most everywhere in Alaska) the vast sums made in
Alaska are sent outside and are not reinvested in
Alaska. Wealth is being depleted. If this continued
indefinitely, in the end of time, there would be nothing
in Alaska but a hole in the ground where the Ken
necott used to be. Perhaps then, we can get some
money from the tourists who will come to see tho
great curiosity, a hole which has produced over $100,
000,000 with tax payment of $1,000,000—Thanks to
Ben Grier, Sumner Smith, Joe Murray, Ralph Lomen
and Tom Gaffney, “Friends of Labor.”
EQUITABLE TAXATION
“Mr. Sutherland mentioned one packer who, ho
said, “in 1925 and 1926 paid $90,000 into the terri
torial treasury on his salmon pack, and lost $134,000
in operating his canneries in those two years. Do
you think that is equitable taxation?”—Pacific Fish
erman.
August Busclimann and Elfendorf refused to accept
a proposition to take a reduction of 2$ per case in
the basic tax in return for their support to raise the
tax on the Kennecott Copper Co. to a fair rate. The
Kenneeott paid $68,000 in taxes on a NET INCOME
of over $4,500,000 in 1926.
Attorney Robertson, representing both the cannery
men who were asking for lower taxes and the Alaska
Steamship Company (owned by the Kennecott people!
was asked the direct question by Mr. Sutherland re
ferring to the tax paid by the cannery that had lost
$134,000 and the tax paid by the Kennecott Copper
Company, “Is it fair?” Robertson REFUSED to
answer even tho pressed.
TAILS I WIN, HEADS YOU LOSE
In Alaska, the Cannerymen support the trap system
because they say that it is the most efficient, least
expensive and is a labor saving device in contrast
with the purse seines. ,
In Washington, the Cannerymen want the purse
-mine restricted because it is too efficient. They are
usking that the same restrictions in force in Alaska
be adopted in Washington, but they oppose any re
strictions on the fish trap. ,
We expect to hear that Senator John W. Dunn and
Harry Pratt and that the CANNERY REPRESENTA
TIVES in the House are supporting the down-trodden
cannerymen in Washington.
DENNIS WINN TRAVELS IN STYLE
‘“Dennis Winn, Alaska agent of the Bureau of Fish
heries, left Portland, Ore., May 5, on the ALASKA
PORTLAND PACKERS’ ASSOCIATION steamer ‘North
King, for liis annual trip to Bristol Bay, where he
will supervise law enforcement work and improvement
anj observation of the spawning beds, as well as the
construction of the new weir in the Kvichak and re
storation of that in the Ugashik.—Pacific Fisherman.
We congratulate Mr. Winn on being able to get to
Bristol Bay on the Association steamer for his an
nual trip in the interest of law enforcement.
We remember that Congressman Free of California
made a similar trip under very much the same con
ditions, at NO COST to the government. The As
sociation is very kind.
THE RECORD ON LABOR
“An industrial insurance bill, which would have
been an appreciable burden to the fishing industry,
was killed in the House.”Pacific Fisherman.
This bill was defeated by the leadership of Thomas
Gaffney of Nome. This man voted against every bill
to improve labor conditions. His speech just before
voting usually was this; “In principle, this bill is fine.
I believe in it because it seeks to improve labor con
ditions BUT the time is not right and so I will have
to vote against the bill.”
A curious record for a man who had been the
President of the Western Federation of Miners in
Nome.
POCKET VETOES
Why did Governor George Parks vetoe Senate Bill
number 24, entitled, “A bill for an act to provide
that proceedings in the nature of quo warranto be
instituted in the name of the Territory by the Attor
ney General of the Territory or by the United States
District Attorney?”
Did he foresee the fact that Judge Reed .would
hold that Karl Thiele was performing the territorial
duties assigned his office illegally, and that he was sub
ject to a proceeding to remove him from office?
Now, it is only the District Attorney who can act.
Will he?
“FULL TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT”
The Juneau Empire still advocates “Full territorial
government” and rants at the “limitations of the Or
ganic Act.” Why talk about more power when we
have not begun to use what we have?
The Federal Government runs our Pioneers’ Home,
appoints our Treasurer, and Secretary, and hamstrings
our Attorney General, runs our banking board and all
other boards, and in short does practically every
thing for us.
Why talk about “Full Territorial Government?”