fort: “There was a hearing on the bill yesterday be
fore the House Committee on Territories, and Mr.
Smith of the Alaska Railroad and his secretary Mr.
Barndollar, were present to advocate the measure.
Mr. Smith did not have anything to say on the sub
ject and in fact expressed himself as having no par
ticular interest in the bill, but Mr. Barndollar present
ed a plea for the enactment of this legislation, say
ing that he did so at the request of Governor Parks,
and that he was acting in the capacity of ATTORNEY
FOR THE GOVERNOR.
“I opposed this bill as strongly as I could. It la
possible that the bill will be reported out, as Chairman
CURRY seems determined that it shall be.
“This is the most arrogant move that the Bureaus
in Alaska have yet made. It means, in effect, that when
the courts declare the practice of these bureaucrats
to be illegal, they immediately appeal to Congress for
a repeal of that portion of the Organic Act of the Ter
ritory that restricts them in their efforts to control
the Territorial Government.
“I hope that this move on the part of the Alaska
Bureaus together with some of their other actions, may
bring this question to a head and that there may bu
some demonstration on the part of Alaskans that will
call the attention of ihe entire country to what the peo
ple of Alaska are up against.”
THE CONTROLLER BILL DEFINED
vVhat Is It
We learn that many people in the Second Divisclon
do not know what is meant by the “Controller Bill.”
We will attempt to make this clear.
The Controller Bill is nothing more nor less than
a Home Rule Bill. It is called “Controller Bill” be
cause one of the officers created is called the “Controii
er” due to the fact that the word “secretary” has been
preempted by the Federal official of the same name.
The political situation in Alaska is this—Our en
tire government is being administered by federal offi
cials who owe their appointment to outsiders. The
Controller or Home Rule Bill aims to RECAPTURE
those powers which have been surrendered by past
Legislatures to the federal officials.
Among others the following duties would revert
to OUR OWN ELECTED OFFICIALS RESPONSIBLE
ONLY TO THE PEOPLE OF ALASKA; management
of the Pioneer's Home; the Pension laws for aged men
and women; destitute widows and orphans; Road
building; management of the ai—College; tax col
lecting; Treasurer’s office; examining and governing
boards of all kinds; historical museum; a liberated
attorney general; a liberated department of education;
and many others.
The slogan is “LET US GOVERN OURSELVES.'’
POISON
“The people are not interested in who are the
public servants that actually do the work that adminis
tration of government necessitates so long as the
work is honestly and efficiently performed in the man
ner they want it done.”—Juneau Empire, March 2G,
1927.
By this argument, the Empire might be satisfied
with a KING.
O’MALLEY SOUNDS WARNING
“The Bureau of Fisheries has long been convinc
ed that there should be a reduction in the Alaska sal
mon pack” so says O’Malley.
And yet, this same Bureau has not made a single
serious move to curtail the catch except to close the
fishing grounds of the resident fisherman.
The so-called curtailment of fish traps is fast be
coming a ridiculous joke.
TROLLING VESSELS OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION
This is an association of the State of Washington.
They are supporting the Washington law that keeps
Alaskan and other trollers out of Washington until
they shall have “resided” there for twelve months.
“THE GOOD NEWS”
“A larger fleet than usual left Astoria for Alaska
about the first of the month, consisting of the larger
boats of the Columbia River, most of which will re
turn early in the summer to work along the Oregon
coa3t.”—Pacific Fisherman.
The Regular Republican Ticket will endeavor to
place such a high tax on these migratory birds who
make it hard for our own resident fishermen to earn a
living and yet are protected in their own country.
These men are CHARLES BENJAMIN for Senator.
P. C. McCORMACK, for Representative.
A. L. OLTS, for Representative.
William L. Paul, for Representative.
GROVER C. WINN, for Representative.
FORESTRY DEPARTMENT AND ALASKANS
The Forestry Bureau was criticised for entering
Into contracts with George T. Cameron, publisher of