posed to fair treatment of the
Natives of Alaska.
This bill was introduced by
William L. Paul against the
advice of his friends who de
clared that this act would mean
his political funeral. The act
merely sought to strike out the
word “white” from the act
already on the books.
Up to that time, the law for
the relief of destitute widows
and orphans extended its pro
tection only to “white” moth
ers and orphans. Many cases
had come to the attention of
former governors of Alaska
where Indian widows and or
phans were virtually facing
starvation. Their pitiable re
quests for relief on exactly the
same terms as other destitute
mothers were always met with
the answer “The law unfortu
nately is such that I cannot give
you any help. I am sorry.*'
And yet no governor has had
the courage to ask the legis
lature to correct this unjust
and unconstitutional law.
Ihe bill as referred to the
Judiciary Committee presided
over by the Hon. Jos. Murray
of McCarthy and was reported
unanimously that it “do not
pass.” When it reached the
house, Mr. Paul informed the
House that the law as it stood,
because of the discrimination
contained therein, was plainly
unconstitutional. He also sub
mitted the opinion of the At
torney General, John Rustgard,
who said in unmistaking terms
that it was unconstitutional.
Mr. Paul in his speech in sup
port of his bill said that the
Natives had long known that
this was true but had refused
to attack the law in the courts
because this would bring hard
ship on widows and orphans
who are not responsible for the
fault in the law. And that now
the legislature was being given
a chance to correct the law and
protect these innocent people.
After Mr. Paul had made his
speech, Joseph Murray asked
that the bill be recommitted.
He said that he and every oth
er lawyer had long known that
the present law was unconsti
tutional, and that if there was
any chance that the law might
be attacked, he thought the
law should be corrected. How
ever, he said, he and other
legislators had hoped that the
law would not be called in
question, which of course was
not to be.
The bill again came upon the
floor of the House, and upon
motion of Thomas Jenson of
Nome, it was provided that the
aid provided should not extend
ed to any “native Indian chil
dren of the Territory who are
provided for by the Depart
ment of the Interior out of the
funds of the Treasury of the
United States.”
I his provision merely ex
cluded from the law any per
son who was already receiving
help from the United States.
The motion was seconded by
Jos. Murray.
The bill came up for final
vote on April 23rd and passed
by the vote of 15 to 1, the
contrary vote being Mr. Elliot
of Nome.
House Bill Number 37
This bill was merely to re
turn to the Deep Sea Salmon
Company an overpayment of
taxes. The bill passed unan
imously.
Electric Laundry
Phone 156
GENERAL LAUNDRY
WORK
All Work Guaranteed
F. H. Bold, Prop.
House Bill Number 38
This bill was for an Act to
provide for oral notice of ap
peal from a judgment of con
viction in a criminal action in
a Justice Court. It was intro
duced by William L. Paul. It
provides that an oral notice
of appeal is sufficient when
given in the presence of the
United States Attorney or his
assistant or the private prose
cutor, after which the appellant
must file his appeal bond and
cost bond within thirty days.
The bill passed unanimously
vv v v *!*♦!♦ v !•*!"!*•!* *1* *1* ^ •!* ♦ J* *!• *!* %* •!* *$• *•*
i
V
f
V
*
?
JUNEAU MARBLE WORKS
A. F. Knight, Prop.
Juneau, Alaska.
Monuments,
Cemetery Work
Fancy Fences, Etc
❖
f
4*
4*
4*
❖
❖
❖
❖
❖
❖
❖
❖
❖
f
T
❖
±
t
❖
❖
W. M. McCALL, AGENT
P. O. Box A-13
Ketchikan Alaska
I
❖
❖
❖
❖
4»
t
t
❖
❖
i
■ *1* v vv v v v v v v v *1* v* ❖ '>*1* •i* v
FOREST J. HUNT
KODAKS, BOOK STORE AND NEWSSTAND
DEVELOPING AND PRINTING PROMPTLY AND
PROPERLY DONE
Mail orders carefully executed.
ALBERT REINERT
Ketchikan, Alaska
Ladies’ and Gents’ Furnishings, Dry Goods, Boots and Shoes