a precedent for the passage, of
legislation of this' kind in the
future?1
Mr. SUTHERLAND. I do not
think so. I think the remarks
of the gentleman from New
York (Mr LaGuardia) and the
gentleman from Mississippi (Mr.
Rankin) this morning on this
measure will have an influence
to prevent a continuation of this
thing in the future. And I be
lieve the warning contained in
the bill ought to be sufficient for
that.
Mr. RANKIN. The gentleman
from Alaska knows, and I think
he will admit that the people of
the Territory of Alaska have not
had any better friend in this
House than I am. I have done
everything I could to try to give
them a greater measure of con
trol over their local affairs, hut
if thev are going to indorse le
gislation of this kind and at
temnt, to turn the Territorv hn<-k
to the United States. I would
like to know what enconmo-e
ment it will be to those of us
who have been trving to help
them to continue their battles
in the future.
Mr. SUTHERLAND. The point
is very well taken. At this time
I want to express my apprecia
tion of the help of the gentle
man from Mississippi (Mr. Ran
kin), which he has alwavs given
me in the Committee on Terri
tories in anv measure that seem
ed beneficial to the Territory of
Alaska. and that would extend
local self-government further,
and I say the same of the gen
tleman from New York (Mr. La
Guardia). Ever since he has
been here he has alwavs im
ported every progressive. meas
ure for the Territory that ever
came nn on the floor of tvm
House. I do not know that T
want to be in the position of
apologizing for the passage of a
bill' of this kind. Nevertheless
I appreciate the wav he feels
about it. He rendered yeoman
service in the defeat of that oth
er vicious bill, and. now feels
that we are attempting to acom
piisli almost tire same thing in
this measure. I do not take
that view of it.
Mr. ARENTZ. How many de
partments and bureaus, and so
forth, are operating in Alaska in
the government of that Terri
tory at the present time?
Mr. • SUTHERLAND. In the
administration of Territorial af
fairs?
Mr. ARENTZ. Yes.
Mr. SUTHERLAND. It is pret
ay difficult for me to say.
Mr ARENTZ. How many ac
tivhies in administration are bc
ing done by the people of Alaska
themselves?
M”. SUTHERLAND. Virtually
none.
Mr. AEENTZ. Now. it seems
to me that pride alone, pride of
men who have been there since
the gold rush of 1898, would be
a sufficient motive to cause them
to run their own country and to
no everything they possibly
could to eliminate the various
bureaus and administrations
thet are running every solitary
affair that is run in Alaska.
Mr. SUTHERLAND. The gen
tleman is right. I want to say
for the men who were in the gold
mch of 1898. they are the men
who are opposed to this, but the
advent of the bureaus have come
a great many people of the
States who are new to the Ter
ritory and are unacquainted,
and they are in many cases em
ployed bv the bureaus, while
others come under the bureau
influence, and many are guided
somewhat by a reactionary press
that is committed to the policies
of the bureaus and the exploit
ing interests. I do not want
Members of this House to under
stand that the majority of. the
neonle of the Territorv ave in fa
vor of present conditions; in
fact, a large majority would be
just the other way.
Mr. IRWIN. I understand the
gentleman is against- tins kind
of legislation, but he does hon
estly believe this man has earn
ed it and ought to be paid.
Mr. SUTHERLAND. Yes, sir.
Mr. IRWIN. And the gentle
man has given this matter con
siderable consideration, and the
gentleman desires this to be a
warning to the officials of the
Territory?
Mr. SUTHERLAND. Yes, sir.
The SPEAKER, pro tempore.
The time of the gentleman has
expired.
Mr. DOWELL. I yield the
gentleman five additional min
utes.
Mr. SUTHERLAND. I hope
this will be a warning to the
officials of the bureaus of the
Territory, that if they expect to
get more money out of the Ter
ritorial treasury illegally they
will get no relief whatsoever if
they are enjoined in court, and
I am sure they will be.
Mr. MORTON D. HULL. Will
the gentleman yield for a ques
tion?
Mr. SUTHERLAND. I will.
Mr. MORTON D. HULL. These
Federal officials who are getting
salaries from the Territorial Le
gislature are performing some
regular duties, are they not, for
the Territory?
Mr. SUTHERLAND. Yes.
Mr. MORTON D. HULL. They
are not engaged in Federal dut
ies?
Mr. SUTHERLAND. Yes, sir;
they have rendered service for
the money received.
Mr. MORTON D. HULL. That
is the question; I do not know
what the duties are, but why
cannot they be permitted to per
form both duties? If they are
doing work legally, why should
they not be paid for it?
Mr. SUTHERLAND. Of course,
they are doing it illegally.
Mr. SCHAFER. Will the gen
tleman yield?
Mr. SUTHERLAND. I will.