Oldest Newspaper in Alaska.___ Member ot I in* M>< f*_L\* ss
DEVOTED TO THE BUILDING OF A BETTER NOME AND THE SECOND DIVISION,
NOME IS THE ST..,GIC WORLD FLIGHT AIR BASE—ESPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AVIATION_
THE NOME DAILY NUGGET
VOL. 37. No. 179 NOME. ALASKA, Wednesday, JULY 29 1936 Per Copy 15cU
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HEARINGS ENDED, COMMITTEE DEPARTED
—
HEARING COMPLETED
LAST NIGHT ON THE j
SUBJECT REINDEER
Senator Elmer Thomas, chair
man of the special sub-committ
ee Indian Affairs committee of
the U. S. Senate stated for pub
lication yesterday afternoon that
the manner in which they were
gathering information and data
concerning conditions among the
Eskimos, Indians and natives of
Alaska, would preclude any at
tempt to render to Congress or
to the Senate Committee any
formal report prepared from their
findings, when questioned as to
what form the record would be
introduced in foT filing.
He stated, however, that all
hearings would be printed in
their entirity. Senator Thomas
declared the purpose of the in
quiry into the conditions of Al
aska was to assemble first-hand
information on the natives of
the Territory which would be av
ailable for reference and speedy
checking when possible legislation
in congress was introduced. He
explained that this type of in
quiry was not intended for detail
ed investigation into any speci
fic subject or charges, but rath
er to assemble a file of general
information and knowledge on
all things affecting the native
population of Alaska.
Afternoon Session
Witnesses appeared Tuesday af
ternoon included District Attor
ney Hugh O’Neil, Miss Dorothy
Russel. Mrs. Andy Nylen, G. R
Jackson, Chief of the King Is
land Eskimos, E. B. “Duffy” O’
Connor, Thos. D. Jensen, Char
lotte B. Potter.
The inquiry touched on law
enforcement as it affects the Eski
mos, the detrimental affects of
liquor, being conceded by all who
took the stand, and all of whom
were enthusiastic in- proposing
that some means of preventing
the natives from obtaining liq
uor should be instituted by the
Federal government.
Education of the natives, care
of orphan children and the pro
per handling of the natives when
assembled in groups where tub
ercular trouble runs rampant,
were discussed and testified to,
by every witness.
G. R. Jackson, president of the
Northwestern Alaska Chamber
of Commerce submitted a type
written program of the chamber
affecting not only the native pop
ulation, its industries and con
tions, but also the general re
sources of the country, and the
means where-by they could be
developed. It was made a part of
the record.
With Norman Lee acting as in
terpreter, the Chief of the King
Islanders presented some state
ments concerning his tribe of
Eskimos, which summarized con
tained appeals to the federal gov
ernment for aid in providing a
suitable landing place on King
Island, a larger school house, and
a nurse and equipment whereby j
the population could be admini
stered to when sick.
Duffy O’Connor dwelt for some
time on the demoralized condi
tions of the natives, their lack
of interest, the general disgrunt
led attitude in which they found
; themselves, alleging they had
been reduced to these conditions
through the interference of ruth
less white men and their stand
ards of living. He asked that bet
ter medicinal attention be sup
plied, reestablishment of indus
trial schools in the Second Divi
son, and several other means of
I
improving the general health
and living conditions of the na
1 tive population.
j Thos. D. Jensen said he thought
j it was wonderful what the gov
j ernment had already accomplish
ed for the natives and hop? '*
that beneficial results of present
plans inaugurated by the federal
j agencies, would bring about a
happier, better satisfied and an
economically freed native popu
i lation.
Mrs. Charlotte Potter stressed
the importance of providing suit
able health supervision, believ
ing that a careful check main
j tained by trained specialists
| would do much to elevate the
| general health conditions among
j the Eskimos.
The afternoon session here re
| cessed to reconvene again at 3
P. M. for the purpose of inquir
ing deeply into the reindeer sit
uation.
Packed House City Hall Heard
Charges and Complaints Made
In Reindeer Situation Here
In opening the night session
Chairman Thomas explained the
purpose of the hearing to many
who had not attended earlier
hearings. He introduced several
documents, for what they were
worth, into the record, and ex
plained that the committee was
not a legislative body but did
have much to do in shaping legis
lation, declaring they had often
had recourse to Delegate Dim
ond’s knowledge and information
and had found him always en
ergetic and mindful of the best
interests of Alaska which he re
presented. Senator Thomas also
declared that Alaska was for
the first time really receiving
some intelligent consideration and
that this was one of the ways
in which the true facts of the
Territory could be gained.
He opened the hearing on the
reindeer question and the foll
owing witnesses were heard:
Bob Ooomak, Duffy O’Connor,
Norman Lee, James Brandon,
Roger Menalook, all representing
(Continued on Page Two)
Explosion Cun
Turret Killed
Two Seamen
Accident Occurred on Light
Cruiser off S. California
(By The Associated Press)
SAN DIEGO, July 29, — Two
sailors were killed and nine in
jured when a broadside of six
inch guns was fired aboard the
U. S. S. Marblehead, light cruis
ers, at sea off southern California,
during gunnery practice.
The dead are Percy William Co
fer boatswains mate second class
Leo Steve Mordana seaman sec
ond class.
Injuries were received by Jam
es Edwin. Benedict Jr., seaman
second class, causing the ampu
tation of the right arm of he and
Robert William Opie seaman fir
st class They were the most ser
iously injured. The dead and in
jured were brought here today
and an inquiry will be held.
The breech-block explosion on
board the light cruiser Marble
head which turned the gun hous
ing into a blazing crypt killing
'wo seaman and injuring nine
others, is under naval investiga
tion late today.
The accident occurred off the
coast of Southern California dur
ing practice.
It was understood that during
a broadside a six inch gun breech
.block blew out ripping the rifle
tubing. The heavy explosive
charge enveloped the gun crew
while steel fragments ripped in
to the housing.
There was no panic present, it
was reported.
James Benedict Jr., his right
arm horribly mangled, cooly ask
ed for a cigarette and refused
medical aid as he leaned against
the powder blackened gun turr
et. while around him lay the
bodies of his injured shipmates,
some groaning and crying in ag
ony.
Sixteen Men
Are Feared
Be Drowned
(By The Associated Press)
CHICAGO, July 29, — Sixteen
men were feared drowned when
the motor-power ship “Material
Service” caipsized in the rough
waters of Lake Michigan, four
miles off the south side.
Seven members of the crew
were rescued but Captain C. D.
Brown and fifteen others are
listed as missing by the Coast
Guard.
The first account of the trag
edy to the ship was given by
First Mate John Johnson, one of
the seven saved.
He said the vessel, loaded with
sand, listed suddenly to port as
it nosed through the heavy seas,
sometime between two and three
A. M., lurched crazily upside
down and then sank swiftly.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF
NOME PRESENTED NATIVE &
WHITE NEEDS TO COMMITTEE
Following is a transcript of the
N. W. Alaska Chamber of Com
merce manuscript introduced into
the records of the Investigating
Committee on Indian Affairs,
which held hearings yesterday in
Nome.
In addition to listing many
things which deal directly with
the Eskimo and native popula
tions, it also includes a general
statement concerning urgent re
quirements for this section of A1
a.ska, in order to bring about the
much desired development nec
essary for the profitable advance
ment and prosperity of northwest
ern Alaska.
SANITATION
The most urgent need of the
Eskimos of the Second Division
of Alaska, is proper medical at
tention and treatment, and the
establishment of hospitals for the
care and treatment of those af
flicted with tuberculosis and oth
i er communicable diseases.
Nome is the commercial and
aviation center of Seward Pen
insula and has an Eskimo popu
lation of upwards of 600 which is
continually increasing because of
market, lower living costs and
opportunities for wmrk.
A large and commodious hospi
tal should be established atNome
and should be manned by a com
petent staff of doctors and nurses
Medical authorities who have
investigated state that a large
majority of the Eskimo popula
tion of this section is tubercular;
unless immediate action is taken
by the Federal Government to
combat the disease, the Eskimos
are doomed.
SCHOOLS
The ultimate object of educa
tion should be to improve a peo
ple mentally, instruct them in the
art of living, and make it possible
for them to better their economic
condition.
The native people of North
western Alaska are Eskimo, and
educational efforts should be di
rected with the object of making
better Eskimo of them rather
than 'poor white men.
In addition to primary schools
there should be again established
an Industrial School in which
are included such subjects as car
pentry, elementary mechanics,
the tanning of skins for commer
cial use, animal husbandry and
sewing, including sewing of fur
clothing and of boots.
The curriculum adopted in the
schools for native people in Al
aska parallels too closely that es
tablished for schools in the Un
ited States proper, resulting in an
impractical training for the stu
dent.
REINDEER INDUSTRY
The Reindeer Industry ranks
second to mining in commercial
importance to the Second Judic
ial Division of Alaska, and first
in importance to the Eskimo pop
ulation. This industry should
have greater Federal aid in both
appropriations and supervision;
being a live stock industry, it
should be supervised by men
trained in animal husbandry. Un
der such administration the in
dustry would develop and make
of the Eskimos a self-supporting
people.
The allied industries are:
Fresh meat for human consump
tion.
Canned meat for human con
sumption.
Meat for canned dog food.
A local tanning industry.
Fawn skins for fur clothing
and cold weather fur suits for
army and other pilots.
Sleeping bags for local and
commercial use.
A controversy has existed in
this industry for some years and
(has been detrimental to the best
| interests of the Eskimos and oth
er reindeer owners. A solutior
! this seiious problem should b<
found and the industry allowec
| to progress and develop.
| One constructive development
j which is not a controversial mat
'ter, would be the elimination ol
| the white reindeer owners by
j some equitable methods, leaving
it a purely Eskimo industry for
| the furture protection of the Es
kimo race.
THE LIQUOR PROBLEM
The sale of liquor to Eskimos
should be prohibited.
For many years the aboriginal
people of Alaska were protect
ed by strict and severe laws, and
it was a most unusual sight to see
an intoxicated native on the
streets of the towns. Congress
, finally made it a felony to give
| liquor to a native, and because of
| the severity of the penalties the
law was nullified due to refusal
of juries to convict.
With the designation of the na
tive people as citizens of the Un
ited States, followed by the re
peal of the 18th Amendment, all
protection for these people was
broken down.
Today a large percentage of the
natives of this section spend
their earnings for liquor, result
ing in destitution for their famil
es and increase of crime. Unless
protective measures shortly ad
opted, this condition will result
in the practical destruction of
the race.
HOME FOR DELINQUENT ES
KIMO CHILDREN
The Eskimo people have less
resistance to disease than the
white race, and easily contract
communicable diseases when ex
posed.
Delinquent Eskimo children are
now sent to correctional institu
tions in the States; this, because
of climate changes, is often a
death sentence.
A home for delinquent native
Crowds Ov errun
Senate, House In
Harrisburg, Pa,
—
'By The Associated Press)
HARRISBURG. Pa., July 29, —
A shrieking crowd of jobless
men and women scrambled into
the House and Senate galleries,
, today, bent on the same legisla
ture picketing which delayed the
adjournment of the senate two
hours earlier.
"We want a hundred million
dollars for relief, and we're here
to get it’, they shouted.
"We won’t let our kids starve”,
women called down on the as
sembled senators, in a wild dem
onstration, including the hurling
of pieces of wood from the gall
eries.
Tlie crowd blocked the senate,
angc ed by the legislature's fail
ure to restore the canned food
orders stopped by the lack of
funds a week ago.
The crowd ripped boards from
food crates and banged on the
gallery rails, stamp d their feet,
land howled and booed every sen
i ate move. It was estimated there
, were two thouoand persons in
the crowd.
peoples should be established at
some suitable location in Alaska.
BUREAU REPRESENTATION
AT NOME
During the past several years
I the tendency has been to central
ize Federal Offices of the Terri
I tory of Alaska at Juneau, discon
tinuing Divisional Superinten
dents of Schools, withdrawing
! Disbursing Officers, etc., thereby
losing in efficiency and personal
i contact with local problems.
1 This should be corrected.
REVETMENT
The City of Nome is built close
, to and parallel to the beach of
Bering Sea. It is endangered dur
ing heavy southerly weather by
the water of the Sea during the
summer months and by ice dur
; ing the winter.
A revetment should be con
structed along the shore of Ber
ing Sea extending from the
Snake River on the west for a
distance of 3,000 feet to the oil
i
docks to the east. The cost of
this construction would approxi
mate $30.00 per foot or a total of
$90,000.
The construction work would
prevent beach erosion and act
as a protection to the Federal
Building soon to be constructed
las well as to all buildings along
the beach.
We desire to point out that the
purpose of building close to the
sea is to secure drainage, cellar
storage and water for fire pro
tection; these can not be secured
otherwise because of the frozen
sub-soil of the tundra.
We urge that the building of
| a revetment be made a Federal
1 project.
ROADS
We request that a more equal
distribution of Federal Road
(Continued on Page Three)