INDIAN POLICE CLAIMS
TO BE PAID
William L- Paul, as attorney for
the claimants, has been notified
that claims of certain Indian police
men of Sitka for services rendered
the government during 1887 as
Territorial police have been allow
ed, and that their heirs will re
ceive payment as soon as the us
ual procedure in such cases can be
complied with.
This case has a rather inter
esting history as brought out be
fore the Committee on Claims of
Congress. The claim arose during
the time when the government of
Alaska was 'being transferred from
the Treasury Department, which
had the control from 1877 until
1884, by the establishment of civil
government. It was the policy of
the naval officers in charge to main
tain orderly conditions at Sitka the
capital, by appointing Indians to
act as policemen- These men were
carried on the payroll of the Navy
as common seamen and received
pay as such.
When naval control m Aiasxa
ceased upon the establishment of
civil government these Indian
policemen were continued in their
positions by Gov. Kincaid and were
paid from certain special appropri
ations in his hands. The record
shows that when Governor Swine
ford assumed control, the pay of
these policemen was six months in
arrears; and it became another six
months in arrears under him since
there was no direct authorization
by Congress to pay them. Under
date of July 1, 1887, provision was
made by Congress for the employ
ment of Indian police at the rate
of $8.00 a month for privates and
$10.00 a month for officers; but
in the meantime the men had
served well and faithfully for a
year without pay. In a statement
made by the Governor dated May
24, 1888, he urged that action for
the benefit of these men, of whom
there were six, be taken by Con
gress.
Nothing was accomplished suc
cessfully to that {end howjever,
until the papers were put in the
hands of Mr. Paul by Mary Anna
hootz, the widow of Annahootz,
the chief of the policemen. The
others were known as James Henry,
Dick, Jacob, Tom, and Kattian. The
total unpaid claim amounted to
$1,560. Delegate Sutherland intro
duced a bill providing for the
payment of this sum. The bill suf
fered the usual delays incident to
such a small matter, but was finally
passed in the closing days of the
last session. As far as is known,
these policemen are all dead now,
the most of them are survived by
aged widows to whom the money
will be many times welcome for
the long delay. In addition their
faith in the word of the United
States government will be vindi
cated.
CAMPAIGN PROGRESS
There was a meeting of the
“better element” in Ketchikan when
the Hon. Tom Marquam was in
that city recently. After the usual
speeches of self-appreciation were
made, Mr. Marquam got up and
said that it was all fine enough
to hear such speeches; but the
fact of the matter is that the
laboring men and the fishermen'
were the ones who had the vote.
And that they must get the fisher
men and the laborers if they would
win the election.
As a direct result, plans were
made for an intensive campaign.
The Honorable George Grjigsby
was appointed manager of the
Ketchikan district, at a reputed
salary of $500-00 per month till
November.
The Honorable George, well
known wherever he has lived as
being a fine fellow, hale and well
met, with some good habits and
others not so, is taking his job
seriously. He is now making a
house to house canvass, and fol
lows this line (we now relate
a real conversation but withhold
the names of all but George’s).
(The first time George has made
a “social call” at this house.)
George;—“How-dy—doo. I’m glad
to see you. What is your name and
how long have you lived here? Do
you live here alone?”
Citizen; “Yes. Yes. Wait a min
ute.”
George; “Did you vote in the
last election and if so for whom?
Arc you going to vote in the next
election and for whom?”
Citizen; “Yes.”
George; “You know we have to
beat Sutherland, and so I hope
you will vote for Mr. Marquam.
But more important even than that,
we have got to beat Paul- You know
he has got even the Eskimoes or*
ganized.”
Citizen; “Yes.”
George; “Weil cant you promise
me that you will vote for Marquam
and against Paul?”
Citizen; “Mr. Grigsby, that is
none of your business. And as for
Tom Marquam, he and his wife
are well known.”
George; “Goo-ood bye.”
But the Honorable George is at
least thorough. He went among
the men who work for the city.
He spoke to one and got the ans
wer any free and independent citi
zen would give a hired solicitor
for Marquam;
“None of your d--n business who
I vote for.”
Perhaps our readers will allow us
to say that Mr. Grigsby, lawyer
and now campaign manager, will
make a very fine solicitor for Mr.
| Tom Marquam. Some have been
n unkind enough to say that he will
make votes for Sutherland and
the regular Republican ticket of
the first division. Perhaps ho will
for there is no telling how citizens
will take this prying into their
affairs.
FISH COMMISSIONER
TOURING TERRITORY
Commissioner Henry O’Malley
accompanied by Congressman M.
W. Shreve and his son Lyman,
have been traveling through the
Territory during July. Mir. Shreve
is the chairman of the sub com
mittee that has charge of Alaska
Fisheries. The party traveled
through southeastern Alaska jpn
the new Fisheries boat Brjant.
After their arrival at Seward, they
plan to leave on the Government
railroad for Fairbanks and then
follow the Richardson Highway out.
Col. Steese of the Alaska Road
Commission has placed an auto
mobile at their disposal for that
purpose. Congressman Shreve plans
to be back in Washington, D. C.
by the early part of August.