VOLUME NO. 5.
PETERSBURG, ALASKA, FEBRUARY 20, 1931
NO. 31
Prohis Arrest
Marshal Feero
“Bill” E. Feero, United States
Deputy Marshal at Douglas and
Mike Pitsich prominent business
man of the Island city, were ar
rested last week by Deputy Pro
hibition Administrator Gerald
Church for conspiring to violate
the national prohibition act.
United States Commissioner
Charles Sey of Juneau set their
bail in the sum of $2,500 and a
date for a preliminary hearing
was set.
Feero Suspended
Four years ago W. E. Feero
was appointed to succeed the
late “Bill” Eddy on the recom
mendation of many of the re
sidents of Douglas. Immediately
upon his arrest, Marshal Albert
White suspended him from duty
without expressing his opinion]
as to his subordinate’s guilt or
innocence. He pointed out that
Feero had had a good record
and that heretofore no com
plaints had been made against
him.
Making Investigation
When interviewed. Marshal
White declared: “I have no
knowledge, personal or official,
of what the facts are on which
the Prohibition Bureau has bas
ed its charge of conspiracy. Un
til the case is complete, I shall.
express no opinion.” He intimat
ed that he would make an im
mediate impartial investigation.
Said Mr. White: We will not
shield anyone. If Feero is guilty
of conspiracy with Pusich or any
one else to violate the Prohibi
tion Law or any other, the facts
should be at hand to prove it
and conviction and punishment
should be certain. If he is not
guilty, naturally he should not
suffer by reason of the charge
that has been made. It will take
a thorough inquiry to establish
ehher guilt or innocence and
this will be made at once.”
Detail of Arrest
Mr. Church and agents arre st
ed Feero and Pusich when the
men walked into a trap laid for
the latter. Church states that
the prohibition officers had no
idea that Feero w'ould be impli
cated when Pusich was entrap-i
ped. “We received a tip that a
house in Douglas, opposite the
Pusich residence and owned by
Joe Simpson was being used by
Mike as a storage cache for li
quor. Last night T. L. Chidester
and E. H. Myer rowed across tc
Douglas and entered the house
where they found about 65 gal
lons of moonshine in kegs. Two
hours after they left Juneau ac
cording to the plan agreed on
I telephoned Pusich, telling him
(Continued on page 4)
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DO YOUR SHOUTING
MONDAY NIGHT
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A caucus has been called for
Monday evening at 7:30 at the
town hall for the purpose of
nominating candidates for muni
cipal offices subject to the forth
coming election. Every citizen
must have some interest in
nominating those whose names
may appear on the official bal
lot and who will be charged with
the management of Petersburg’s
utilities during the year. Now is
•he time to mention your fav
orites.
Visitors to Juneau were much
miffed when they learned that
because of pressure, the North
land’s roundtrip tickets were no
good in the port of Juneau. A
number stopped in very incon
venient quarters and others
walked the street to keep them
selves warm.
Commercial Club
Holds Session
-X-—
At the regular Wednesday
evening dinner of the Petersburg
Commercial Cub, T. S. Elsemore
I reported to the club regarding
the dedication of Alaska’s new
capitol at Juneau on February
14th. He described briefly the
new structure and related that
the delegations from the south
ern towns had been met at the
wharf by the band, furnished
free autos and tendered other
| courtesies including a free dance
[at the Elks Club and that Mrs.
Cash Cole also had held open
house one evening.
Mr. Elsemore further reported,
that while in Juneau he had
interviewed Mr. Goddard of the
Alaska Game Commission on the!
.matter of increasing the terri
torial bounty on wolves and was [
informed that relief must come'
through the legislature which |
will convene in a few days. A
committee was accordingly ap
pointed to draft a resolution
embodying the views of thus
club.
A letter from Mr. M. L. Mer
ritt, Assistant Regional Forester,!
indicated the matter'of making j
a survey of the road from the|
end of the present Mountain
Point road to the Blind River:
plant has been discussed and it
is tentatively planned to do this!
work this year.
Keller Out of Juneau(
Schools Feb. 14
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W. K. Keller, principal of the
Juneau Public Schools resigned
as of the 14th of this month to
prepare for his new duties as
Commissioner of Education j
which begins on the first of j
March. R. R. Raven, principal of'
the high school, takes over his;
duties as city superintendent of;
schools.
Mr. Keller has established an|
enviable record in the office he:
filled and it is expected that he
will take into the Commission
er’s office the same efficiency de
monstrated in his city work.
According to plans announced,
Mr. Keller plans to revise in its
entirety, the school system of
Alaska in order to bring it up
to standard of all of the educa
tional requirements of the
standardized system.
Mr. Keller was elected on the
Republican ticket last fall in a
lace against Mr. A. E. Karnes of
Ketchikan. Mr. Keller starts out
on his new work with virtuallv
>, united support and it is the
hope of his constituency that he
will so build up the efficiency
and standardization of the Ter
ritorial school system and at.
the same time eliminate it from
the petty politics which hasbeer
the bane of that office that there
will be no question as to his
fitness to continue to serve in
that office. That is the will of
the people.
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STAY AWAY FORM ALASKA
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A statement by Governor Geo
A. Parks in the Seattle Press tc
laborers of Washington and
elsewhere who are looking tc
Alaska with the view to se
curing work this spring, have
been advised that Alaska is a
good country to stay away from
as there is not sufficient work to
take eare of the needs of local
labor.
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Carl Hauptman, Clint Griffith
and R. Johnson who appealed
their case upon their conviction
were ordered to McNeil Island
to begin serving their sentence.
Points Over Which Vessel Owners
And Deep Sea Fishermen Disagree
The points of differences which
are the cause of the present
controversy between the Deep
Sea Fishermen’s Union and the
Fishing Vessel Owners’ Associ-i
ation, are contained in the
amended ballot adopted by the
Union, "December 30, 1930, at
Seattle, Prince Rupert and Ket
chikan.
The Vessel Owners elect to
stand on the so-called 1929
agreement under which they
had been working prior to and
since last year. The agreement
is as follows:
“1. All members of the crew
except the captain and any
owner who owns one-fourth or
over in his own vessel shall be
members of the Deep Sea Fish
ermen’s Union of the Pacific. If
cooks or engineers are members j
of good standing in their respec- (
tive bona fide maritime unions, j
the Deep Sea Fishermen’s Union
shall net claim jurisdiction over
them.
“2. The share of the vessel
shall be one-fifth of the gross*
stock, except when gear is lost
on the fishing grounds or stolen j
from the vessel in port, or when
pilot fees, customs fees and
brokerage fees are incurred,
these items shall first be deduct
ed. Gear lost on the fishing
grounds shall include gear lost
.the vessel’s deck on the
banks and while under way.
Gear stolen in port shall mean
whre the crew is paying for
watchman or at the bait station
and shall consist of the follow
ing: Groundlings, gangings,
hooks, beckets, twine, buoys,
buoylines, anchors, buoylights,
markbuoys, with belongings.
“3. The fishermen agree to pay
their share of grub, fuel oils, cy
linder oils, cup greases, waste,
ice, salt, and bait and to keep
the fishing gear in good order
and to replace lost and con
demned gear. The following
shall be construed as fishing
gear: Groundlings, gangings,
hooks, beckets, twine, tar, skate-j
bottoms and covers, paint for
same and for buoys, buoylights,
ska'teropes, thimbles, files, gaff,
nets, buoys, buoylines, anchors,
markbuoys, with lines and an
chors, cork, bambopoles, weights
; for same, flags, cuttingknives,
doryknives, choppers, butch
"teels, whetstones, scrapers, hose,
gurdies, gurdyrubbers, tacks,
doryrollers, tholepins, electric
globes, candles, sticking tummie,
torches complete, fishpeughs.
Repair hooks .and gangings shall
i'e classed as condemned gear.
Fishing gear shall not be used
<<s ship gear. Not more than
market price shall be charged.
Where the owners furnishes dory
sails, the fishermen shall keep
them in good order and replace
them when needed.
“4. Medicine chest is to be
furnished by the vessel and to
be kept up by the crew. Delegate
to determine what is needed
each trip.
“5. Should the owners desire
to change from the use of light
to heavy gear or to space the
hooks closer together, they must
pay the difference in cost. Like
wise, if the case is reversed, the
owners are entitled to the dif
lorential. Gear accepted coming
in shall not be condemned going
out, but if it has been in storage
for over nine months it shall
be subject to overhauling before
accepted.
“6. When vessels are going out
on a charter cr trade other than
halibut fishing, or are sold, the
fishermen shall receive their
share of ail oil left on board.
When such vessels return to
halibut fishing, the fishermen
■ hall assume whatever oil may
be on board
.“7. One fishermen, approved
of by the captain, shall attend
to the weighing of the fish He,
shall, in the captain’s absence,
assume all responsibility. Settle-!
ment to be made when trip is
ended and when a man quits he
is entitled to his share. Settle
ment to be made between the
captain or his agent and the
fishermen. After bills are paid
(back bills shall be paid as fol
lows: When share is $25.00 or
less nothing shall be taken out
When share is over 25.00, one
! half of the amount from $25.00
to the full share shall be taken j
out. If the captain decides to fit j
out on a cash basis he shell be!
empowered to use the proceeds J
of the voyage for this purpose.
When money from the stock is
used for cash payments the crew i
shall receive their share of1
whatever discount may be al
lowed. The union agrees to urge
all its members to pay their
share of any broken trip as per
rules.
“8. When accident happens to
a vessel having fish on board,
and a tow is needed, the full
amount of the tow bill shall be
taken out of the gross stock
When settlement is made with
the towboat company or in
surance company, if the vessel
is insured, such part of the bill
as may be left, shall be divided
between the vessel and crew in
the same manner as it was paid
out. Statements of such bills
shall be furnished the crew in a!1 J
cases.
“9. A delegate shall be electe
m each vessel. He shall see that
all members of the crew art
members of the union, in good
standing, as per section one. He
shall check up the bills with the
goods received when same is
most convenient. In vessels hav
ing four dories or over, he sha1
be exempt'TFdm'Ii'fting out. The
cooks must be present when
stores are taken in to see that
they get what they ordered.
“10. The fishermen agree to
discharge fish from tackle to
scales and head the fish if re
ouired. They agree to wash out
fish holds and decks and to keep j
the living quarters clean and in j
sanitary condition. They agree!
to clean all paintwork inside the
bulwarks with soap or other
cleansing solution each trip go
ing home. The same to be done
when vessels are to paint up and
(Continued on page 4)
Market Condition Effects Both
Sides in Fisheries Controversy
(Telegram to Trading Union)'
Fish Vessel Owners Association:!
Defense, Sirius, Onah, Lumen,'
Alki, Schorn and eleven others,,
small two-man boats have signed'
union new agreement. Associa
tion members getting ready to
leave for banks this week man
ned by owners only. Sunset and
Aleutian leaving Ketchikan for
Petersburg tonight with owners
crew only.” (Signed Fishing Ves
sel Owners Association). From
Ketchikan 4:14 p. m. February
16th.
Erling Johansen:
No truth to rumor that fish
ermen have seine boats at their
disposal. Fourteen boats have
left Seattle. Union refuses to
negotiate agreement. We are
willing whenever union is. Union
now says that all hole bills ow
ed to owners going out during
the strike are cancelled. Will
keep you advised of all develop
ments.”
F. V. O. Ass’n. 9:01 p. m.2-14-31.
Following Petersburg boats
have outfitted and have left or
are leaving Thursday for the
tanks manned by owners crews:
Norrona, Zarembo, Midway, Bet
ty, Mitkoff.
1 .. (Excerpts from minutes of
F. V. O. A. Seattle 2-11-31.)
Wire from owners Prince Ru
/
pert gating they consider grad-j
ing regulations more important;
than union demands and unless I
we support them in refusing to i
fish for sale under those grade? j
they would accept union’s de
mands, providing time allowed
for repairs included time when
waiting for repairs to come from
1he South.
On motion of O. O. Hvatum,
it was decided wire Rupert an
swering their wire saying boats
going out here will be selling
fish on 1930 grading and will
support you in this. Cannot sub
mit to union’s demands. Sug
gest you support us in this mat
ter. Advise you study union’s
cemands carefully. Planning to
send out few boats with owners
as crew. Suggest you do likewise.
With eleven million pounds hali
but in cold storage on January
15th in states and Canada pros
pects not good. Making arrang
ments sell fish in Seattle on last
year’s agreement. Can we rely
on your support in bettering
conditions in industry. Very
good opportunity starting own
selling organization.
Letter from fish firm in Chi
cago stating that boats should
stay in until March 15th to per
I mit the disposal of the surplus
, of frozen halibut.
Fasset Arrested
On Murder Charge
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John Fasset of Haines was
arrested last week on a first de
gree murder charge. The arrest
was made by Deputy Marshals
Feero and Price. A preliminary
hearing was to be given in the I
Commissioner’s Court, . Juneau, i
It is alleged that Fasset while
out trapping at Barlow Cove,
iast December, killed Ed Don
nelley, also of Haines. That
marks on Donnelley’s throat in
dicated strangulation and a
couple broken ribs indicated an
assault by Fassett.
Donnelley was buried at
Haines but no intimation was
given that there were any sus
picion as to foul play being the
cause of death. It is said that
Fassett wrote a letter which in
dicated his part in a fight with
Donnelley which led to the lat
ter’s death and that this letter
was lost and delivered to the
Marshal’s office. The arrest fol
lowed. It is said that Fassett has
relatives in Kake.,
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Dr. Rude took steps to have
sanitation brigade do some work.
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- B!oth the Territorial and Bu
reau Schools are holding Wash
ington-Lincoln Day exercises,
today.
Capitol Building Is
Formally Dedicated
The new capitol building, ap
propriations for which were
made twenty years ago, was
formally dedicated with fitting
c eremony and program on the
14th of this month.
The exercises were directed by
Dr. W. W. Council, president of
the Juneau Chamber of Com-'
merce. Governor Geo. A. Parks
gave the address of welcome
and was folowed by Delegate
Elect Judge James Wichersham
who spoke of “Alaska’s Trade
Value to the United States.”
Five million dollars per annum
(appropriated for use in Alaska)
is a goodly sum of money, but a
mere pitance in comparison with
what the United States exoends
annually in the states for simi
lar work—in states where there
•; lccal power and wealth to con
•truct roads and other improve
ments by taxation upon private- J
■y owned property belonging to
those who own both the proper
ty and the roads, and where the
United States owns but little.”
Twice during the discourse,
the Judge was interrupted by
hearty applause.
Virtually every town was re
presented by its city officials or
prominent business men who
made the trip, from the south
rn end, on the Northland and
etu ruing on the same boat.
X
E. Coke Hill, Named
Judge in Fourth
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E. Coke Hill, judge of the
court of the Third District o
ilaska has been renominated to
succeed himself for another
four year term. He was appoint
ed four years ago to succeed
Judge E. E. Ritchie who went
out under fire. It is reported
that National Committeeman
T athrop has endorsed Judge
Hill’s appointment. It is under
rtood that Delegate Sutherland
is giving every support to secur
ing confirmation of this nomi
nation.
Three nominations have been
made by President Hoover—
Judge J. G. Lomen, district
judge at Nome, Charles Jones,
Marshal, Nome and Albert
White, marshal for the First
Division. It is hardly believed
that Judge Loman will be con
l.rmed as his relations to the
Lomen Corporation have not
neen to the dignity of the court
—not his fault, it is said, how
ever.
Senate Committee Reports
Favorable on White
The Senate Judiciary Commit
tee reported favorably on the
nomination of Albert White to
succeed himself in office as
United States marshal for the
First Division for the ensuine
four years. President Hoove’
submitted his name to the Se
nate recently for appointment
and the report of the Senate
Judiciary Committee leaves no
doubt but that he will be con
firmed when his name is pre
sented to the Senate for con
firmation.
T. L. Chidester, agent in the
Prohibition Department, has
been an active aspirant to that
office and it was said that he
had considerable support. -The
action of the Senate Judiciary
Committee just about knocks
th pins out from under the as
pirations of anyone for that
office.
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DON’T FORGET
^-FIREMEN’S ANNUAL BALL *
Saturday Night
**It’s a Masquerade.**
—SONS OF NORWAY HALL—
Canadian Officials
Hold Inquiry
" ' -x
The Attorney General at Ot
tawa recently instructed the au
| thorities at Victoria, B. C. to
conduct investigations in ad
miralty as to the disappearan e
of Ruth Nellie Rhinehart who
disappeared from the Princess
Louise early last October.
On request of the Alaska Na
tive Brotherhood, the American
Consul George A. Bucklin, Vic
toria, B. C„ requested the police
department of Victoria to make
a report as to Miss Rhinehart’s
disappearance, when going
south from Wrangell to Seattle
The police department went- in
their investigations as far as
they could and then resuested
the Attorney General at Ottawa
to give authority to go into the
case in admiralty. This was re
cently given and a hearing was
set for the 17th of this month,
report of which has not yet be
received.
Associated Press report of t’
disappearance was published in
| the newspapers stating th;c
| Mics Rhinehart was last ?een e .
deck during a storm near Quo u
Charlotte Sound and that s
was requested by officers of the
boat to go her stateroom. She
was not missed until the nev:
afternoon when the ship vvs
searched for her but no trace of
her was found. Upon the return
"rip of the Louise, her effects
've-e returned to her mother
’nit several articles were missing
those things have been turned
n to the American consul along
Tdth other information. The au
horities did not indicate what
heir investigations had led them
o buifc evidently until thev had
secured authority from the At
orney General to continue the
nvesti gat ions, they head gone os
air as they could and were not
entirely satisfied with the results
cf their efforts.
Miss Rhinehart was a gradu
ate nurse of the Lutheran Hos
pital, Portland and during the
illness last summer of Mrs. Steve
Grant of Wrangell, substitued
for Mrs. Grant in the Wrangell
General Hospital where she had
a very fine reputation. She was
on her way back to Portland,
Oregon where she was going to
Qnter nursing work again when
ffie disappeared from the boat.
Porn in Wrangell and familiar
with boats and travel since she
was a little girl, her friends do
not believe that she was “wash
'd overboard” during the storm
but that she was the victim of
oui play.
X
WAR ON THE WESTERN
FRONT OF PETERSBURG
Jchn Henderickson has sworn
out a complaint in Commission
er’s Court charging Pete Mikal
on wit-h assault and battery, ac
cusing Mikalson of breaking
lhroe ribs. A formal hearing was
set for last Wednesday but
Hendrickson was unable to ap
pear. Mikalson appears willing
enough to answer the charge and
Haims that while a visitor in his
cabin Hendrickson spat upon the
floor. That he remonstrated,
whereupon Hendrickson, after
vulgarly showing the charge of
“snoos” on his tongue spat the
same into Mikalson’s face. Mikal
son admits that he picked Hend- ~
rickson up bodily and threw him
out of the house but denies kick
ing him and says that if Hend
rickson’s ribs are broken he re
ceived the injury when he landed
in the yard. Another date will be
set for the hearing.
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. .Are you getting ready for the
Firemen’s Masquerade?