VO-L. I
PETERSBURG, ALASKA MARCH 18, 1927
NO. 36
The United States supreme court
in a decision rendered recently, de
clared the widespread practice of
allowing local peace officers to
pocket percentage fines is indefen
sible under a sound judicial policy.
The decision holds invalid the
Ohio state law which permits the
mayor of municipalities to act as
judges in prohibition cases and then
craw fees in proportion to the num
ber of lines imposed by the court.
The decision of the supreme court
decides that every person accused
of violating a law has a right to
trial before a judge not financially
interested in the result of the case.
The decision was read by Chief
Justice William H. Taft, who said:
“Every procedure which would of
fer possible temptation to the aver
age man as judge to forget the
burden of proof required to convict
the defendant, or which might lead
him not to hold the balance clear
and true between the state and ac
cused, denies the defendant due
I rocess of law.”
In addition to the state of Ohio,
other states which allow inferior
judges no compensation except fees
collected from convictead defendants
are Arkansas, Kentucky, Nebraska,
North Carolina, Georgia and Texas.
0
THE SOLID SOUTH
The possibility of the Negro vote
capturing the Democratic primaries
is some southern sections as a result
of the recent decision of the United
Slates Supreme Court declaring that
negroes could not be barred from
tiKing part in primaries.
It is beieved, however that the
negro vote will not be so heavy as
very few negros now qualify to vote.
Governor Moody believes that le
gislation should be authorized by the
Democratic which would prevent ne
groes from voting in the Democratic
primaries. He is afraid that the ne
gros might be voted en bloc.
CANADA LEVIES TAX ON FURS.
A tax has been placed on furs
shipped from the Northwest territor
ies. A bill was introduced to empow"
er the commissioner in council to
impose a per pelt tax, the amount of
which had not been indicated. The
tax is to apply only to such furs as
are exported and is designed primari
’y to meet cost of maintaining the
northern administration.
An enormous increase of .hail
seals at. the mouth of the Frasei
river is seriously menacing this sea
son’s salmon pack. Many salmoi
caught in nets were neatly nippe<
off by seals leaving only the head
cf the salmon.
Efforts to reduce the number o
seals by rifle fire and machine gun
proved futile as they don’t heri
ike sea lions.
The government has been request
ed to take immediate steps to es
terminate as many of the seal a
possible in effort to save the salmoi
The same situation is represente
at Wrangell on the Stickine flats.
Mrs. E. A. Salonko has been quit
ill this week with an attack c
flu.
Sidelights on
\ Legislature
(Special Correspondent)
j While it is too early to form a
iixtd opinion concerning the mem
! bcrs of the present legislature, m
^ dications will warrant certain “gues’
j ses.”
j The line-up in both the Senate
and the House are along the linen
of the recent campaign, Sutherland
and Marquam. There is an effort
being made by the “Empire crowd
to label the members as Paul and
the anti-Paul crowd. But the ans
wer is so obvious that this effort
is not meeting with success. The
answer of course is this, if there
is a Paul crowd, then there is a
Joe Murray crowd, who of course
become branded by the reactionary
record of Murray. The bunch that
are lined up with Murray are stick
ing to him so far, but they are
i squirming. Perhaps the only ex
ception is Tom Gaffney of Nome.
Gaffney however is tied to Murray
| by the strongest of ties, that of
; religion both being members of the
Roman Catholic Church. It is not
known of course how far Gaffney,
, who came to Juneu with a reputa
tion of being a friend of labor, will
: follow Murray but the general
opinion is that Gaffney has been
lured with a bait that perhaps has
appealed to his prejudices. It re
mains to be seen.
I -
Wine ’Em And I)ino ’Em
Concerning the other men, it is
much harder to say. and so we \rill
leave this to a later time. Slowly
but surely the federal crowd seem
I to be gathering in Walter Fisher
The method of gathering in this
j fine man is not new—only to him
! —dinners, banquets, parties, fawn
j mg friends, and such palavering.
1 Karl Thiele is very active in this
iespect. Everybody knows Thiele
except the new ones and they must |
of course taste the bitter-sweet for
it is the common failing of man
kind that we must set “for our
selves.”
Thomas Scott of Cordova has been
set down as wholly reactionary, blit
that may be a mistake. Scott is a
bardheaded business man who in
sists on being shown. He is not
absolutely committed to certain pro
jects but seems to be waiting for
“evidence” which if favorable and
well grounded in reason, will be
controlling with him. It is not
known at this time, just what his
“pet’ interests are. It is thought
to be the cannery interests, not a
surprising thing since he is finan
cially interested in canneries. How
ever, he is expected to be broad
minded enough to deal with that
subject without injecting his per
sonal interests into the question.
Marquam’s Trained Seal
Robert Sheldon of Fairbanks is
a reactionary as might be expected
by such a staunch supporter of a
Tom Marquam. Sheldon is taking
himself more seriously this year.
He has corrected many serious mis
1
The jury in the Nellie Beattif
" mail robbery case after being out
' for 42 hours reported to Judge
s Ritchie of the Third Division thai
1 it was unable to arrive in an agree
^ ment,. A Mrs. Oscar Flavel o:
Fairbanks appeared to be holding
out against the balance of the jur:
e but on what count is not indicated
if The Judge ordered continuation o
deliberations.
takes that have appeared in the
House Journal. No one quite
equals Sheldon in industry nor ap
proaches the “pain-staking” labor
whish he devotes to the publis’s
business. It is predicted at this
timt that his services will be of
gieat value in that respect.
Place Your Bets
Perhaps the words that best de
scribe Ralph Lomen of Nome are
“serious clever. ness.” Lomen is no
body’s fool. The “gallery” are
carrying on a great debate, some
say that the Lomen interests are
mere policy supporters of Dan Su
therland and when the show-down
comes, Legislator Lomen will be
found lined up with a Joe Murray
label on his back. Others say that |
Lomen is a man of independent
thought and that when he support
ed Dan Sutherland in the recent
campaign, he was absolutely sincere
in it and accordingly he will be
found supporting the Sutherland
policies and working with the Su
therland forces in this Legislature.
His attitude on the “Controller Bill”
will be very illuminating.
TIT FOR TAT
An interesting side-light occurred
in which Tom Gaffney of Nome
figured. At the darkest hour, when
it appeared as if the Sutherland
forces were defeated by the Mar
quamites, it is said that William
L. Faul, of Ketchikan, speaking for
the Sutherland group went to Gaff
ney and asked hi^ support for
Richard Sundquist of Candle, Gaff
ney refused to throw his support
to Sundquist and thus secure for
his Division the coveted position of
Speaker of the House .
Then when the moment for or
ganizing the House came, Tom Gaff
ney and his “Independent” col
league asked Sundquist to sup
port Gaffney for the empty honor
of being “Speaker pro tern” and
really acted peaved because their
appeal was not effective.
ON SOLID GROUND
A larger political future seems
to be opening up for the progres
sive Ben Grier of Anchorage. He
has the courage of his convictions
which accounts for the change in
his opsition from that of two years
ago. At that time, he was unwit
tingly trapped by the reactionaries,
but in the recent campaign, he came
j out strongly for the Sutherand
policis and hence he naturally rinds
himself working with the Suther
land forces now. Strong efforts are
bting made to “swing” him “back
into line.” But he easily side-step
ped the “kind offers of Karl Thielt
to “ come down to my home, Ben,
and use half of my house.” That
might have worked two years ago,
tut “You can’t fool some people all
the time.” Since that scheme has
failed some other plan will un
doubtedly be tried, perhaps the gag
1 of “tax-collecting” will be tried.
It won’t work;.
A seven man vessel carrying
$100,000 worth of liquor was halt
1 ed by a shot from a coastguards
man that crashed through the bul
■ warks. She is being held pending
removal to government storage fo
i destruction. (A proceedure usuall;
’ done before competent witness.)
I Alameda is due northbound a
1:30 a. m. on the 19th.
On Sunday afternoon at two
o’clock, William Percy Moyes, elec
trician in charge of the municipal
hvdro-electric plant at Blind Slough,
fell dead near the switchboard.
Death being due to heart failure
caused by overexertion and excite
ment.
Aftr the weekly closedown of the
plant for repairh Moyes turned the
power on with a light load. Plan
ning to go down the Slough a ways,
he instructed Mrs. Moyes to fire a
gun as a signal if anything went
wron gat the plant. Shortly before
i wo o’clock the Cold -Storage began
to take on some of the load causing
indicators on the switchbard to jump
so much that it alarmed her so she
signalled her husband for his imme
diate return. This he did at such a
speed that his heart gave way on him
just before he reached the switch
board. Mrs. Moyes seeing him fall
went to him and seeing life about
extinct picked him up and laid him
on a cot. She went through his
rockets looking for a signal card
but not finding one she reached up
and pulled the switch knowing that
help would arrive. She kept death
watch at the plant with no one to
aid or comfort her save her little
(laughter.
Electrician MacKecknie immedi
ately started along the line and got
about half way to the plant when
darkness came on so he returned to
town. Early Monday morning he re
3umed his trip looking for o possible
brek in the line. When he got up to
the plant about noon Monday he
tound Mrs. Moyes with her sorrow.
He immediately turned on the power
and signalled to town for o doctor
?o Doctor Jenes was taken up there
immediately and upon arrival pro
nounced death as stated above.
On account of poor trails it was
only with great difficulty that the
body was brought down to the
Slough for transportation to town.
Funeral services wore held at the
Lutheran Church on Wednesday
morning at ten o’clock, Rev,. Syd
ness officiating. A very appropriate
and touching sermon and message of
comfort and cheer was givn to griev
ing loved ones and friends.
A large number, of friends at
tended the funeral to pay their last
respects and tribute to their friend.
1 The pallbearers were Councilmen
Ohmer, Gribble, Allen, Stenslid, En
ge and Gauphin.
Deceased was born in Chicago 43
ears ago in Chicago, Illinois. Sur
vived by his widow, little daughter,
Marie and a sister in Australia. He
is said to have relatives in Portland.
Through his death, Petersburg
has lost a valued and faithful citi
zen and a man who took his citi
! zenship seriously.
j The sympathy of all the people ol
j the town of Petersburg goes fort!
to bereaved wife and daughter.
Alaska Pioneers
In Session
On the 17 th day of St Patricl
in the month of March, the Pioneer
of Alaska in convention met a
Juneau. This makes their 19tl
annual session and i tis hoped bu
: the beginning of many more.
Gov. Parks welcomed the visitor
- on behalf of the Territory and wa
- followed by Mayor Connors in b€
' half of the city of Juneau. Res
* ponso was made by A. J. Dimonc
r Grand President and George i
Dove, Grand Secretary. The publi
reception was well attended t
t greet the official representatives c
j the Pioneers of Alaska.
Arthur George Shoup, former
' United District Attorney for First
j Diviosion has sold his household ef
j fects and left for sunny California
| during the past week. He will be
'associated with one Louis Oneal,
; to be one of the leading California
attorneys for more than a quarter
of a century. Must have been lead
ing sheep.
Mr. Shoup first came into prom
inence when he was elected to the
First Legislature by and through
the Indian vote of Sitka. Oh, yes,
they’ve been voting thae long; as
v reward for faithful services he
was appointed as head of the Pio
neers’ home at Sitka after which he
practiced law in a desultry manner
nutil ht became attorney represent
ing the Heckman Floating trap in
terests. As district attorney for for
the First Division he did his best
insofar as The Alaskan could see
but that best was not of first carat.
The Alaskan hopes that ht will he
more successful in his practice in
California than he was as District
Attorney in the First Division, -
Justin W. Hardin, recent ap
pointet to the office of U. S. Dis
trict attorney replacing Mr. Shoup,
was admitted to the bar and sworn
into office this week. The Empire,
of course, wishes him success in
his effort to serve the" office of At
torney for the Governmtnt, but
just how sincere they are in their
wish remains to be seen.
BOOTLEGGERS
I
The peace pact signed by rival
gang leaders in Chicago came to an
abrupt end this week with renewal
of gunfire in which victims passed
on to the River Styx.
The most amazing situation im
aginable exists according to a recent
article in Hearst’s Cosmopolitan in
which authorities are unable to cope
with violators of the National Pro
hibition act; where liquor is trans
ported through the streets openly
and under protection; where death
of human life means no more than
; death of a flea on a dog’s back;
| where machine guns and gansters
, play with law and life as with mat
; ters of no import. The Alaskan
commends the reading of the article
j as stated above just as a matter
| of interest in how it is being done
and ends with flowers.
NOME GETS SLICE
The War Department has an
nounced that $25,000 has been al
loted from the Rivers and Harbors
appropriation which is in the sum
of $42,000,000 this year. Not much
but a giod start.
SINCLAIR GUILTY OP CONTEMPl
Harry F. Sinclair, oil operatoi
was convicted during the past weeh
of contempt of the U. S. Senate
when he refused to answer ques
I tions of the Oil Committee in its
investigation of the Teapot Domo
j Oil Scandal Sentence in this cast
t can be not less than 1 year in jai
3 and not less than $100 nor mort
t than $1000. It is very probably
i that Sinclair will carry the case ui
t to the higher courts and continu<
the case another three years tha
a was begun three years ago.
9
Wolf bounty will be paid agaii
i, as a deficiency blil was passed cov
r. ering this subject to the tune o
c $10,000. Boys, get the wolves,
o Sitka Hot Springs is a might;
f fine place for an orphanage and th
i idea is not so bad, atall, atall.
HCIIL
CLUBIEE1S
At the regular weekly dinner
I meeting of the local Commercial
1 Club Wednesday evening, the as
: sociution went ou record as approv
j mg the bill presented to Legislature
provining for raising the funds
available for school purposes to
$25,000 per year instead of the
prevailing yearly maximum of $20,
000. The bill also provides that
the amount that the Territroy pays
of the total school Budget be rais
ed from 75% to 80%. The Secre
! tary was instructed to write to our
i Representative and request him to
| support the bill.
! Urges Extension Scow Bay Road
I The Club also adopted a motion
| iequesting the Forrestry Depart
ment and the Bureau of Public
Roads to provide a road extending
from tide water in Blind Slough to
; the City Electriial Plant, and in
! sisting that at lea st a trail be
built thris season. The imperative
need for such a trail was clearly
inanefiested by the sad accident of
last Monday when the body had to
' be pulled in a row boat for the
three miles over ice and slush.
The matter relative to extending
th road from Scow Bay to Blind
i Slough was also discussed and steps
!aie now being taken by the Club
| to accumulate data to be present
1 ed to the Bureau of Public Roads
lor the construction of this road.
The very fact that the city has in
vested over $100,000 in this muni
cipal light and power plant and
• that in the near future another
unit will be added, ertainly in it
self is a much more justifiable rea
son for the construction of this
road than can possibly be given for
the construction of roads at any
other place in the Territory.
The matter of preparing and is
suing the new folder pamphlets
settinlg for the resources advant
ages, etc., of Petersburg was also
discussed. At the next regular
meeting it is hoped that he “dum
my” will be presened to the club
for definite action. The Steamships
Companies operating in Alaskan
waters have urged the Club to
supply them with - such printed
matter.
Legislature Shots
“Bill stripping Governor of Pow
ers is introduced” says the Empire
of the Controller Bill. What rot,
' how can the Territorial Legislature
I take from the good governor those
I powers delegated unto him by our
national legislature?
The governor’s message to the
joint session of the Legislature was
almost a marathon. Diction perfect,
no criticism about construction and
with a pleasing voice entertaining.
But it does not fail to urge per
petuation of Burtau Control over
affairs political in Alaska. Says
Rep. Murray, “It covers the situa
tion as well as it is possible for
words to do,” and it took a darn
ed lot of words to do it.
Worth spoke to the point when
he said “lacking only in suggestions
that would show us the way to self
government and Rydeen was even
more brief—no comment ATALL.
Strange to say, the Governor is
agin it.
That graduated scale providing
1 for refund for school operating costs
J is the bunk for the little fellows—
it pays to be a big fellw at any
| time, and all the time. Petersburg
' is certainly entitled to more than
'75 percent refund and it would
' appear that it is a penalty on the
i little fellow for being little. The
bigger the population, the greater
the tax receipts and vice versa,
i i Why not cut not the graduated
- j population scale and make it
E school population scale.
W are willing to bet that our
i Canadian Attorney will fight that
3 industrial insurance bill presented
again this legislature.