now the industry is lip in arms and does not want
the bill to pass.
The administration of the fishery laws and
regulations of Canada has shown a real desire to
save the sockeye salmon to the industry. Only
seines and gill nets may be used in Canada while
the regulations in and under the direction of the
American Government has been discriminatory in
Alaska waters to the detriment of resident gill
netters and seiners. Passage of this treaty would
place the American industry under laws similar
to that governing Canada which would check im
mediately the promiscuous canning and waste of
this food fish. The industry would be built up
again and more men in both countries would be
employed producing a wealth that would build up
Alaska and the northern sections of Canada.
To prevent passage of the treaty would be anal
ogous to check in a game of chess and to pass
the treaty would be a checkmate which would
force the salmon Barons of California and Wash
ington to start a new game under new rules
whereby honest conservation of the salmon would
be a real effort and not idle gestures to befool
Congress and the citizens of both countries.
x
NOME WANTS ROAD MONEY OF LEGISLATURE
-x
“Money for roads and trails is what the Se
cond Division wants of the next Alaska Legisla
ture, declares George Hellerich, Republican of
Nome, who at the recent election was chosen re
presentative to the Territorial lawmaking body.
Included in the Second Division’s delegation will
fce Alfred Lomen, Republican, whose present lead
of 10 votes for senator over J. H. Anderson will
not be overcome in the 30 votes still unreported
from Lower Yukon River precincts, according
to Mr. Hellerich.”
Along with appropriations for roads and
trails the Lomen Division will want also a subsidy
for the Lomen Transportation Company.
It has been held that a subsidy for traspor
tation for the First Division would not be legal.
We cannot understand how a subsidy for trans
portation service in the First Division could be
illegal and yet be legal in the Second Division.
Even if it is for the Lomen Corporation which
sends its members to the legislature we cannot
see how an illegal subsidy can be continued.
-v
A NEW MEANING FOR “ELATED”
:-X
When the first returns of the recent election
began to come in at Ketchikan, George Grigsby
felt so happy at his apparent success that he went
on a big drunk. Others of his political and social
friends joined him in this. On account of his
condition, the United States District Court had to
postpone a criminal case in which Grigsby was
the attorney, the court’s theory undoubtedly being
that the client at least was not at fault.
And yet, hundreds of decent people voted for
this man who has no regard for the laws of the
country or home.
-x
GEORGE ATTENDED THE A. N. B. CONVENTION
x
To show his friendliness for some of his sup
porters in the Alaska Native Brotherhood, George
Grigsby presented himself at one of their dances—
but he made sure that none of his white friends
were there as he got there close on to two o’clock
in the morning. His respects to the convention was
not appreciated by the sober-minded and decent
members of the organization for George was con
siderably “elated” over the recent election as he
still believed he had a chance to win.
-x
NON-RESIDENT FISHERMAN TAX NO GOOD
SAYS COURT
x
According to the United States Circuit Court
of Appeals, which heard the case of a non-resident
troller versus the Territory, the prohibitive tax on
non-resident fishermen is illegal. For several
years the electorate of the First Division has de
manded that the Territory enact legislation which
would eliminate the non-resident competition
which yearly migrated into the Territory taking
much and spending little while here. Men from
States whose laws discriminate against Alaskans
by declaring that only residents of twelve months
or more may operate as fishermen in waters
wherein their jurisdiction held sway. Finally such
a law was passed in Alaska. Senator Benjamin
presented the bill and met some opposition from
the democratic and federal brigade. Later Repre
sentative Ziegler, when he found no opposition in
certain quarters, raised the ante $250 and so the
law was passed. While in the legislature William
L. Paul did more to create favorable sentiment for
passage of such a law than any other person in
the legislature.
Attorney General John Rustgard is carrying
the case up to the Supreme Court of the United
States on an appeal. In event this Court decides
adversely, what will the “fish experts” and “arm
chair scientists” do about eliminating the com
petition of the migratory fishermen who come
only to destroy and not to build up the Territory.
We will probably have a suggestion or two to
offer at a later date—after the political generals
of the Demy-Reps have shot their bolt and played