ALASKA FORUM
(OFFICIAL PAPER)
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James B. Wingate, Editor and Manager
Subscriptions: The Alaska Forum delivered
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one month, $1
Advertising rates on application. Address all
communications to the Alaska Forum. Rampart.
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to all communications, not necessarily for publica
tion. but as evidence of good faith. No attention
paid to anonymous communications.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1905.
NEEDED LEGISLATION IS
PROMISED THIS SESSION
Congress convenes December 4th,
when legislative measures pertaining to
Alaska will be introduced and carefully
considered in both houses. The Alas
kan representation at Washington this
winter will be far greater than at any
former session of congress. It is hoped
that the lobbying of federal office seek
ers and carpet-bag politicians will not
impede beneficial legislation, as has
heretofore been done. A large number
of senators and congressmen, through
personal observation, now thoroughly
understaftd.the existing conditions and
requirements of the District, and are
favorably inclined towards granting the
needed assistance.
A delegate to congress is an absolute
necessity if Alaska is to be placed in
direct touch with the National adminis
tration and officially make known her
needs and conditions on the floors of
congress. A delegate to congress will
overcome the present annoyance at the
National capital from the horde of self
delegated Alaskan representatives who
always have private axes to grind, and
who lobby to defeat the passage of any
measure conflicting with their private
schemes. The treacherous action of
Judge Wickersham, in defeating the
passage of the judicial division bill, is
a fair sample of the injustice which the
people receive through the manipula
tions of such corrupt political office
seeking lobbyists.
The important matter of depriving
the district judges of their present po
litical power will receive the attention
of congress, as the charges filed with
the senate committee against Judge
Wickersham, brings the matter ofiic
ially before that body. While begging
congress to grant us recognition and
legislative assistance, we must not for
get to request President Roosevelt to
favor us with more honest and incor
ruptable federal officials than those with
which the Third judicial division is at
present cursed with. It is claimed the
president will appoint a man from the
middle west or eastern states to suc
ceed Wickersham as district judge. It
seems strange that Roosevelt should so
soon forget his expressed ‘home rule’
policy for Alaska. A competent man
for the judgeship can certainly be found
in the District.
Alaska being almost exclusively a
mining country, the judiciary should be
composed of men versed in mining law,
and not like Wickersham, who one day
rules that the first locator holds mining
ground by his stakes; the next day de
cides that the first discovery of mineral
holds the ground. He also holds that
it is not possible for gold to exist in
muck, and again, when his personal in
terests require it,, he holds that it can
exist there. Such juggling with the
law by a presiding judge is detrimental
to the development of the country. It
stimulates continuous, vexatious and
uncertain litigation, wherein the court
and lawyers grow fat and sleek, and
the victim—the miner—poor and gaunt.
HOW “OFFICIAL” TOWNS
ARE NOW “DESIGNATED”
The recent action of Judge Wicker
sham in allowing his newly appointed
commissioners’ for the Delta and the
Kantishna precincts to themselves de
signate the place, within their respect
ive precincts, for their official head
quarters, demonstrates his disregard
for the provisions of the law, now that
his judicial career is drawing to a close.
To grant such a man as H. L. Hedger
that official privilege is another instance
where a henchman is permitted to con
vert official power into a commercial
commodity—for barter and sale.
The lftw provides: “Theorder estab
lishing a recording district shall desig
nate a commissioner to be ex-officio re
corder thereof, and shall also designate
the place where the commissioner shall
keep his recording office within the re
cording district. ’ ’
The commissioner for the Kantishna
Florence
Hotel and Bar.
Wines, Liquors & Cigars
BILLIARDS POOL
Tom Mahoney—Jack Radigan
Managers.
£ ik
McHugh & Smith
PACKERS
McHugh & Smith
I
Alaska Forum
Established 1900.
$1.00 The
per Miners*
month. Paper
upon his arrival in the precinct, started
a new town of his own, in opposition to
the one already booming, thereby caus
ing the latter place to become deserted,
the rush being for town lots at the ' 'of
ficial” headquarters: a la Fairbanks vs
Chena.
In a $10,000 building in Rampart 25c
drinks prevail: in a $10 tent across the
divide 50c is the figure. 'Buffaloed’?