feet is contrary to the funda
mental principles of the limited
power conferred upon the Terri
torial assembly. For instance, it
is not believed that the assembly
has the power to impeach and
remove from office any officer
whose appointment is vested in
the governor. And some of the
authority to be conferred upon
the attorney general would seem
to be inconsistent with the ex
ercise of executive power by the
governor. It is proposed that
the attorney general may bring
suit to test the validity of any
law, proclamation, or regulation,
either to restrain or impel the
enforcement t h e r e of, which
seems to contemplate that he
may bring the governor or oth
er officers into court to compel
or restrain the enforcement of
any law, and that he may at
tack any proclamation or regu
lation issued by the governor.
This presents an opportunity
for unwholesome strife in the
executive department and is in
effect a transfer of paramount
authority lodged in the govern
or in the performance of execu
tive duties. As to the executive
head the governor is supposed to
speak the final word for that de
partment in respect to adminis
trative matters under his con
trol, subject to the supervisory
power of the Secretary of the
Interior.
While there are probably oth
er objectionable features in the
proposed bill, it is believed that
the above observations show
sufficient reasons for the exer
cise of the veto power by the
governor if such a measure
should be passed by the assem
bly, and, if finally passed over
the veto, then for disapproval
thereof by Congress under the
power reserved by section 20 of
the act of August 24, 1912, su
pra.
Respectfully,
E. O. PATTERSON, Solicitor.
Approved February 13, 1929.
E. C. FINNEY.
First Assitant Secretary .
DEPT. OF THE INTERIOR
Washington, February 21,1929
Copy for the information of
Hon. Dan A. Sutherland, Dele
gate from Alaska Washington,
D. C.
JOHN H. EDWARDS,
Assistant Secretary,
I have already inserted the
views of those in Alaska who be
lieve in as complete self govern
ment for the Territory as the
organic act permits, as express
ed in Senate Memorial No. 1.
I now insert the expression of
the views of those who obstruct
the advancement of the Terri
tory toward independent self
government and who laud the
governor, despite the fact that
he autocratically tried to im
pair the liberties ,■ granted to the
people of Alaska > by Congress
and to perpetuate bureaucratic
domination over Territorial af
fairs.
The loyalistic views of gov
ernment are expressed in House
Memorial No. 2.
In the House,
and 10 copies to the Hon. Dan A.
Sutherland, Delegate to Con
press from Alaska, for distribu
tion among the heads of the de
partments of the Government.
Passed by the house of repre
sentatives. May 2. 1929.
R C. ROTHENRURG,
Speaker of the House,
Attest: LAWRENCE KERR,
Clerk of the House.
4the public expense have passed
beyond the bounds of truth and
of decency; we commend him
because he is a gentleman. Be
It Further
Resolved, That a copy of this
resolution be sent to the Presi
dent a copy to the United States
Senate, a copy to the United
States House of Representatives,
ness to obtain political jobs a
V
men who have in their eager
impartiality; we commend him
for the labor he has taken to
acquaint himself with the needs
of the various regions of Alas
ka, and for the thoughtful con
sideration he has tiven to the
many problems which confront
him; we commend him for his
scrupulous care in confining his
activities to the proper perform
ance of his own duties, and in
never invading the field of ac
tion reserved for the Alaska
Territorial Legislature by the
provisions of the organic act of
Alaska; we commend him for
his good temper and sanity
when he has been (and that
lately) vilified and traduced by
Legislatuia of the Territory of
Alaska
House Resolution Z (By Messrs
Fester and Longien).
Be It Resolved by * the House
of Representatives of the Alas
ka Territorial Legislature in
ninth regular session assembled,
That we commend, without re
servation, the Hon. George A.
Parks, Governor of Alaska, as a
true and loyal Alaskan, an hon
orable and upright man, and an
excellent administrator, of
whom Alaskans may well be
proud. We commend Governor
Parks for the marked ability
with which he has performed
the duties of his office; we com
mend him for his fairness and
STATEMENT ON LEGISLATIVE
ACTION
acting on the principle of ma
jority rule even tho their ma
jority was contrary to the one in
the House of which you were a
part. I rerognize that real sub
stantial progress toward self
government has been accom
plished for which I suppose the
“concensus of opinion” must be
given credit.
Very truly yours,
WILLIAM L. PAUL