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FORUM PUBLISHING COMPANY
James B* Wingate,. Editor and Manager
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1904
There is considerable discussion at
the present time, over the matter of an
elective administrative territorial form
of government for Alaska, in which the
present current expenses of the Dis
trict are quite extensively considered.
It is a well-known fact that some of
our federal officials are not administer
ing the affairs of their respective offices
with a conscience of economy. By the
inauguration of a little more public
spirited executive ability, the present
expenses could be considerably decreas
ed. Take, for instance, the system as
adopted by the United States marshal’s
office for feeding the prisoners confined
in the federal jail at Rampart.
Here the deputy marshal has the ex
clu >ive privilege of feeding the prison
ers confined in the federal jail on a ba
sis of profit overactual cost. With no
expense to. himself in the way of rent,
license, lights, fuel, or water, and with
the jailor, who is paid a salary of $150
per month by the government, cooking
the meals for the prisoners; the deputy
marshal recei ves, from the government
$1 for each meal furnished. * This is the
highest price charged the public, for a
good square, meal,-by the first-class res
taurants of Rampart,—under heavy ex
penses, such as government license,
rent, cooks, lights, fuel, and water.
Take these necessary expenses away
from these- restaurants, and surround
them with'the same conditions as the
deputy marshal, with help furnished by
the government, and they can furnish
the prisoners with as good, if not better
meals for 26 cents, than-Deputy mar
shal George Dreibeibis did for $1. Dur
ing the winter of 1902-3, the expense
for feeding the prisoners confined in
the federal jail at liampart, cost the
government per month more than
the actual cost to cne deputy marshal
for the meals furnished. This profit
went from the government treasury in
to the packets of Deputy marshal George
■Dreibelbis, who was at the same time
receiving a salary of $2,000 per year
| from the government for services as
deputy marshal at Rampart.
It has been generally understood that:
government amployees were prohibited
| from being interested in any kind of
supply contracts with the government,
nor to speculte directly or indirecly, at
the expense of the government for per
sonal profit. Citizens who comply with
the laws in conducting their mercantile
establishments, have the right to de
mand recognition in ail public matters
touching their line of business. It it is
the intention of the oliiciais to establish
the system of feeuing prisoners confined
in federal jails m Alas..a, as that adop
ted by pene ten liar les; then the supplies
should be furnished by the lowest res
ponsible bidder, and the protit to the
deputy marshal discontinued. On the
outer hana, if cooked tuou is contracted
lor, on a basis of profit over actual
cost, then the contractor should be the
lowest responsiole bidder residing- at
tne point where the jail is situated.
The same rule is applicable on this
line, as is adopted in furnishing the
wood supply. If the ruling comes from
the department of justice, that United
States marshals in Alaska shall have
the exclusive privilege of feeding the
prisoners confined in the different jails i
of their respective divisions, it is right
and proper that deputy marshals of the
different precincts should feed the pri
soners, and receive whatever stated
price the government agrees to pay.
But it seems that such a ruling is an
unjust one. It is certainly not on the
line of equal rights to all for the gov
ernment to employ an official at a salary
of $2,000 per annum, and then grant
him, as a perquisite, an exclusive mon
opoly of furnishing the government a
certain line of supplies, at a fluctuating
profit to himself alone.
___
The ALASKA code provides:—“It is
the duty of the grand jury to inquire
into the condition and management of
every public prison in the district.”
When the grand jury committee last
year, requested to examine the books
in the office of Deputy marshal George
Dreibelbis, of Rampart precinct, they
were informed ■'that the.e boo*.3 had
been all sene to liable Ci.y, and there
fore could not be inspected by the grand
jury. Upon the subject of feeding the
prisoners being broached, the officials
stated that the grand jury had nothing
to do with this matter,— that it v. as
ENTIRELY OUT OP THEIR JURISDICTION!
We would ask Judge Wickersham;
what was this grand jury for? and why
were its members so hampered in doing
their official duties? There are many
connecting links in the chain of Judge
Wickersham’s administrative connect
: ions that certainly demand a rigid Sen
' alorial investigation—link faY link.
According to the amendment to the
act of June 16, 1900, passed by congress
April 28, 1904, it is now possible for any
person, or association of persons, qual
ified to make entry under the coal-land
laws of the United States, to locate
coal-lands in the District of Alasxa.
These locations -lal Le rectangular
in form, and in forty, eighty, or one
hundred and sixty acre tracts, with the
north and south boundaries run accord
ing to the true meridian. The locator,
or loca:urs within one „ cf t_.e
location of me land, vrwtthin one y'f.r
of the pass, ge of the at t- sh-.ula the
i land an ea< .y
iocateo
j local-rac.it.er, and with the register
and recciv or at aui.eau lane office, a
notice containing the names of the lo
cator or locators, the date of location,
the description of the land located, and
a reference to such natural objects or
permanent monuments as will readily
identify the same.
Far be’t frae me that I aspire
To blame your legislation;
Or say, ye wisdom want, or fire
To rule this mighty nation!
But faith! I muckle doubt, my sire,
Ye’ve trusted ministration
To chaps, wha in a barn or byre,
Wad better filled their station.
BURNS.
r
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