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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1905.
The skagway alaskan says: “It is
'said the senators of the state of Wash
ington were preparing to to fight
'against the reappointment of Judge
‘Wickersham, judge of the Third divis
ion, so the president forestalled them
'by appointing him from the District
'of Alaska instead of from the ever
'green state. They cannot well object
'to him if his appointment is not to be
'charged to their share of the patron
'aee.”
The above is hardly giving the pro
per status of the case. The senators
of the state of Washington are respon
sible for Wickersham’s appointment in
the first place, and now, becoming con
vinced of his incompetency, owing to
his corrupt methods, they are opposing
his reappointment on the same grounds
as are Senators Penrose, Nelson, Mc
Cumber and others. They are not con
sidering where he is from, with refer
ence to the share of .political patronage
but as to the fact of him not being the
proper man for the position.
In this matter the senators have a
-
double duty to perform; as administra
tive officials at the head of our govern
ment, it becomes their duty to purify
the administration, and protect the*
public treasury from the ravenous at
tacks of official graft and corruption,'
mid as leading citizens of a free repub
lic, they must do all in their power. to
further the interests of good govern
ment. The president was politically
forced to send Wickersham’s name to
the senate upon “Investigator’’ Day’s
recommendation for the reappointment,
but his doing so not compel the senate
to confirm the appointment. As none
of the senators now wish to champion
——————. ■ I I. Ill I ——l.l I II. PI ■■ ■■
V. . "•: ‘ .
his cause as their candidate, the chan
ces for the confirmation of his reap
pointment are as only a dream.
Wickersham first received his appoint
ment in 1900 as from Tacoma, and his
residence in Alaska has been a forced
one to enable him to hold his federal
position and to draw his salary. 1 here
fore it is unreasonable to suppose that
the president would reappoint him as
from Alaska, when he has not for one
day lived in the territory as a private
citizen. As a bona-fide resident of the
state of Washington he entered the
employ of the United States as a fed
eral official, and *ince then his time
services have belonged to the govern
ment. Within the past two years he
has acquired possession of valuable
town property and miqing claims thro
his official position as judge of the U.
S. court for the Third division. He
might possibly decide to consider Alas
ka his home at the conclusion of his of
ficial career, but up to the present
time he cannot be considered a bona
fide resident of the territory.
His only political supporters m Alas
are those who are receiving, either di
rectly or indirectly, favors from him
through his official position. His un
just actions have caused unnecessary
hardships and annoyances to the peo
ple, as well as being detrimental to the
better interests of the country. He
has upheld corrupt and illegal actions
of subordinate officials connected with
his administration to the detriment of
the government at large. He appoint
ed Deputy marshal George Dreibelbis
receiver of 4 above on Glen, the title
to which was in litigation in his court.
Dreibelbis at the time was receiving a
salary of $2,000 per year from the gov
ernment for his rime and services as a
deputy marshal. During the attend
ance of the deputy-marshal-receiver
at Glen, Rampart was left without the
services of a marshal.
Criminal matters came up at this
which caused much unnecessary annoy
ance among citizens at Rampart. This
would have been avoided had the dep
uty marshal been attending to his of
ficial duties. Was it legal and honest
for the deputy marshal to resell ana
devote his time and services to private
matters? Does the fact that he receiv
ed extra per diem money consideration
for so doing -excuipate hun.Y Did n«v
Hotel Florence
IT
I Fine Wines and Liq
THE ONLY FIRST CLASS HOUSE
BILLIARDS
uors
POOL
I THE BEST ACCOMODATIONS
I Furnished Rooms fl;50^
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1 A. H. MAYO
his time belong exclusively to the gov
ernment which was paying his salary?
! Public interests were sacrificed, and
the peace and dignity of the commun
ity destroyed by the absence of this
officer. At this particular and critical
period Commissioner J. Lindley Green
showed his unjust official treatment of
citizen’s rights by protecting lawless
ness and manipulating to defeat justice.
Governor braoy may lose out on
the governorship after all. Protests
against his confirmation have been sent
L . > -i „ ...
'to Washington from aii the- cities in
| southeastern Alaska. The chambers
' of commerce and the leading business
men of all the towns in the district, it
is said, are now on record with the
committee on territories as saying he
is not wanted by the people as their
governor.
Senator Beveridge, chairman of the
committee, has charge of the protests
and it is said he will press them. Sen
ators Penrose and McCumber are also
opposing the confirmation. — ALASKAN.
The Alaska delegation which visits
Washington each winter, seems to be
be somewhat of a’ power after all.
When the appointments of three men
recommended by the president, are
held up in the Senate and there is a
doubt of their approval, it is an indica
tion that some of the Nome residents
who went outside got very busy soon
after their arrival on the shores of civ
ilization. —NOME NEWS.
The residents of Council City have
agained turned down at the polls the
proposition to incorporate their town.
The same proposition was voted upon
and deioavoo two y cuio age.