VOL. I
PETERSBURG, ALASKA APRIL 29, 1927
NO. 42
“We tlie undersigned citizens ol
the United States who are engeged
in lishing for a living in Alaskan
waters hereby petition Congress to
compell the United States Bureau
of lisheries to regulate the Fisher
ies in a just and equitable manner
in order that we may have fair re
turns for our labor.
The present regulations are un
fair, unjust and discriminatory. Un
der these regulations all restrictions
on lishing are placed upon us while
the large operators are unrestricted
and as a result more salmon ar >
being taken from Alaskan waters
than ever before.
These regulations are not in the
interest of increased Ash suppiy
because the theory of increasing
the supply of salmon is that the
take of fish should be lessened..
The United States Bureau of Fish
eries has increased the take of sal
mon by restricting our small oper
ations and increasing the large op
erations.
As American citizens whose
rights have been destroyed by an
autocratic agency of our govern
ment we appeal to you for the re
dress of our wrongs.”
The above petition expresses the
sentiment of resident fishermen of
Petersburg and every other section
of this division. Already over a
hundred signatures have been se
cured and that in less than twelve
hours after the petition was start
ed. The economic question in the
Territory has come to the pass
when it must be given serious con
sideration if the white population
will be saved.
When Charley Burckhardt and
august Buschmann stated that they
were losing money in the canning
ofsalmon, they Had their fingers
crossed. We remember one year
a certain canneryman who lost
a lot of money, yet he was able to
buy three automobiles and put up
a forty thousand dollar home.
Those legislators who are bat
tling so hard to prevent the enact
ment of laws for the benefit of
residents certainly are not on the
right track. No one who has fol
lowed the southern, political pewees
on major issues ever voted for the
lest interests of the general run of
electors at large. That has been
demonstrated time and again so it
can be fairly said that these men ar
representing the monied interest as
opposed to those votes which sent
them to the legisalature.
Hunting on Increase
More than 5,150,000 hunting
licenses were taken out during the
season 1925-26 by sportsmen thru
out the United States, including
Alaska, and the returns to State
treasuries amounted to more than
$6,800,000. Although data are
lacking from four States, detailed
figures for the season compiled by
the Biological Survey of the Unit
ed States Department of Agricul
ture show increases in the numbers
of licenses issued and fees received
over the two years preceding. In
the 1923-24 season, the licenses
numbered 4.395.038 and the fees
paid were *5,594,982. One year
later 4,904,740 hunters paid for
their licenses total, of $6,190,863.94
During the 1925-26 season the
license figures were 5.168.353 and
the fees paid totaled $6,872,812.69.
Pennsylvania with 525,045 licenses
and fees of $646,467.25 headed
the list both in licenses and returns
of the State treasury.
I
After Fish Pirates
Dennis Winn, Fisheries Agent
in Alaska recently spoke olliciallj
for publication while in Seattle..
He declared that fish pirating in th<
Territory was dying out, but that
the Bureau was making extra pre
parations this year to combat fist
poaching. He stated that there
will be at least 100 stream watch
men this year and 50 boats. He be
lieved that the convictions for fish
piracy last year no doubt had an
excellent effect in discouraging lavs
violations.
Arise, ye defenders of the “fail
name of Alaska and denounce this
slanderous statement about the de
cent, self-respecting and hardwork
ing toilers of the sea. Was it not
said last fall that such “lies” should
not be broadcasted. Guess it was
all for political consumption and
lacking in sincerity.
Memorial to Congress
The House passed the Ferguson
memorial addressed to Congress in
protest of the present administra
tion of the fisheries of Alaska. It
states that contrary to the be
lief of Alaskans at the time of the
passage of the White Fish Bill,
“The Secretary of Commerce has
seen fit by discriminatory regula
tion to place the entire burden of
conservation upon resident fisher
men of Alaska and to permit and
encourage unrestricted fishing by
automatic appliances which has re
sulted in the taking from Alaskan
waters in the esason of 1926 more
salmon than in any other yea^* since
Che inception of the industry insis
ting on upholding special privilege
by the encouragement of the trap
fishing system which has been ab
olished in all fishing countries of
any mportance and which is knowu
to be a very destructive metnoa oi
fishing we cannot expect relief for
the fishing population of Alaska un
til Congress instructs the Secretary
to abolish the trap fishing system
and institute a far code of regula
ton.” Congress is asked ^thru the
memorial to instruct the Secretary oi
Commerce to regulate the Alaskan
fisheries in a fair and just and im
partial manner, and further that
immediate steps be taken by Con
gress to pive to the Territory control
t ver its fisheries.
Canadians Favor Old
Age Pensions
Canada’s old age pension bill will
become law as soon as approved
by the Governor General, according
to the tabloid of international labor
newrs issued by the Department oi
Labor.
Canada: Old Age Pensions.—The
bill providing old age pensions has
passed the Senate and will becomt
law when assented to by the Gov
1 ernor General. The measure pro
vides for a maximum pension oi
1 $240 yearly for British subjects
^ who have attained the age of 7(
years and been resident in Canads
‘ for 20 years, provided that the re
' cipient of the pension Is not In re
! ceipt of as much private income
1 as $365 per year.
i
WHERE IS SMITH
Assistance in locating Rollinsoi
Smith, has been received by th
Governor’s Office, Juneau, Alasks
Mr. Smith is 41 years of age,
native of Rahway, New Jersey
Any data regarding him will be al
predated.
Gas boat Golden North was wrcel
cd in the Dry Pass.
I
Sidelights on
Legislature
SIDESLIGHTS of the Legislature
Ralph Lomcn—Statesman
Ralph Lomeu, statesman rep
resenting all of Alaska even against
the wishes of divisional delegates
tried to give new birth to the hat
chery system. Mr. Ross introduced
a bill to turn the buildings and
other property over to the Road
Commission. Lornen then offered
amendments providing that a man
“of scientific attainments” to carry
od “fish propagation” at Ketchikan,
and appropriating $25,000 for the
biennium.
Charles Benjamin, thinking that
enough money should be se taside
to plant the fry now on hand, of
fered to support the amendment if
the sum were reduced to $10,000.
This was accepted by Lomen. It is
thot that Benjamin did not realize
that Lomen’g motion was to re
establish the fish hatchery by giv
ing the work “for the biennium”
to the Road Commission.
Such a move is just what you ^
might expect from a member from 1
the reindeer fraternity—the pro- j
pagation of fish by the Road Com-,
mission. Not a bad idea to try
the Road Commission on the rein- •
deer industry.
After a hard battle, the motion,
was lost.
Rides Like An Ostrich
Senator Bartly Howard plays
true to form. He thinks he fools
people by putting off decisions and
pretending that he is giving due
consideraton to “both ^ides.” It
is too thin.
When Senate Bill No. 1, the Con
troller Bill, was up for final pas
sage, Mr. Howard (and Senator
John W. Dunn) declared that he
j would have voted for the bill if
the “Governor were on the Board,
I but the amendment to do this was
J defeated.”
| Takingthis for a cue, the House
j accepted a substitute for the Con
troller Bill before it. This sub
J stitute placed the governor on the
Board.
| On the final passage in the House,
Rep. William L. Paul called atten
tion to the change and to the
statements of Senators Howard and
Dunn and said that the world
would know whether they were
men or not, whether they were
sincere or not, when they were
called upon to act on the House
Bill No. 30.
Parliamentary View Points
i
The argument turned on the rule
i (to which there are exceptions) in
i Jefferson’s Manual holding that
■ when a bill is disposed of in the
Senate, an identical bill may not
! again be considered. Jenson and
i others argued that the two bills
\ were "Identical” because the titles
l were “practically the same” only
- a few words being changed.
This argument can be disposed
j of by any intelligent person by
. simply noting that the bill defeat
ed in the Senate was a bill of 20
pages, while the House bill had
only 21 pages.
ii The second difference was that
the Governor was on the House
bill and not on the Senate Bill.
a To get around this latter point,
". the learned Senators argued that
- an amendment was offered striking
the word "attorney-general” and
inserting in lieu thereof the word
:- "governor.” The common practice
however is that amendments which
are defeated are never considered
as a part of any bill, and even ac
cording to Jefferson’s Manual, such
an amendment may be ofiered over
and over again.
Key To Situation
Tbe key to tbe whole thing is
Senator BarLiy Howard, and the
man who is to blame for tbe elec
tion of Howard is Senator jj’orest
j. Hunt, of Ketchikan.
And now, altho Mr. Hunt fought
valiantly for the Controller Bill,
and exhibited great courage ami
deierinination, he cannot overcome
tbe wrong use of the power which
he gave to Howard rather than to
iirown.
The House then passed the Con
troller Bill with the Governor in
It.
When it reached the Senate, Sen
ator Pratt raised a point of order
that it could not be received be
cause a similar bill had been de
feated in the Senate.”
This was unprecedented and and
shows the length to _ which the
enemies of popular government
were willing to go to defeat a bill
which seeks to give the people
the right to elect their own treas
urer, and secretary- (called control
ler).
Just Between Drinks
President Bartly Howard said he
would take the matter “Under ad
visement.” This was on Monday.
On Wednesday he said he would
take “another day.” On Thursday,
ne did what he had been trying to
get up courage to do from the very
beginning, namely, sustain the
point of order. But in treating
the matter, he was manifestly un
fair. His manner in the chair re
sembled that of a prosecuting at
1. ___ T nnmin iVllQ WQ d
I V/1UV// • WUUQUMOV --- --
used, “Why certainly.” “Of course.’
Language altogether devoid of that
courtesy and respect which is due
trom the Presiding Officer to the
members who had honored him.
W’hen the decision was announc
ed (of which the Juneau Empire
got an advance copy), Senator
Charles W. Brown asked that the
question go over for one day
“until we can get a copy of your
decision, Mr. President, and study
it to see if it be a proper ruling.”
Senator Tom Jenson jumped to his
feet and said “The rules require
that the appeal from the chair be
considered at once and I demand
etc.” And in spite of the fact that
different senators asked for delay
to get a copy of the decision and
asked for the same privilege that
Howard had given to the Juneau
Empire, President Howard ruled
that the appeal was illfounded and
tuling to be held then.
College Appropriation Cut
The Senate Finance Committee
recommended that $61,860 be lop
ped of the Alaska College appro
priation and the House approved
the change. $20,000 was sliced off
the proposed dormitory and the
agricultural project was rejected in
full, $80,000 was allowed for main
tainenc© and operation.
The House passed by 13-3 the
Memorial to Congress condemning
the present flherles policies of Sec
retary Hoover and the Bureau of
Fisheries, it further asks that the
Territory be given full control over
that industry.
The bill providing for a Junto
Polytechnic at Wrangell was de
feated by a vote of 9-7. A hard
combination to beat, nine-sevec
when the “bones” are rolled.
! Favors Publicity Bill
The Petersburg Chamber of Com
merce discussed the “Publicity
bill now pending before the legisla
ture. The matter was brought tc
tie attention of the local Club by
che Juneau Chamber with the re
quest that it be endorsed. After
considerable discussion the local
Club went on record as approving
the idea of selling Alaska to the
Tourists.
Through the Seattle Chamber ol
Commerce our Commercial Club
was assured that the Narrows would
not be closed to gas boats with the
possible exception of the few min
utes during which the blasts would
be set off .
The Club adopted a motion re
questing the Mayor to call a pub
lic mass meeting at an early date
with the purpose of creating com
mittees representing the different
organizations of the Town with the
hope that a real Fourth of July ce
lebration be put on this year.
Boy Wins Prize Trip
Benny Benson, Indian boy in the
Jesse Lee home, the happy winner
of the best design for a Territorial
flag may be given a trip to Paris
with the American Legion if the
plans of the Legislature aer car
plans of the Legislature are car
ried through.
The second place was won
by Juanita Lewis of Wrange'l.
another youngster coming through
aboriginee stock via Wrangell and
Klawock while the third r»rce was
copped by Victor Wacker of Wack
er City, Ketchikan whose ancestry
might be traced back to tne chiefs
of old Tongass.
omith Again lontirmed
The Senate this week unanimous
ly confirmed the nomination of
Walstein G Smith as Territorial
Treasurer. The term is lor four
years. Mr. Smith’s first appoint
ment was made by Governor Strong
and has been followed by the ap
pointment by Riggs, Bon e and
and Governor Parks. If he com
pletes this term to which he has
been appointed he will ha^e served
the Territory in the same office fo*
18 years.
Sitka Mayor and Coun
ciimen on Trial
The Grand Jury returned an in
dictment against Mayor Hanlon ol
Sitka and Amner Murray, John Hoi
lywood, William Larianoff and K
Raatkainon, councilmen ~ on th«
charge of conspiracy to cheat anc
defraud the inhabitants, taxpayers
and citizens of Sitka.
It is alleged that the council pale
to Mayor Hanlon a sum of monej
as commission for the sale of schoo
bonds and that other irregularities
would be shown.
“I was made drunk and thej
took me in” during the electioi
campaign of last November shoult
he the words of Mayor Hanlon. I
was not unexpected that the forces
that secured the betrayal of his
supporters and friends should nov
throw him overboard.
i_
August Buschman only .make
1*4 percent on his Investment stll
is able to Increase operations fron
00,000 to 100,000 cases of salmon
He made only $150,000 on his pacl
last year.. Hi sloss being profits h<
hoped to make but didn't.
H&HkRMtN FOR
i m sill
—
uu oaturday evening at the 1 hi*cl
Surest school Louse a otuoUai Ol
lesideul nsheriueu waa bald to con
aider the graduated tax measure on
jisu caught in traps.
rete Jorgenaon waa elected chair -
•uuu and Louis t'aui secretary ot
ilie meeting. The Chair expressed
j the purpose oi the meeting and
called lor an expression from any
' on e present.
x'ete Somers stated that it waa
' ilia belie! that with all the pres
sure being brought to bear upon
the legislators to kill the measure
that therelore every inlluence pos
sible should be brought to bear to
counteract the adverse oninions oi
trap men.
opinions oi trap men.
“Seagul" Larson spoke to the
point when he said, The trap sys
tem has put us in poverty and have
enriched themselves at our ex
pense, building up Oregon, Wash
ing and California. That we are
broke now and out of the hshing
business by regulation oi the De
partment oi Commerce and the trap
system therelore conditions could
not get any worse ior resident fish
ermen ii the canners reiused to
can after such tax was incorporat
ed in the laws.
The general opinion oi the meet
ing being that the canners are
trying t(y biufi publie opinion into
supporting their measure and de
feating the bill. That the "gambl
ers” of the industry would no
doubt get out but that legitimate
investors woulff remain.
The impression that the Juneau
Empire and the Ketchikan Chron
icle has been trying to give the
public is that only "Indians” are
tc be affected by this legislation.
me meeting was entirety oi wnue
Kesident Fishermen and they clear
ly expressed their views showing
the wrong statements of the Trap
Presa.
A motion was considered to urge
the Legislature to pass the graduat
ed tax measure and that the legis
lators be asked to stand squarely
on their pre-campaign pledge and
the platform of the election of last
November. By raising vote these
resident fishermen of Petersburg
expressed their wishes 37 to 0.
Forty being present and three not
voting.
As a comparison between the
Schoenwald meeting of last Thurs
day week, this later expression may
be accepted as being the wish of
the majority of the electors of the
Division and Territory. The legis
lators cannot go wrong in following
the wishes of the mass of electors
against the wishes of the few who
control allthe mouthpieces of the
Territory.
Dan Sutherland Here
• Hon. Dan A. Sutherland, Delegate
r to Congress, arrived in Petersburg
i from Juneau yesterday on the Ad
[ miral Rogers. He will spend a few
; days in Petersburg and will then
i return to Juneau,
i He spoke before the Fisheries
r Committee of the House of Repre
sentative in Juneau favoring the
graduated tax measure. His argu
» ment that the shifting of the per
l case tax to a tax on trap caught
i fish is not creating a burdensome
. tax on the industry yet insures Jus
t tice to the fishing element depend
j ent upon their seines for their liv
ing.