walls of the fish traps during the
weekly closed seasons. The law on
the subject is not altogether definite,
and betrays a lack of practical
knowledge on the part of those who
drew it up.” In spite of the howl
which shook the earth and was evi
dently the forerunner of the Santa
Barbara earthquake, this ruling of
law remained unchanged. Cannery
men have now largely conformed to
the letter of the law. The Bureau
of Fisheries has submitted to the
authority of Congress, the fishing
industry is going on its way with
out hinderance, and again we find
loudly proclaimed fears of cannery
men and trapmen to be entirely un
founded.
Let the public bear in mind that
the opposition of these cannerymen
to their well considered reforms,
such as the abolishment of the fish
trap, is equally unfounded.
ROBERT E. SHELDON OF
FAIRBANKS
In the debate in the last Legis
lature on fisheries Mr. Sheldon, Rep
resentative from the Fourth Divi
sion, made a speech, a part of which
was substantially as follows: “When
the snow ceases to fall upon the
mountain tops and when the snow
ceases to melt under the warming
rays o ! the sun in the Tanana Valley
then the fish will cease to swim in
the Pacific Ocean bordering the
shores of Alaska.”
And thus Mr. Sheldon exhibits the
supreme ignorance of a man who
lives hundreds of miles from the
fishing districts of Alaska.
At this time E. B. Demming, presi
dent of the Pacific American Fish
eries, declared that the pack of red
salmon this year will be the smallest
in the history of Alaska, and will
not exceed 450,000 cases. The normal
pack is about 1,800.000 cases.
Bobbie Sheldon (known as B. S.
for short) is only a million cases
otf his guess this time.
Office of Commissioner of Education
Expenditures for Printing
Biennium ended March 31, 1925.
Letterheads .$ 36.50
Examination questions . 35.00
Certificates . 11.00
Circulars of information. 44.75
Educational directories . 09.75
Teachers’ application blanks 18.00
Reprints from Courses of
study . 151.00
Biennial report . 420.00
"Alaska School Bulletin. 673.35
Total .$1,459.35
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NOW FOR THE ALASKA FISH
ERMAN.
MISSOURI ADOPTS WORK
MEN’S COMPENSATION
ACT
By its approval, on April 30, 1925,
of an act passed by the Legislature
of Missouri, that State again joins
the ranks of those in which work
men’s compensation supersedes the
employers’ liability laws. This is
the third time that the Legislature
has taken such action, acts of 1919
and 1921 having been rejected by
referendum votes.
The history of attempted legisla
tion in this State is a long one, the
Governor having appointed a com
mission in 1910, followed by another
in 1911 under a resolution of the
State senate, and a third provided
for by the Legisuature of 1913. Va
rious bills and drafts were presented
by these commissions, as well as by
voluntary commissions of later for
mation, and the lines for and against
any legislation of this type and
against specific provisions of law
have been closely drawn. One of
the points at issue was the adoption
of an exclusive State insurance sys
tem, while the amounts to be al
lowed as compensation benefits have
also been the subject of wide dif
ferences between employers and the
workmen. The damage-suit lawyers
have been able to take advantage
of the situation, with the result
above indicated. It is reported that
the latter group is again proposing
to undertake a referendum against
the act, but it is also stated that
organized labor is better disposed
to the idea of accepting the present
law, so that the prospect of its es
tablishment is said to be more fa
vorable than in the past.
The time for filing a referendum
petition continues 90 days after the
adjournment of the session (April
9, 1925), so that the outcome can
not be decided until after the ex
piration of that time. If the move
ment succeeds, the operation of the
act will be suspended until voted
upon at the general election in No
vember, 1926; otherwise, under the
terms of the act it becomes effec
tive September 1, 1925.
In comparison with other laws in
this .field the act ranks among the
more liberal, the percentage of wages
allowed as a compensation basis be
ing 66 2-3 and the maximum weekly
benefit .$20, with practically unlimit
ed medical and surgical aid.
The act is in the more usual form
of an elective .statute, election being
presumed as regards employers of
more than 10 persons. That the
tendency toward variations in the
different States is unending is evi
denced by the introduction of a new
feature in this law, classifying em
ployers of more than 10 as “major
employers” and of those with 10 or
less as “minor employers.” As to
H. P. Pedersen
CLEANING AND PRESSING
All Work Guaranteed
City Float, Newtown
Ketchikan
CANADIAN FISH & COLD STORAGE
COMPANY, Ltd.
PRINCE RUPERT, B. C., CANADA
offer to the fishermen of Alaska the means of obtaining
highest prices for their halibut and salmon.
We have recently reconstructed our ice plant and
now produce only hard transparent ice which preserves
the fish one hundred per cen*.
ALBERT REINERT
Ketchikan, Alaska
Ladies’ and Gents’ Furnishings, Dry Goods, Boots and Shoe9
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For Supplies of
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Consult
METLAKATLA COMMERCIAL CO.