fewatfiilaHt) Mental)
OF SEWARD, ALASKA — Established August 19, 1904
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
MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ALASftAN HOME RULE
As pointed out by this paper in previous issues, the
bill before the Legislature designed to create a Board of
Control appears merely to be a matter of transferring
from the Governor the power of naming the assistants re
quired as aides in the administration of his office’ i. e.,
clerks, etc., these to be named by the Board of Control.
In making such a change, there should be advanced
some plausible reason." The only reason which is vouch
safed in the Steel bill is a desire to have these clerks, trus
tees, etc., named by the Board of Control. Nothing is said
as to either economy or competency.
Agreeing with the Gateway in its position with re
pect to the Controller bill, the Juneau Empire, which is
well informed on Territorial political history’ makes the
following comment:
“There is not a single argument that has not been made before pre
sented by Judge Wickersham in his pamphlet in support of the proposed
Comptroller bill, a measure that does not differ in principle or general pur
pose or terms from those Comptroller bills that have been defeated by the
last two or three Legislatures. He labels it a movement toward gov
ernment in the| Territory by the people of Alaska rather than by Federal
bureaus, and surrounds it by quotations from different authorities in favor
of a full Territorial form of government for Alaska, but that does not
mean a thing. It would not add an iota to the powers of the people of
Alaska. It would not take an iota from the authority of Federal bureaus
in Alaska. As has been explained many times in the Empire and other
Alaska papers and on the floor of each of the chambers of the Legislature,
its only possible effect would be to change the personnel of some of the
public servants.
The Legislature of Alaska cannot lift itself by pulling its bootstraps.
It cannot make itself mightier than its creator—the Organic Act. It
cannot enlarge the foundation on which it was built.
The Legislature cannot take away any of the powers of the Gov
ernor—whom Congress has made chief executive of the Territory, and who
is made a part of the law-making authority through the provisions which
make it his business to make recommendations to the Legislature and
gives him authority to approve or veto legislation.
The only possible result of such a measure as the proposed Comp
troller bill would be to change the appointing power for some public
servants who do the work that the Legislature requires them and in the
manner the Legislature indicates.
Therefore, the whole thing, resolves itself into a question of patron
age—a question of selecting the personnel of a few ministerial servants
who constitute a part of the public payroll. . . .
All those concerned in the Comptroller bill are aware
of the facts as presented by the Gateway and Empire. In
view of this fact it is natural that inquiry should be made
into the incentive and influences behind the movement. It
certainly cannot be a desire, as is claimed’ to give to the
Territory a greater measure of home rule. There is noth
ing mentioned as to economy or improvement in service
rendered. Therefore, it appears to be a desire for power.
If one desired power, all he need do is to get him
self elected to the Comptroller Board’ where this dom
ination would progress until it controlled the board. The
people of the Territory or the Legislature would be pow
erless save when the latter body, in its sessions every oth
er year curbed or designated the powers of the . board.
If the Legislature was actuated by a desire to apportion
the patronage, and profit personally thereby, it would de
cline to curtail, but rather increase the autocratic powers
of the board. This has been done before in many States.
Take the road construction department of the Board
of Control as an illustration. If a member of the Legisla
ture who was a civil engineer could show the board his
political power, what would prevent him securing the post
of chief engineer of the road organization. And what
would prevent other members of the Legislature securing
fat jobs as supervisors, etc? Or what would prevent these
ramifications of a compact political autocracy stultifying
themselves with the power to control an army of road
labor, and get themselves or their friends elected to the
Legislature? And finally, consider the power this and
other similar ramifications of the autocracy on the higher
office of Delegate to Congress.
The Comptroller measure goes on the defensive at
its inception, and whether it passes or not, will remain on
the defensive until someone can convince a skeptical pub
lic that there is not an Ethopian in the woodpile.
As pointed out by the Empire, the proper way to se
cure greater Territorial powers is not through the pass
age of such laws, but through a revision of the Organic
Act by Congress. In the present instance it is like swap
ping a Scylla for a Charibdis.
G. SGHMIH ILL ENTER
PROVIDENCE HOSPITAL
George Schmitt, proprieter of the
Seward Bakery, who recently under
went an operation in the Anchorage
hospital and who since has been con
velescing in Dr. Baughman’s hospital,
lef.t for Seattle yesterday on the S.
S. Alaska where he will enter the
Providence hospital. Mrs. L. W.
Monk, professional nurse, accompan
ied him. Mrs. Schmitt is remaining
in Sewrard for the present.
PUNS DEVELOPING NEW
STRIKE MADE IN AUGUST
“Moose Johnson, original discover
er of the rich quartz around the
Chulitna district and who was a brief
visitor in the city while en route to
the Interior, stated .to the Gateway
that George Moshier, Harry Wertz
and himself, planned to do considera
ble work on the new strike made by
them last August. The strike, which
lays near the Moose mining Com
pany ground, has been named the
Sudbury Group.
HAWLEY STERLING GOES
TO JUNEAU TO CONSULT
Hawley W. Sterling, superintendent
of the Alaska Road Commission,
.passed through Seward yesterday en
route to Juneau where he goes to
attend a conference of superintendents
with Colonel J. G. Steese with respect
to the summer’s program of road
building. Among others who will be
in attendance are M. C. Edmonds of
Anchorage, R. J. Sheppard of Chitina
and T. H. Huddleston of Valdez Jack
Coates, master mechanic, stationed at
Anchorage, will also be in attendance
Mr. Sterling declined to discuss the
proposed separation of Territorial
road construction from the Alaska
Road Commission, leaving such mat
ters 4to his superior, Colonel Steese.
However, he pointed out that there
would be much new construction in
the Third division this year and con
siderable activity of maintenance
crews. There is available $1,000,000
for road purposes to be expended by
the Alaska Road Commission.
Mias Rose Christ, waitress at the
Seward Grill for several months
past, departed for Ketchikan yester
day.
E. G. Wetzler, postal inspector of
this district, was a departing passen
ger on the S. S. Alaska on his way
to Seattle.
ALASKA MATANUSKA COAL
MINE SUSPENDS WORK
Reports from Anchorage say the
Alaska Matanuska Coal company
(Howard-Jesson mine) has suspend
ed operations and .the entire crew has
ben laid off. Incidental with the an
nouncement comes word that the Evan
Jones mine has resumed on a 10,000
ton contract for the Alaska Railroad^
The period of suspension of the
Alaska Matanuska mine and Its cause
is not stated.
FOR SALE—Bundles of old papers,
25c per bundle; Gateway office.
Picture Framing. Schallerer’s Alas
ka Shop.
Come and try our ice
cream sandwiches. The
newest of ice cream delica
cies. Candy Cottage
i
LIBERTY
THEATER
8 O’CLOCK — ONE SHOW — 8 O’CLOCK
NORMA TALMADGE
EUGENE O'BRIEN
in
An absorbing pic- l * ■ 1 J
,he p«. (iraustark
GEORGE BARR M’CUTCHEON
The author—the Story—the Stars make a
combination you can’t afford to miss as
they are always good
And there’s a two-reel comedy
HER BOY FRIEND
99
ft
And an interesting Pathe News
OVERLAND GRILL
Next to the Overland Hotel
Open Day and Night
' Private Boxes
Gabriel Santos Proprietor and Chef
>
4
Better Groceries
yyy'E ONLY handle Groceries that are
better than usual—in fact ours are the
best you can buy. Wholesome food-stuff s pro -
ductive of tasty, enjoyable meals—that's
what you get here: Low prices are our usual
ones.
Seward Trading Co.
Inc.
Telephone Main 135 for Quality Goods
i
John Foreman, blacksmith, left to
day for Anchorage. Mr. Foreman
arrived in Seward Saturday on the S.
S. Alaska. For the last few months
he has been taking a long rest at
the Tenakee Hot Springs, in South
eastern Alaska, where .the healing
powers of the springs worked mar
vels with him.
The halibut schooner Polaris, Capt.
Ness, arrived in port yesterday from
the fishing banks for -the purpose of
overhauling engines.
Incense and Incense Burners. Schal
lerer's Alaska Shop.
John Colen, mining man from
Ophir, who spent the winter in New
York, passed through the city today *
on his way to his mining property.
Mrs. C. Lynn and daughter, who
arrived in Seward from Seattle on
•the S. S. Alaska, departed today for
Fairbanks, their home. They spent
the greater portion of the winter in
the States.
S. T. Pinkam, postal inspector, was
among those leaving for Cordova
yesterday on the S. S. Alaska.
Seattle Tee Cream at Schallerer’a
Alaska Shep. tff