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Published Daily except Sunday
**r Nome Mine Worker*' Union. No. *40. Western Federation of Miner*.
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“To secure to each laborer the whole product of his lAber, of Mi
nearly- as possible, Is a worthy object of any good gdTofninenC*,~“
aoraham Lincoln
Address all Communications to Dally Nome Industrial Worker,
Box BIO Nome, Alaska. Phene. Black 114
-All changes la standing advertisements mas* reach this oflics at six
o'clock edch evening to Insure Insertion in the tollewtag Issue.
Advertising rates made known on awfldatlon.
entered as second class matter March 1. 1911, at the post office at
Nome, - Alasxa, under the Act of March S, 1879.
Nome, Alaska, February 33, 10HI.
The proposal to deprive the Al
aska legislature of the right to tax
the Fisheries of Alaska is a direct
suggestion embodied in the report
of Secretary Redficld of the Depart
ment of Commerce, as follows: —
“On April 29, 1915, the legisla
ture of Alaska passed an act impos
ing additional license fees on cer-.
tan kinds of business, including
fisheries, salteries, fish traps and gill,
nets. It at once became apparent
that if the Legislature of Alaska
exercises this power the result “M;
double taxation on persons engage*,
in such kind's of business, and.
further a dual control would exlst(
between the department of com*
Aerce ahd the legislature of AlabkV
dVer at least a branch of such kinds
of business. The latter condition is
the one that primarily concerns the
department of commerce. The con
trol of the fisheries of Alaska Is liy>
law placed in that department,
which is responsible not only for
their preservation but also for the’r
growth and development. Clearly, ii
the Territory of Alaska has a joint
control over the whole or any por
tion of such fisheries, the plans oi
the department of commerce for
their growth and development may
meet with serious interference au-1
the result may be most harmful to
the industry. If, for example, the
Legislature of Alaska may Impose
license fees and taxes to an extent
that might seriously impair the In
dustry by making it unprofitable, the
department of commerce, charged
with the responsibility of caring for
this industry, would be practically
helpless.
“Not even the responsibility of
ruch a situation, much less the si
tuation itself, should be allowed to
exist. As long as congress sees tit
to continue the control of the Al
aska flsherior in the departmon: of
commerce, that control shoiul be ex
clusive. It Is respecIvtly suggested
that Congress should either repeal
the proviso contained in section :*
of the act of August 24, 1912. which
authorizes the legislature of Al
aska to impose other and additional
to exclude fisheries and kindred oc
taxes or licenser, < o ; *: ‘ it us
to exclude fisheries end kindred oc
cupations in Alaska from its opera
tion.
Congress Would l ix Fees.
“This would leave the law as it
stood beforo the passage of the act
of August 24, 1912, and all license
lees and taxes fifr carrying on the
fisheries and kindred occupations
in Alaska would then he fixed bv
congress.
“It may be urged that section 2e
of the act of August 2 4, 19i2,
meets the situation. It reads tints:
“ ‘AH laws passed by the legisla
ture of the territory of Alaska shall
be submitted to the congress by the
president of the T’nited States, and.
if disapproved by congress, Lho>
shall be null and of no effect.’
•This provision, however, does
not meet the case, for unless, by its
terms congress actually disapproves
of the acts of the Alaska ‘Legisa
ture they are law. Applying it to
yie case under consideration, if
would meau that congress would
an, - to disapprove each and every
license tax or law that continue to
have the force and effect might be
passed by the legislature of Alaska
on the fisheries in that territory.
“There Should be no doubt on
this Important matter, which is re
spectfully commended to the atten
tion of congress. The difficulty ap
pears to arise from the possibly
doubtful interpretation of the provi
sions of section 3 of tho act of
August 24, 1912 (37 Stat., 3i2)
which establishes the territory of
Alaska.”
In quoting from that report, one
clearly sees the position of the De
partment of Commerce a| an intelli
gible one, although thfiro is also an
> bther alternative Which the Bicreta
i.ii •:> 1 i .0 i '>■
•v
ry (low not mention.
That alternative is to take the
fisheries of Alaska and place them
in exactly the same position towards
the territory as the fisheries of the
state occupy in regard to the states
As it is now, the Department of
Commerce is held responsible as the
Secretary very correctly says, for
the development of that industry
and a division of taxation necessar
ily means a divided control without
any possible share in that response
bility. Wj ft
The trouble with the matter is
not so much the alienation of right
to tax fisheries by the legislature,
but the actual' alienation of contrO.;
fit all’the ihdustrlat activities of the
canneries oft the pert of the Terri
tory. As we see it, the mat'er of
taxation is only a relatively small
mat'er. The matter of responsible
control is the vital matter.
That could be netter handled may
be by the legislature. There are
certainly good grounds for believing
that the alliance between the De
partment of Commerce and the can
nery men is altogether too close for
the real good of the territory and
for the derivation of popular bene
fit from the exploitation of this
principle resource.
It is Quite evident that what is the
concern of the Department is that
the Territory is indirectly exercising
control over the activity or theee ex
ploitative corpora'ions in the fishing
industres, and that control is regard
ed as properly and only properly
vested in the Department of Com
merce. Thera is always a bureau
cratic jealousy in matters involving
dual control when government be
comes a bureaucracy, and the tiou'i-.
le herein arises not from any anion
of the legislature, o<- any action on
the part of Congr,?. 3, but from tat
race 1I1.11 'lie resources of this ? > in
'ry arc so c mi l.’iclv dominated :y
bureaus at Washington D. C.
Secr-tary Redfleld is exceedingly
zealous for the prosperity of the in
dustry, and views with alarm any
thing that may tend to mrke that
industry possibly unprofitable. He
has no concern as to how that in
dustry is conducted with reference
to Alaska, nor tts relation to the up
keep of the" country's development
as a whole.
As far as we can gather from his
statement his concern is solely with
the prosperity of the flailing indus
try which is vested in his depart
ment and its effect upon the pros
perity of Alaska is apparently a
question outside his sphere, anu
with which bureaucratically he has
naught to do.
It is proper to observe that in all
likelihood the opposition to Red
field’s plans upon the part of legis
lative bodies in Alaska proceeds
from a similar self centered motive.
They view with alarm the possibility
of being denied a source of cons!
derable revenue, and the prosperitj
of the industry or the prosperity or
the country as affected by that in
dustry is a matter of only indirect
concern.
T^his is quite clear because of ihe
fact that the outcry is much greater
against this inhibition againot terrl
toriak taxation than it has ever eeen
manifested in regard to the prohibi
tion of territorial or legislative con
trol over the industry itseii.
We believe that the claim is cor
rect which has been made by those
connected with tho fishing industry
that a taxable effort is made agalnai
the fishing industry in ordor to save
the mining industry from similar
taxation, and in effect it ia really
when sifted down a rivalry of anta
gonlstlc interests in the field 01
capitnl.
Withal it is quite cloar also thai
the people of Alaska have been and
are able to exorcise a control ovei
the mining industry which is aboo
liitely denied them ovot the fishing
Industry/1 And «« far as thd iegfela
g o u> Nnithil t ’hi* - I ■ 1 V-,'i
tire condition goes, the evil lies in
no territorial control being exor
cised over the industry and not in
the curbing of the right to tax that
industry.
In point of fact the legislature
over the Ashing industry has no con
trol. In point of fact the Depart
ment of Commerce * has a control
that is onesidedly in favor of the
exploitors of the industry.
All the repot ts, the ablest of them
and the most questionable, have
shown that the point of view that
obtains in the Blireau of Fisheries
IS the point hf view ‘ of thodahnevy
company. The protection of the in
dh'Stry only Itt so fftr as It subStfrves
the cannoryman’s Interest la tile pro
tection sought to be extended. Ana
therefore it is that the Bureau of
Fisheries objects to an invasion ot
Its field lest it diminish-tbe profits
(if the 'fishery companies.
Alaskans and Alaskan legislatures
arc miking a mountain out of a
mole hill and denouncing the effoet
instead of the cahse when they join
a hue and cry against legislation by
Congress which proposes to prohibit,
territorial control over the fisheries
itself. There is no good reason
why the territorial control over the
Asherles should be in any degree
loss than that over the mining in
dustry. There is every reason, as
the Ashing industry is operated, why
it should be greater.
Labor conditions In the canneries
unless when they don their Sunday
best when about to be Inspected are
scandalous. They are tantamount
to peonage, and they are subject to
no review by the torritoMal legisla
ture unless such review as la admit
ted the members in the form’ df me
morials to Congress. Croat wealth
is being taken froth the country and
no legislative control is allowed to
bo exercised as to the economic ac
tivities Involved in the abstraction
of such Wealth. Such legislative con
trol is not necessarily taxifioh. In
deed taxation ts only an Incidental
matter connected with a functional
control should be left entirely with
the legislature. This Is not sug
gested so that the Ashery lobby at
Juneau Should become more exten
sive, but bocause If the torfltory is
going to have a real government by
Alaskans, it certainly should exercise
full, competent and responsible
control over the Industries and re
sources of the country.
From Rodfield’s point of view ana
and even from a practical point of
view, the division of control and tax
able right Is undesirable. But It
is undesirable to a much* greater
oxtent that Congress should reserve
to the Bureau of Fisheries absolute
control of the Industry. That pro
perly belongs to the legislature un
less of course tho legislature Is to
remain the same dofectlve and
emasculated body Alaskans were so
delighted to accept in lieu of leal
Home Rule.
The Industrial Worker therefore
quotes from Redfield's report that
section which advisos the prohibi
tion of the Alaska legislature having
the right to tax the fisheries of the
territory.
Red field explains his position very
fully and very clearly. It is made
in the interests of ttab cannery com
panies, and in the interest of the
Bureau of Fisheries os an adihnet
of the canflSfies: • •'
It is wholly remote from any poss
ible' concert "Tot Aldskft. -This is
the same to the Bureau as an estate
is to a wealthy absentee landlord
who insists that the rents be the
highest possible and the care ex
tended to the estate only such 'as
may properly benefit the receipt ‘bf
the highest possible rents.
The idea of this great soatce of*
wealth, this greatest of all assets,
this most magnificent of res?urces
being properly conserved for the
purpose of serving the interests of
the Territory and its people, an;i
the interests of tho United States
and Its people, is not even consider
ed. There is nothing would indicate
that the Bureau of Fisheries knows
that it has control of one of the
most valuable food supplies cf the
world, to be properly administered
to serve the needs of the Common
wealth as being part of the highest
function of the Bureau. No such
thing. The Bureau sees an immense
field for profit in the Fisheries which
ah' a field for profit IB to be pro
perly conserved and anything inter
feres with that profit is to be con
demned.
WHBN IN TOWN
Drop into the
MERCHANTS CAST.
The Home of Good Esti.
PROFESSIONAL CARD.
Dr. A. F. Heimlich
PHYSICIAN A SURGEON.
Office & Residence:
OVER HILL'S PHARMACY.
Office Hours: 2—5 and 7—8 p. m.
Phone—Night or day. Main 20.
MaaaaaiaaaBaara^
“For Your Dog's Stake
waaaaiaBBBHire
i!
1
*
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VERMILAX
t" ia< iif • . c<,p"r«J » » f. b'j-y
Supreme Dog Remedies
hit
ECONOMICAL RELIABLE ABSOLUTELY SAFE.
Compounded from the private formulas of Dr. T. Delaney,
Veterinarian and Eminent Authority on the Diseases of Doss, Ver
milax Supreme Dog Remedies have proven their supremacy in
the most famous prize winning kennels.
%
HILLS PHARMACY
REGISTERED PRESCRIPTIONIST8 NOME, ALASKA, ij
«*******!«*****!#»********»!»« !
|i THE NOME INDUSTRIAL WORKER
is prepared to handle
£ all kinds of
JOB PRINTING
-t r r, «?. * •• -I-. | £
Let us figure on your
work. Call up Black
134 or call at
THE INDUSTRIAL WORKER OFFICE
.<0fy;, ■'■ <}*> * >'
*"*> I i \f“
wmmimimtmmHmnmM
Mm pH i
M ~ uH *j •
>oo' iwinoaiA#
-v ’.v .r <n ■
frv ■:*€■
#
We have been appointed agents
. ' for the
The popular, fully-equipped,
pleasure car that satisfies all
laziamaEiatfiMiMa
FOR GENT’S FURNISHINGS
FLANNEL SHIRTS WE HAVE A LARGE VARIETY TO
SELECT FROM.. A COMPLETE STOCK OF GENERAL MER
CHANDISE, TENTS, TARP ALINS. CANVAS, AM.
HIPPERS, EITRBCA AND U. 8. RUBBERS & SHOE PACKS.
SEE CHEAP JOHNS STORE BEFORE BUYING. OUR
PRICES ARK ALWAYS THE LOWEST IN TOWN.
General Transfer & Freighting
Qqal & Qf#
r 1 ' ' • •,*: ftfMr ' 11
Phone Main 139.
r
For Summit and Greenhood
Shirts, Midticott and Stady Un
derwear and Sox, the best ever
sold for the money.
MURPHY HAS THE GOODS
ARTIC SPRING
WATER
Always at your Service.
Prompt delivery— Blizzard or
Shine at usual Rates 10
Buckets $1.00. 50c. a Barrel.
A. D. POTEET.
Phone Red 120.
if. 7
INDEPENDENT
MEAT MARKET
Wholesale and Retail Dealer
in Beef, Pork, Mutton, Veal,
Ham, Bacon Poultry and Fish
Game in Season. All fresh
Stock. No old or damaged.
W. H. Webb prop. Phone M.15
A FEW SPECIALS
ON OUR BARGAIN COUNTER THIS WEEK.
QUAIL BRANP, BERRIES, Gal. Cans, 05c. per can.
QUAIL BRAND PEACHES, Gal. Cans, 45c. per can.
QUAIL BRAND APRICOTS Gal. Cans, 45c. per can.
QUAIL BRAND, RHUBARB Gal. Cans, 40c. per .can. *
SEA PORT PEACHES .$4.00 per case.
FORCE.-.8 Pkgs. for $1.00.
SHEERED WHEAT BISCUITS. 8 Pkgs. for $1.00.
MOLLER’S GROCERY
PHONE MAIN M Ml IjgtONT STREET ,
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Industrial Worker. • ! I
Lot as ortfioto oa year Job Wort
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Far Brat class work and prn^fl
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and get your laundry. ici
':<>! ■ w: J. WWA1MWW Map,
fflRI TUB ffiEWf) RlttHT. KBUU» ‘
THE WOKVBK.