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Buy Your Outfit in Nenana--Save Time, Money, Trouble
THE NENANA NEWS
VOLUME IV
MEMBER OF ASSOCIATED PRESS
NENANA. ALASKA, SATURDAY,, FEB, 3, 1923.
NUMBER 409
FRENCH TROOPS THREATEN USE STEEL
GERMANY BEGINNING TO FEEL ISOLA TION OF R UHR
FUR BUYERS PROTEST AGAINST FUR SEAL MONOPOLY
FUR MAN MAKES APPEAL
TO CITIZENS OF NORTH
George R Goshaw, veteran Alas
ka fur buyer, has addressed the fol
lowing letter to the people of Al
aska. urging their cooperation in
throwing the fur seal industry open
to competitive bidding. Mr. Goshaw
is now in Washington attending
the hearings which are being held
by the senate commerce committee:
“Believing that you are person
sonaliy interested and deeply con
cerned in the present investigation
relative to the matter of the Sale
of the Alaska Fur Seal Skins, I
am writing to you, calling attention
to the salient features which caused
this inquiry. The inevstigation is
now scheduled before the Commit
tee on Commerce, the hearing be
ginning next week.
In 1910. while a deputy U. S.
Marshal for Alaska, I personnally^
conducted the first Government!
Sale of Alaska Fur Seal Skins at I
Unalaska. The skins were sold at;
public auction to the highest bidder j
in the ’salted form.’ Since that
time I have devoted much time:
and attention to this matter of fur'
seal sales, believing that it is best |
for the Government to sell all fur
seal taken at the Pribilof Islands
at public auction in the ’salted
form’
The present method of selling
the Government's Fur Seal Skins i
is thru a contract granted by the (
Department of Commerce to the ]
Fouke Fur Company of St. Louis,
Mo. The contract granted by the
Department grants to that company
the Exclusive right to dress, dye
and sell all fur seal skins taken
by the Government each year—the
contract being for a period of ter,
years.
The contract causes to exist to
day, the closest and most exclusive
monopoly in any industry within
the United States—the Government
I is a party to it. This contract is
a meriace to the Fur industry for
it restrains all competition—no oth
er fur firm or fur dyeing company
can obtain a single raw fur seal
skin legally taken at the Pribilof
Islands.
At the time the present contract
was granted, no person—no firm in
Alaska or the United States, other
than certain officials of the Depart
ment of Commerce and members
of the Fouke Company, were given
an opportunity to enter into com
petitive bidding for the dressing
dyeing and the selling of the Alaska
Ftir Seal Skins. It was entered into
in a most secretive manner, absol
utely contrary to all law.
*■ In 1919, President Harding, then
in the United States Senate, intro
duced a Bill ’S 2857’ which provid
ed for the sale of the Alaska Fur
Seal Skins—no action was taken
on this measure, other than sending
h to Committee. Last June 1922,
t Senator Johnson, introduced 'S 3731
it being an exact copy of 'S 2857..
Senator Johnson's Bill was referred
to the Committee on Commerce,
of which Senator Jones of Wash
ington. is the Chairman.
Bill S 3731 provides, “That no
fur seal or fur seals shall he taken
the skin or skins of which when
properly .salted, or cured in salt,
shall measure less than thirty-sey
en and one half inches in length,
and provided further, that all fur
seal skins so taken and recorded
shall be sold in their salted form
as cured and shipped from the Is
lands, and in no other shape, by
the Secretary of Commerce, from
afld after passage of this Act.”
Now it is up to you. Are you
intertsted in the matter? How does
•’■the present method effect you and
< your business? Are you willing that
the Government shall continue to
f be your competitor grant
ing to its partner exclusive
priveleges. thus making it possible
to close you out of business? Do
'•f.
CITIES IN OCCUPIED DISTRICTS
RUNNING SHORT OF SUPPLIES
you want this to occur? Is it right
that the Government shall continue
to be a party to this most exclusive
monopoly? Do you believe that the
only and proper way the fur seal
skins should be sold is in the salted
form as provided by the Johnson
Bill?
Then if you so believe—Get Busy
—Wire to Senator Wesley L. Jones,
the Chairman of the Committee on
Commerce. Wire and write to your
United States Senator at Washing
ton, requesting that he give im-,
mediate attention to this investiga
tion. State vour opinion and how
the present system of sales, affects
you and your business. Write to
Secretary Herbert Hoover, Depart
ment of Commerce—tell him. Have
your Fur Association, and your
Chamber of Commerce pass resol
utions condemning this contract,
then wire them to Senator Jones
at once.
Kindly send to me a copy of all
wires and letters you send to your
Senators relative to this matter,
as I desire to compile all papers
for presentation to the Committee.
Providing you desire further infor
mation on this subject wire to me,
and I will be glad to furnish par
ticulars.
Get Busy. Wire Senator Jones at
once.
George R. Goshaw.
Members of Committee on Com
merce:
Wesley L. Jones of Washington. ■
Kr.ute Nelson of Minnesota, Bert
M. Femald of Maine. William M.
Calder of New York. Irvine L.
Lenroot of Wisconsin, Walter E.j
Edge of New Jersey, Frank B.
Willis of Ohio, O. E. Weller of
Maryland, Duncan U. Fletcher of
Florida, Joseph E. Ransdell of
Louisiana. Morris Sheppard of Tex-j
as. Furnifold M. Simmons of North j
Carolina. Nathaniel B. Dial of South;
Carolina. T. H. Caraway of Arkan-!
sas.
ARMY COMPLETES PROGRAM
FOR CARE OF SERVICE MEN ;
WASHINGTON, D. C. Feb. 3,—
A program providing for the com- j
pletion of five new hospitals before j
the summer of 1924, or the use of j
the Veterans Bureau or caring for)
former service men, has been an
nounced by representatives of the
army. The proposed hospitals will
care for about 2.000 new patients,
and provide quarters for about 800
nurses and attendants. One of the
hospitals will be located at Amer
ican lake.
MORE DISTURBANCES
VICTORIA, B. C. Feb. 3—Three
earthquakes of varying in intensity,
believed to have orginated in the
Aleutian islands, were recorded yes
terday at Gonzales observatory.
AMERICAN TALKS TO TURK
I LAUSANNE, ... Feb. 3—Richard
Washburn Child, chief American
spokesman at the “Near East peace
conference, made a strong appeal
for peace this week on the oecasiorf
of the presentation of the * treaty
to the Tfcrkish delegation. H J point- i
ed 04}t that Turkey; nntst be respon- (
sible if she is to have peace and*
the ' cooperation she .
speech made a deep <impr
the conference.
•quira.
The*
Vincent P. Rogers came in from;
j Healy yesterday to assist in put
ting over the minsterl show for the1
Pioneers.
COBLENZ. Feb. 3—It became
necessary this morning to disperse
a crowd of three thousand Germans
who gathered in noisy protest be
fore the headquarters of the Rhine
land higit commission, as a result
of the deportation of German of
ficials. Many of the Germans were
clubbed and threats were made
that bayonets would be used if
the crowd failed to move promptly.
Attitude Unchanged
BERLIN. Feb. 3—A semi-official
communique, after referring to ru
mors in circulation to the effect that
Germany is preparing to yield to
French pressure in the Ruhr dis
trict, declares that the present at
titude of Germany will continue un
til the futility of Franco-Belgian
action is clear to its authors as an
illegality, which is recognized on
all sides.”
Allen Mutt Quit
COBLEXZ, Feb. 3—Major Gen
eral Allen has been directed by the
state department, at Washington, to
discontinue immediately all unoffi
cial relations with the Rhineland
high commission.
Commission Stands Pat
PARIS Feb. 3—The reparations
■ commission has adopted a resolution
! substantiating its own action of
' January -6. refusing Germany a
moratorium. The resolution was pas
sed in reply to a note of protest
from Germany.
League Suppre**** New
PARIS, Feb. 3—The council of
the League of Nations has declined
j to give out information regarding
; its attitude on the Ruhr question,
I but it is understood no steps will
| be :aken to settle the differences
; between France and Germany.
Supplies Running Short
DATE LESS. Feb. 3—While the
grip of France and Belgium on
industrial control is being felt in
unoccupied Germany, to which coal
; and coke shipments have been com
1 pletely shut off. the pinch of hunger
is being felt in Ruhr itself, accord
ing to German authorities. Food sup
> plies are running low in many towns
I and Government officials are in
1 conference regarding the situation.
Striker* Resume Work
j COBLENZ.-TO. "S—Mg nrlke-r*
i in this area are beginning to re
! turn to work and full train service
| with Cologne is promised for to
; morrow. ~ •
AMERICAN MONEY IS SENT
TO AID RUSSIAN REFUGEES;
MANILA, Feb. 3—Governor Gen-j
era] Wood has announced that the,
American Relief Administration for
Russia and the American Red Cross
have donated i5.000 each for the
assistance of the Russian refugees
who have just arrived here from
Vladivostok. The governor says o
ther donations are expected from
various organizations in the United
States.
DRY SQUAD MAKES ROUNDUP
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 3—Lieut
T. Barsford and Patrolman William
Barrion and Mark L. Willever, of
the San Francisco police depart
ment, and several chauffeurs and
motur truck drivers were taken
into custody yesterday while.
present at the alleged unloading of
a large shipment of contraband li
quor from a barkentine into six
motor trucks.
SHOPMAN MYSTERY VICTIM
TACOMA, Feb, 3—Adam Cook,
car shop foreman, died here yester
day morning as the result of injur
ies received in a night attack. The
police are working on the theory
that the attack may have resulted
from the recent shopman’s strike.
SAILORS MISSING
NORFOLK, Feb 3—All efforts to
locate 25 members of the crew of
the steamer Buttonwood, who took
to the' small boats, hate failed, due
to the resence of heavy fog. It is
. si^rgested that they have landed at
i some remote point on the shore
■ and have benn unable to notify the
authorities of their escape from
the vesseL
MEXICANS CLASH
| MEXICO CITY, Feb, fc-JTen
'were killed and more than fifty
^wounded'this week 'in a clash be
!tween Mexican federal soldiers and
st^tinj ‘street car workers. The
battle took place in front of the
labor headquarters in this city.
Hjmar Hansen arrived' in town
from the Kantishna district yester
! day.
/
GOVERNOR NOT DISCUSSING
DISPUTE OVER ALASKA FISH
Governor Bone is open minded re
gards tile fisheries reserve? being’
introduced by the department of
commerce, at the suggestion of the
bureau of fisheries, and protests
now being voiced by Delegate Suth
erland will be listened to by Gov
ernor Bone, says the Seattle Alaska
Dispatch.
“My faith in the future of the
territory is just as strong as when
1 took up my duties at Juneau,”
asserted Governor Bone. “So vast a
section of the national domain can
not indefinitely be held back.
“Larger population will settle
many of Alaska’s problems. Capita!
and the development of the interior
, must, of course, precede any con
siderable influx of settlers, and the
situation along these lines is im
proving every year.
“The agricultural possibilities of
Alaska have hardly been touched.
Some of the best wheat and grain
land in the world is located near
Fairbanks, and it is only a ques
tion of adequate transportation for
i crops before this country is popu
lated.
“The Alaska railroad made a very
good showing last year, and will do
even better in 1923. The roads car
ried 36,000 passengers and did a
; gross business of more than $600,
000, which demonstrates the wisdom
of Uncles Sam’s huge investment
in tie' Northland.
“The past tourist season attract
ed more than 5,000 visitors to Alas
ka, showing an unprecedented in
terest the North, and the num
ber of visitors in 1923 will show
an even more marked increase.
“The miring industry and the
fisheries are on a more substantial
basis than ever before, and will
go ahead rapidly in 1923. Great
mine development in Alaska awaits
the construction of adequate trans
portation facilities.
“AH Alaska i* preparing to wel
come President Harding when he
' makes hi* long deferred visit to
I the NqjghUtawi ia June, lie will
I undoubaply through Seattle
| on his trip, which will consume
l thr^jjF weeks or a month.
SENATORS GET INTO ROW
CALL EACH OTHER NAMES
WASHINGTON. D. C. Feb. 3—
The senate twice rebuked Senator
Hefflin, of Alabama, yesterday for
language used in reference to Sen
ators Wadsworth, of New York and
Couzens, of Michigan. By a Vote of
40 to 28 his remarks regarding
Wadsworth were held to be improp
er, and then, without a record vote
his remarks regarding Couzens were
expunged from the record. A few
minutes later, after one of the
stormiest debates in recent years,
the remarks made by Couzen* re
garding Hefflin, were expunged.
CAPITOL DRY SQUAD DIGS
INTO CACHES OF LIQUOR
WASHINGTON. D. C. Feb 3—
The biggest liquor raid in the his
tory of the capital was conducted
by the police yesterday, the drive
for unlawful beverages took in
the entire city and resulting in the
arrest of more than fifty persons.
The confiscated liquor was carted
to the police station by the truck
load, but it is not reported that
any of it came from the capital
building.
KNUTE NELSON STILL HALE
AT AGE OF EIGHTY YEARS
WASHINGTON, D. C. Feb. 3—
Senator Knute Nelson, known as
the “grand old man of the senate,”
celebrated his eightieth birthday
yesterday. He is in fine health
while many of his younger col
leagues are nursing colds.
JANUARY CANAL EARNINGS
SET NEW HIGH TOTAL MARK.
PANAMA, Feb. 3—Canal toll*
for the month of January amount
ed to more than a million and a
half dollars, establishing a new re
cord for one month, and exceeding
by half a million dollars the reven
ues for the month of January last
year.
PRESIDENT HARDING ACCUSED
OF VIOLATION BUDGET LAW
WASHINGTON, D. C. Feb. 3—
Representative Gardner, of Texas
ranking Democratic member of the
house ways and committee, charges
that President Harding has violated
the budget law through failure to
recommend a means of wiping out
the prospective deficit in the Gov
ernment finances for this year.
SOVIET TO FIGHT FASCISTl
MOSCOW Feb. 3—The Commun
ist International and the Soviet
Trades Union have ' proclaimed
world wide war on Fascism, whic
has taken firm hold in Italy and js
now sweeping Mexico.
FOUR DIE IN CHAIR
LITTLE ROCK. Ark. Feb. ‘i~~
Four convicted murderers were el
ectrocuted at the state penitentiary
yesterday. Three of the condemned
men were convicted of the murder
of Ira Gulp, a fanner, and the oth
er killed Wiliam v Sibley and his
wife.
SEWER CAVEIN FATAL
EVERETT, Feb. 3—The collapse
of the walls of a sewer trench in
this city buried S. and R. W.
Biown yesterday. Both men were
dng alive but they received
injuries which probably wifi prove
fatal.
GOSHAW TELLS COMMITTEE
SEAL MONOPOLY IS GRAFT
SEATTLE, Feb, 3—-A Washing
j ‘on special to the Seattle Times
pays that George R. Goshaw. well
| known Alaska fur buyer, appeared
before the senate commerce com
mittee this week in opposition to
the concession granted to the Fouke
Fur Company. He declared that
people dealing in raw furs "have
; no chance to compete with the
j Missouri politicians.” He explained
J that the present system of dispos
; ing of seal skins absolutely prevents
I other fur buyers from getting seal
i skins, and he denied that the St.
Louis firm is the only one having
the secret for taking the guard hair
from the fur? and dressing them for
market.
Government Losing Money
WASHINGTON, D. C. Feb. 3—
! That the department of commerce
| so manipulates its contract with
j the St. Louis firm for dyeing and
' dressing fur seals taken at the
j Pribilof islands, that the Govem
j ment each year loses a tremendous
amount of revenue, was charged
by Henry W. Elliott, expert fur
seal man. who appeared before the
senate commerce committee yester
day. He declared that the seal
skins should be sold in raw state
at auction so that other fur com
panies would have an opportunity
to bid for them. He contended that
the present plan created a monopoly
and was largely responsible for the
increased price of fur.
Delegate On The Job
Delegate Dan Sutherland charged
that the department had issued cer
tain orders and regulations which
were in the interest of the fish
trust operating canneries in Alaska.
FORD OFFER FAVORED
WASHINGTON. D. C. Feb. 3
The j^uaiified acceptance of the
offer of Hemy Ford or the Muscle
Shoals plant is proposed by the
chairman of the house a propriations
committee. He views the matter
purely from a business standpoint
and a desire to put the Alabama
project in the hands of a man who
has demonstrated his capacity, with
1 out regard to politics.
FLU GERM DISCOVERED
SCHNECTADY, Feb. 3—The
cause and isolation of the influenza
germ has been discovered, according
to announcement made today by Dr
Simon W. Flexner, director of the
Rockefeller Institute of Medical Re
; 'earch, who attribute* the discovery
j to Dr. Peter Olitsky and Dr. Freo
|erick T. Gates, of the institute. 1
' solation to permit experimentation
I with antidotes and antitoxins re
quired the use of powerful magni
j fiers, the germ being so small the;,
had to be magnified a thousand
times before they could be seen dis
tinctly under the microscope.
NO TRAMP VESSELS
WASHINGTON. D. C. Feb. 3—
The operation of Government ve«t
sels in the tramp service would be
unbusinesslike, inadvisable and an
unwarranted waste of funds, accord
] ir.g to Chairman Lasker, of the U.
! S. Shipping board. His views were
1 made known in a communication to
l the senate in response to a resolu
itioa of inquiry.
j _
TRAVEL SEASON EXTENDED
CHICAGO, Feb.3, —The summer
excursion season to the Pacific coast
is to be extended to Septemb^ 230,
according to announcement madfe'to
day by officials of the Transcontin
ental Passenger Association. It wa*
orginally intended to grant reduced
fares from Jfay 15 to September 15.
NEW YORK, Feb. 3—The funeral
’ of Henrjr Clews, financier, who died
jhere this week, was held this after
noon, with services at the Grace
Episcopal church.