THE CORDOVA DAILY TIMES
Entered at the Post office at Cordova,
Alaska, as second-class matter.
H. G. STEEL
EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1919
THE OIL LEASING BILL
According to information received
at this office the oil land leasing bill,
as recently passed by the senate, pro
vides that any person, association or
corporation, may go upon the public
domain not otherwise appropriated
and stake 2,560 acres of oil land. The
party or corporation must then apply
for a permit to prospect said ground
for oil. He has six months from the
date of staking to acquire the permit.
After permit is granted he has one
year to mark the corners of the
ground. The ground must be taken in
rectangular or square form, and if the
country has been surveyed, conform
as nearly as possible with the
official survey.
He must drill a well not less than
500 feet deep within three years from
date of receiving permit, unless he
discover oil in paying quantity be
fore, and a well not less than 2,000
feet deep within four years, under
like conditions. After a discovery of
oil in paying quantities has been
made the permitter may apply for and
acquire a lease to one-fourth of the
2,560 acres and pay a royalty of 5
per cent of the value of the oil ex
tracted, together with $1 per acre, the
$1 to be credited up against the roy
alty. Within six months after notice
he may acquire a lease on the re
mainder of said permit, if he so de
sires, and pay a royalty of 12*4 per
cent, together with $1 per acre
In case the land was located for oil
under the placer law, and prior to the
withdrawal act of 1909, and provided
not less than $250 has been expended
on each claim in development, and j
provided the said claimants relin-!
quish their rights to the United States
government within six months from
the passage of this law, the said
claimants will be entitled to take five
leases of 1.260 acres each, f they
have been holding that much, and
pay a royalty therefor of 5 per cent.
It will thus be seen that where
claims were staked under the old
law and the assessment work prop
erly kept up, the parties that have
held them will be entitled to the first
chance to lease if they so desire, and
will have six months in which to de
win
The bill as passed by the senate
seems to also provide that a person
or corporation may acquire three
2,5G0-acre prospecting permits, pro
vided each of these permits is upon
“separate and distinct geological for
mations”—whatever that may mean.
A different law, the provisions of
which are not known here, has been
intruduced in the house, and up
to date has not been reported. And
unless the house adopts the senate
bill as a whole, which is not likely,
the matter will have to go to con
ference. This will no doubt take
some time.
As matters now stand, it does no
one any good to stake ground, be
cause up to the present there is no
law. It is, however, not a bad idea
for interested persons to look the
ground over and see what they might
care to stake in event the law does
pass.
There seems to be a disposition on
the part of congress to pass some
sort of a leasing law for oil, coal and
phosphates, and it is hoped that it
will go through in such form that it
can be operated under after its pas
sage. It means much to Alaska,
The provisions given above apply
to Alaska. They are not so liberal
for leases in the States.
THE OBNOXIOUS SCHOOL TAX
The Anchorage Times, in answer
to a letter of inquiry, publishes an
editorial in reference to the school
tax enacted by the last legislature.
It may not be amiss to say that the
law has been generally and willingly
complied with, even by the itinerant
cannery workers, the good object for
which the tax is levied carrying its
own recommendation for what other
wise would have raised a storm of
protest.
There is no argument that can pos
sibly excuse such an inequitable
method of taxation other than the
direct necessity, and the people of
the territory no doubt will look to
the next legislature to bring about the
repeal of this law and the substitu
tion of a bill which will place the tax
wrere it rightfully belongs—upon
property. The Times article is in
part as follows:
“This tax, which is intended to
make up the deficiency in revenue
caused by the loss of saloon licenses,
is a makeshift of the most disagree
able type known to taxpayers. Ap
parently without due consideration of
the people, and with the single idea
of obtaining funds with which to oper
ate the schools, regardless of meth
ods, the legislature hit upon the sim
plest, yet most obnoxious of all forms
of taxation, the head-tax.
Under this form of taxation the
laborer working on the railroad for
a day’s wages is taxed the same as the
executive head of the department,
even though the latter may be earn
ing three times as much money; the
miner working in the drift is taxed
the same as the owner, and the clerk
is taxed the same as the merchant. In
every case is the injustice to be found.
If, as it frequently happens, the man
who is drawing the big money is over
fifty years old, then he is relieved of
any tax whatsoever.
“However that is not the only in
justice. In incorporated districts, if
a man owns property which has been
taxed for school purposes, he must,
nevertheless, also pay the $5 tax.
“Since time immemorial the head
tax has been the refuge of unwise
lawmakers who, seeking to raise
funds with the least expenditure of
mental effort, have resorted to this
method, which ever has resulted in
resentment and resistance by the peo
ple who were affected. That the
money to be derive*! from this tax is
to be devoted to the schools of the
territory is the only factor which has
saved it from general disregard by
the neoDle.
“The old poll tax, which only re
cently was wiped from our statute
books, was repealed because it was
found almost impossible to collect
it. This, like all other head taxes,
was unjust in its operation and found
to be unworkable.
“The people of Alaska are willing
to pay taxes for the support of the
schools. They are not overly critical
as to the amount of these taxes, but
above all else they demand that the
tax be just, and that all pay accord
ing to their abilities and that there
be no doubling of taxes in some cases
and escape in others.
“Our correspondent is mistaken in
the supposition that the schools are
maintained by the federal government
other than that 25 per cent of all
moneys derived from liquor licenses |
outside of the incorporated towns,
and 50 per cent which were paid to
the federal government was turned
back for the support of the schools.
The balance of the money necessary
was supplied from the territorial
treasury. The education of the Es
kimos and Indians, however, is under
the control of the secretary of the in
terior, and the federal government
supplies all the necessary funds.
“With the loss of the liquor licen
ses, the revenue of the schools natur
ally was reduced, and it was to over
come this deficit that the last legis
lature restored the obnoxious head
tax.
“The Times can offer no comfort to
its correspondent, other than to re
mind him that this makeshift law is
the work of the Democratic legisla
ture, which following the lead of the
federal government at Washington,
which has burdened the people with
innumerable direct and inconsistent
taxes, has run to form in the enact
ment of this school tax.”
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING
FOR SALE—No. 5 Underwood Type
writer, good condition. Inquire
Alaska Transfer Company. 13-4
APARTMENT FOR RENT—Apply to
Charles J. Goodall. 13-15
FOR RENT—Furnished cabin. Phone
129. 8-11
FOR SALE.—Clinker-built boat, 15
feet long, outboard engine; in per
fect condition; ,$125. J. F. Rawson.
FOR RENT—Furnished cabins. See
Dooley.
FOR SALE—Good stock of rabbits for
breeding purposes. Apply A. Cohen.
Phone 167- 3 rings. 19-tf
♦
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ngart& Rubin nn
DEALERS IN UP-TO-THE-MINUTE |
Wall Paper
AND DECORATIONS
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cheerfully furnished for the best of work by experienced workmen.
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NORTHERN MEAT MARKET j
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DEALERS IN
Fresh Beef, Pork, Veal, Mutton
and Provisions
Particular Attention and Prompt Service Given to Orders from
Mining Camps, Roadhouses anj interior Points. Halibut and other
Fresh Fish of all kinds will be kept In stock when available.
SMITH & GLASSBRENNER, Props.
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STEAM HEAT ELECTRIC LIGHTS
Overland! otel
MRS. J. W. KENNEDY
Chitina, Alaska
POOL TABLE IN CONNECTION
BZ8T BRAND8 OF CIGARS KEPT
ALASKA HERRING & IMPORTING Co. Inc.
Pier C, Foot of Main St. Seattle. Wash.
Wholesale Receivers and Distributors of all kinds of Salt Fish
Write us and let us know what you have to offer
r™—~~--— - r:~ — ..—_
CITY BAKERY LUNCH ROOM ,
I
Special Carefully-Prepared Lunch served from 11:30 a. m. Our Fine
French Rolls with every meal
Big Variety of Pastries and Cakes, Always Fresh
Sanitary Machinery of Latest Model. Patent Brick Oven. Best Ma
terials used by Expert Workmen, producing our Famous Cream Loaf
Best Coffee in Town
French Bread Rye Bread
I_
! FOR SALE
FOR SALE
Choice business and residence
property.
FOR RENT
Furnished and unfurnished
apartments and cottages.
INSURANCE—
Fire and marine, life and ac
cident.
BONDS
Fidelity and surety.
CORDOVA ABSTRACT &
REALTY COMPANY
ROOM 1 ADAMS BUILDING
The Burkhardt
Hand Laundry
and Bath
Burkhardt Flats
Neatly Fitted up with Large
Porcelain Tubs. Everything
Clean and Sanitary.
Phone 61—three rings.
TOKENS OF RESPECT
A well conducted funeral la a
token of respect to the deceased.
Our methods of conducting a
funeral have given us an oppor- 4
tunity to serve you In a manner
that will command respect. We
are equipped to serve you satis
factorily.
K. E. HOLDEN PARLOR
Second Street, between
A and B Avenues