VOLUME NO. 5.
PETERSBURG, ALASKA, FEBRUARY 27, 1931
No. 32
Lomen Corporat’n
Gets Panning
Plans for constructive organi
zation of the reindeer industry
in Alaska on a cooperative mar
keting basis were outlined to the
Interior Department reindeer
committee recently by Leonard
D. Baldwin of New York City, one
of the backers of the Lomen
Corporation. The keynote of the
plan is a measure of local con
trol through responsible repre
sentation of the natives, the
corporation furnishing capital
for boats, abattoirs and market
ing.
Senator Kendrick, chairman
of the committee, said the cat
tlemen of the West have been
through the same difficult period
of suspicion but have come to re
cognize their community of in
terest.
George Goshaw, Alaska fox
farmer and critic of the Lomens,
was the other witness of the day.
He agreed tnat the Baldwin plan
will be beneficial if the govern
ment supervision is sufficient
and the natives gain confidence
that their interests are being
protected. This will be a slow |
process, he asserted, because
there has been considerate
friction. The industry has suffer
ed from marketing meat in poor
condition: Goshaw said. Feturns
have been email and the natives
have lost interest.
Lomen Makes Rejoinder.
Carl Lomen, in a brief re
joinder, declared Gosha w was
not familiar with the business in
Northern Alaska and denied un
fair dealings with the natives.
The corporation reports to the
government supervisors, he stat
ed, and records of transactions
with the Eskimo are .on file.
Goshaw estimated that rein
deer in Alaska do not number
more than 500,000 to 600,000, in
stead of the million or more
usually named, and that the
Lomen herds contain about 25,
U00 instead of 250,000 as some
times stated.
Another meeting to close the
testimony will be held soon The
purpose is to devise rules that
will make the reindeer industry
profitable, under good business
management, with government
supervision and full protection
to native interests.
-X
THEY WILL SAVE ON TAXES
-x
The city of Salford, England
has thrown away the keys to its
treasury for the duration of one
year. The council voted to sus
pend all capital expenditures
for twelve months in an effort
to keep down taxes.
SOVIET TO AUCTION
FORTUNE IN FURS IN
FIRST BIG SALE
-x
The first soviet fur auction in
imitation of those of London,
Leipzig, Seattle, Montreal and
Paris will be held at Leningrad,
March 2, when upwards of 1,
250,000 skins with an estimated
value of $1,500,000 will be offer
ed for sale.
The vice president of the All
Union Fur Syndicate stated that
over four hundred representa
tives of the most important
firms in the United States, Ger
many, England and France have
already announced their inten
tion of attending.
He declared that the new
auction was in no wise a menace
for foreign auctions, as has been
claimed in fur circles abroad,
because the total expected turn
over will not be more than 1 to
1% per cent of the world turn
over.
U. S. To Operate
Muscle Shoals
A ten-year fight under the
leadership of Senator George
Norris of Nebraska ended last
week when the House and Se
nate finally reached a compro
mise agreement for disposition
of the government’s $100,000,
000 Muscle Shoals project.
The compromise provided for
government operation of the
power project, government con
struction of a transmission line
to nearby cities and private
leasing of the nitrate plants.
i
The agreement was reached
when the senate conferees a
greed to a provision permitting
the lessee of the nitrate plant
to use 15 per cent of the power
allotted him for the manufac
ture of other products than fer
tilizer. The lessee can even
transport the power to another
place than Muscle Shoals to use
it.
This was one of the major
measures which the progressives
insisted must be acted up
on favorably or else an extra
session of Congress would be
forced. And the compromise
closes a battle of a small min
ority in the Senate which fought
lor ten years to protect a re
source for the people of the
country and to prevent its ex
ploitation by greedy corpora
tion.
-x
PLENTY OF CASES ON
CALENDAR
-x
«* Five Superior Court judges
from outside counties are sitting
in the King County Superior
Court these days assisting the
local jurists in relieving the
congestion of the trial calendar.
It is said that these extra judges
will remain in Seattle for two
weeks clearing up the court
cases.
Nearly 1,700 cases are said to
be awaiting trial in the King
County court many of which
will probably be settled before
date of trial arrives and many
others by agreement of both
parties will be postponed until
after vacation season.
-X
“Wire Pulling” by
Legislators Completed
-X
The legislative representatives,
most of whom were on the Ala
meda going north this week, met
in caucus Wednesday or Thurs
day when the^ will name the
various key positions in the work,
for the coming session. Andy I
Nylen was an able, fair-dealing
and efficient Speaker of the
House in the last session and the
progressive republicans no doubt
will center their efforts on his
assuming the same position.
Frank Foster of Cordova is men-1
tioned as a possible candidate as
also is A. H. Ziegler of Ketchi
kan. Joseph Murray of McCarthy,
oldest member in point of ser
vice heretofore has refused to
consider filling that position.
His skill as a parliamentarian
from the floor is a lot more use
ful to his constituency than his
directing of the house of repre
sentatives.
Of the whole legislature all
'were present this week save Se
jnator Benjamin of Wrangell and
Representative Ziegler of Ket
1 chikan.
The Sec. of War’s bill which
would permit of sale oi the
Alaska cable reported as action
is unlikely at this session.
-x
Madame Melba, famous prima
donna, died at her home in Mel
bourne, Australia.
Vessel Owners
Submit Terms
-x
The Fishing Vessel Owners’
Association of Seattle, on Wed
nesday, submitted to the Deep
Sea Fishermen’s Union the old
agreement of 1930 but their pro
position was turned down. The
Union submitted a counter pro
position which the committee
has not had time to consider
fully.
Prince Rupert boats are saidj
to have signed up on the terms I
submitted by the Union and are!
nreparing to go out on the fish- j
ing banks.
Both the Union and Associa
tion are working on the grading
regulations submitted by the
buyers but a system had not!
been devised whereby the old
system would be restored. It is
said that several propositions
are being worked out.
-x
Feero Reinstated and j
Accusers Transferred
T. L. Chidester and E. H. Myer,
federal prohibition agents were
ordered transferred to another
district outside of Alaska accord
ing to reports reaching Peters
burg this week, it is believed
that this is in connection with
'he recent arrest of Deputy.Mar
shal Feero of Douglas who was
olaced under arrest by these men
and brought before Commission
er Sey of Douglas for a hearing
°n a charge of conspiring to vio
late the prohibition law.
At th^ hearing^ the commis
sioner dismissed the case as
showing a lack of evidence to
1 ustain the charge against Mikej
Pusich and W. W. Feero. Evi- J
dence adduced that Pusich had]
received a phone call that en- j
trance had been secured in his I
warehouse so he called Marshal
Feero and they went dov/n to
the warehouse where they were
notified that they were under
arrest for violating the prohibi
tion laws. In the warehouse was
said to be 65 gallons of “moon- ]
shine.”
Immediately upon receipt of j
the findings of the court, Mar
hall White reinstated Deputy
marshall Feero back on the job
from which he had been sus
pended pending investigation of
the charge.
The friends of Marshall Feero
are congratulating him upon
the vindication of his name
which has been that of a fine
officer with a clean record. Mar
shall White also is being con
gratulated on his prompt action
in suspending his deputy when
under suspicion and his im
mediate re-intatement when the
charge was found untrue.
--—x
This year’s annual ball of the
Petersburg Fire Department held
February 21st was a masquerade
affair and proved one of the
most enjoyable social events of
the season. Almost everyone en
joys a masquerade and as usual,
many of the costumes were ex
tremely laughable. Although
there were not as many maskers
on the floor as on some former
] occasions, the characters on the
[whole were well sustained The
dance and liquid refreshments
| netted the fire boys more than
| a hundred dollars, which will be
| used in fitting up the fire hall.
-x
“Big Bill’ Thompson was nom
inated in the Chicago primaries
and will meet Cermack, Demo, in
the April elections.
-x
year Mrs. Frank Desmond of
Wrangell died after a lingering
illness, Thursday night.
Legislators Enroute
! To Capital
Most of the legislators werej
on the steamer Alameda enroute i
to Juneau where the legislative
sessions open in a few days. A.
H. Ziegler, Democratic repre
sentative and Charles Benjamin,
Republican senator were not in
the party.
The legislators of the West
ward divisions were on board as
is usually their custom in mak
ing the trip from their precincts
down to Seattle (the Fifth Divi
sion'' and then back to Juneau,
the First Division. Andy Ny
len and Senator Dick Sundquist
were with the party from Nome.
Alfred Lomen. one of the bosses
of the Second Division was also
on board but he did not leave
his calling card at this office.
Representative Grover C. Winn
of Juneau was a returning pass
enger from Seattle where he
went on legal business. J. E.
Johnson, also a Republican elect,
was enroute to the opening days
cf the legislature when the
strings are pulled, committees
made up and president of Senate
and Speaker of the House elect
ed.
Talking with the progressive
members of the legislature, they
indicated to the writer that the
best that they could hope for is
to say “No” to a lot of bad legis
lation which is being planned.
They hardly even expect to be
able to block such legislation as <
the reactionaries will be virtual
ly in complete control of the
both houses.
However, many election
""cmi.c1rs vrnre made by every
member of the ’egislature and
it is expected that their records
will be published in the Alaskan
and in the “Mirrors” in the Alas
ka Fisherman immediately fol
lowing the closing of the ses
sions.
Representative Winn and
Johnson left word for publica
tion that they will be glad to;
take up and push through any
legislation that their constitu
ency may desrre and such needs
and desires should be sent in at
on early date.
“Lame Duck” Bill
Passes House
-X
By a vote of 289 to 93, the
House of Representatives in j
Congress passed the ‘Lame Duck’
law which now will abolish the
short session immediately fol
lowing elections. The bill had its
origin in the Senate and
is a measure which was spon
sored by Senator George Norris
of Nebraska and has passed
that body on six other occasions.
The bill now goes to the Senate
for its approval and then will go
to the states for ratification
requiring three-fourths of the
state’s approval.
Under this law, the presiden
tial inauguration will take place
on the 24th of January instead
of the customary March 4th.
The Norris resolution passed
j the Senate on six different oc
casions is now passed bv the
House sponsored by Speaker,
Longworth, terminates the se-j
' cond annual session within four j
months. The amendment carried
, by a vote of 230 to 148 with
Speaker Longworth vacating the
chair to argu for the amend
ment.
-x
Two attempts were made to as
sassinate President Machado of
Cuba who is reputed to be worse
than many Spanish rulers in
their ruling of Cuba.
L. Wolheim, Noted
Film Actor, Dies
-X
Louis Wolheim, “bad man” of
the screen but one of the best
loved characters in Hollywood,
died following an operation for
appendicitis, last week. He bad
successfully undergone this op
eration but it soon developed
that another operation, on the
nomach would be necessary as
he was suffering from an abdo- [
minal ailment. Th*is developed
as a case of cancer.
Mr. Wolheim’s most famous
charactization was in the film
ing of “All Quiet on the Western
Front” classed by every critic as
the most outstanding picture of
rhe year. He was a graduate of
Cornell University on • whose
football team he played and lat
er was professor of mathematics
in the same school.
—-x
Sec. Wilbur Under
Fire of Students
-X
For some time Secretary Wil
bur, of the Interior Department,
has been president of Stanford
University, Palo Alto, California.
In 1928 he received a salary of
$18,000 as president of the Uni
versity and during the same;
year President Hoover handed;
him a cabinet portfolio with a |
salary from the Federal Govern- j
ment. In 1929 President—Wilbur
again received $18,000 from the!
university from which institu
tion he was absent for nine
months or more and at the same
time received his salary as Sec- j
retary of the Interior. Again in
1930 President Wilbur drew hisj
collegiate salary as absentee,
president of this university j
which had nine public utility!
end oil concern officials on its;
governing board, and he alsoj
collected his salary as Secretary
c f the Interior, supervisor of oil;
lands and czar of water power,
sites. He was attacked by pro-!
gressive senators for his dual!
position and condemned as being j
subservient to the power inter- j
ests which had the power to fire:
him as president with attend-,
ant salary of $18,000 a year. To j
add to the fuel, students of the1
university have been stirring up
opposition to the absentee presi
dency and they are demanding
through their publications that
lie resign from one office or the
other.
-X
SEEK TO FORCE PARTY
DESIGNATION1
-x
An effort to restore party re
sponsibility as far as possible
under the direct primary law
and to prevent followers of one
party from participation in no
minating elections of others,
Representative Siorey Buck of
Spokane, Wash., in the Wash
ington Legislature, introduced a
bill to designate party affilia- j
tion when they register.1
It is the belief of Mr. Buck
that under such a bill, voters!
refusing to designate their j
parties would be limited at thei
primaries to voting only upon
non-partizan judiciary tickets, j
so that followers of parties with- j
out primary recognition would
be barred from asking for either j
Republican or Democratic bal-,
lots.
-x- |
Cordova, with approximately j
$1,000 in bank accounts for
each man, woman and child in'
'•he city, ranks, it is believed, as
| foremost of the cities of the
country for per capita wealth,
I the average for the entire coun
try being about $84, according
jto the financial editor of the
I Cordova Times.
B. C. Leaders Urge
t Need A.Y.P. Road
—x—
The necessity of proceeding at
cnee with the construction of
the Alaska-Yukon Pacifis High
way was stressed at a joint ses
sion of the House and Senate
recently at which the cause or
the “Charmed Land” was advo
cated by representatives of
British Columbia and Alaska.
The British Columbia delega
tion was headed by R. Randolph
Bruce, lieutenant-governor, and
S. F. Tolmie, premier. A. J. Di
mond, Valdez, member of the
Territorial Legislature, repre
sented Gov. George A. Parks of
Alaska.
The delegation, reunion of the
caravan which made the trip
(ver the complete portion of the
road to Hazelton, B. C., last
June, was formally received in
•he state reception room by Gov
Roland H. Hartley and other
state officials in the afternoon
preceding the joint meeting.
The British Columbia speakers
stressed the necessity of con
structing the road not only as ar
economic necessity but also a'
a means of cementing the bond?
of friendship between the two
nations.
Diniond said the propose'.'
highway was “Alaska’s greatest
economic necessity” and was far
from a visionary scheme.
Stereopticon views of the
road and scenery in British Co
lumbia were shown. The delega
tion left later for Seattle to re
turn to Canada by Steamship.
-x
MOOSE POPULATION
INCREASES
Two old moose which sought
refuge in the Rock Creek coun
try, Montana are said to have
increased until there are 20C
head in that section. The old
moose were first noticed in that
section about 1915. The increase
cf 10,000 per cent in fifteen years
was accomplished under the
protection of a year-round clos
ed season in that state.
-X
Alaska Loses Right ot
Appeal in Tax Case
-X
The Seattle Trollers’ Associa
tion went into the courts to es
tablish the unconstitutionality
of the non-resident troller’s tax.
Judge Harding ruled that the
law was constitutional so the
association carried it to the
court of appeals. The higher
court reversed the decision of
Judge Harding.
Upon his return to Alaska, At
torney General John Rustgard
declared in a lengthy statement
published in the Empire, that he
was carrying the case into the
Supreme Court of the United
States. The February issue of
the Pacific Fisherman in an ar
ticle on this case says: “Seeking
to re-open the Alaska trolling
cense fee case, in which the
period for appeal had long since
elapsed, John Rustgard, terri
torial attorney general, has filed
with the United States SuDreme
Court a petition for a writ of
certiorari, asking that the sup
reme court require of the San
Francisco circuit of appeals a
transcript of all proceedings in
the case, assume jurisdiction and
determine the case.”
, I
The Supreme Court has ruled
this week that it will not review
this case but the dispatches do
not state for what raesons. It is
being assumed by students of
fisheries legislation that right of
appeal was lost because of elaps
ed time.
Investigate Girl’s
Disappearance
While evidence regarding the
disappearance of Ruth Nelly
Rhinehart, Wrangell graduate
nurse who disappeared from the
Frincess Louise last October 5th,
was being transmitted to the
Attorney General—Ottawa, the
provincial police of Victoria,
B. C. were continuing their in
vestigations in the matter.
The spotlight was turned on
Lester B. Jones, a passenger who
swore that he had instituted a
midnight search for Miss Rhine
hart to tell her he could not
keep a luncheon appointment.
Be declared that he did not see
her after 9 o’clock of October
3th. But Robert Clark, another
passenger, said that he saw
• ones with Miss Rhinehart about
3:30 o’clock that evening. Jones
n his testimony stated that he
^pent the evening with a party
n one of the staterooms but he
did not remember the number
of the cabin in which the alleged
{.arty was held or the names of
my of the party. He stated that
he had gone looking for the girl
about midnight as he had heard
hat some one was wandering
around the ship drunk or crazy.
Plark testified that Jones had
met him after midnight and
fated that their “little nurse
friend” was missing. William
Huges, and Oliver J. Williams,
orst and second officers of the
Princess Louise both stated on
he stand that they had seen the
Tirl and that Williams had help
'd her down the steep stairway
oward her cabin and that there
vas no sign suggestive of in
toxication in her manner or
alk. Williams further quoted
hares as saying the following
Tay: “I seem to be the only one
vho knows anything about the
case, and appear to be going to
be dragged into it.”
Orville Anderson, Oswego. Ore.,
'sserted that he heard Miss
Rhinehart make the statement
‘I’ll jump overboard if you don’t
'eave me alone.” A man was
in her room at the time who
:eft shortly thereafter. When he
•eturned again, she assured him
that she would remain in her
stateroom and not jump over
board.
Those of her friends and re
latives who know Miss Rhine
hart are more strongly of the
belief that she met with foul
play as the result of the brutal
attentions of the man mentioned
as being in her room when she
threatened to commit suicide.
The character of Miss Rhinehart
who returned last summer from
Lutheran Hospital, Portland,
Oregon, has always been above
reproach in every way and she
ibhored liquor in every shape.
Tust before leaving for the
states, Miss Rhinehart visited
in Petersburg and expressed her
self as being most happy in re
turning to Portland where she
was going to work in her chosen
profession and to her affianced
husband. This removes any idea
of suicide in her mind and
strengthens the thought that
some person on the Princess
Louise had a reason for putting
her out of the way.
-—x
HALIBUT TREATY
-x
The United States Senate has
ratified the International Hali
but Treaty, under the provisions
of which opening date for fish
ing halibut is set back to Nov
ember 1st till February 15 and
with the power to regulate the
industry. This treaty has been
opposed by the producing inter
ests.