adopt sovietism at any.!
point where there is not a voting strength to combat it. 1
CITY OFFICES I S
ADJOURNED MEETING OF CITY
COUNCIL HELD LAST EVEN
ING
)
!
An adjourned meeting of the City
Council was held last evening for the |
purpose of continuing the matter of
compensation for city offices, appoint
ment of a school tax collector, and
the discussion of other business.
Mrs. M. B. Malloy was appointed
school tax collector.
The bid of Mr. Ulshagen, of the
Bank of Seward, being the only one
received in answer to a call for bids
in auditing the books of the city, was
accepted.
It was reported the School Board
had been organized with Wayne Blue
as chairman, A. H. L. Meyer as treas
urer and Mrs. Malloy as clerk.
With regards to the annual “Clean
up Week,” it was decided to put this
into effect about the middle of May,
at a time when it was thought all
snow and ice would be gone. .
Declaring a state of emergency ex
isted, Councilman Orlander introduced
an ordinance relating to compensation
to be paid officers of the city for the
term ending in 1928. The ordinance,
which was j;ead< is practically the
same as has beej^ in effect during the
past! few years.
Upon coming to a vote, five council
men voted in the affirmative, Council
man Thoday voting nay.
Speaking from an economic stand
point, Mayor Ray stated the sum of
$3,600 for clerical offices was entirely
too large an overhead for a munici
pality the size of, Seward, therefore, in
line with the session laws of Alaska,
in which certain powers are vested in
mayors of the cities of the Territory,
vetoed the action of the Council. This
action was taken, he said, owing to
two communications which he had re
ceived, but had neglected to bring to
>
the Council meeting. One was an ap
plication from H, F. Morton for the
appointment of municipal clerk, as
sessor and city attorney, at a monthly
salary of $125. The second communi
cation was from Dr. Baughman, health
officer, in which he said he was willing
to accept $25 a month instead of $50,
which has been the past salary, in
view of the proposed local improve
ments which may take place shortly—
Lowell creek, etc. The Mayor pointed
out a saving of $1,800 a year to the
city could be effected providing the
Council saw fit to act. {
The Mayor said he would commit j
in writing his views on the subject, |
as a matter of record, and present !
same at the next meeting, which was S
later decided to be held next Monday i
evening, Apfil 25, at 8 o’clock. At ■
a
this meeting the ordinance, introduced ■
by Councilman Orlander, will again j
be acted upon. g
Prior to the meeting a caucus was i
held at which time the councilmen dis- !
sussed various city business matters. ■
GREENVILLE, S. C., April 20. (JP) K
—Earl Carroll, theatrical producer
who was stricken while en route to I
prison to serve for perjury is rapidly I
recovering from nervous breakdown, a
He now recognizes friends and Doe- 1
tors say he will get well. p
Seward Fish Co. Adams 56. Lund
blad, Prop., Adams 19.
4
. - • • ■■
LIBERTY
THEATER
8 O’CLOCK — ONE SHOW — 8 O’CLOCK
After a long absence we have that great star
Thomas Meighan
“THE MAN WHO FOUND HIMSELF"
The Story Written by
BOOTH TARKINGTON
Especially for Meighan
A famous author, writes a play for a famous actor,
and the combination will sure please you
We need say no more about that
There will be a beautiful Pathe ’Review
AND A FABLE REEL
On Our Shelves
NEW STOCK OF OLYMPIC ASTOR DINNER
WARE
This is a beautiful pattern of very moderately priced
dishes—32 and 42-piece sets; also open stock- / \
A NICE LINE OF TABLEWARE
We can now fill all yours orders for hardware
....Our grocery department was never as complete
as a present
.Mefford’s and Long’s Alaska ranch eggs arrive
twice each week.
WE FEATURE THE FOLLOWING BRANDS:
Swift’s Premium Ham and Bacon—White Nugget
Eggs—Gold Nugget Butter—S. and W. Canned
Goods—Hills Bros.’ Coffee—Carnation Milk.
Seward Trading Co.
Inc.
For courteous service phone Main 135, day or night.
SEWARD WATER &
POWER COMPANY
SEWARD, ALASKA
“Good Water a Necessity in Every Home”
John Nelson, Mgr. Wayne Blue, Agent
Office, Arcade Building. Phone Main 17
Builders’ Supplies
OVERLAND GRILL
Nt > the Overland. Hotel
Open Day and Night
Private Boxes
Gabriel Santos Proprietor and Chef
i