SECOND YEAR CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, JULY 30, 1012. ——
Alaska Home Rule Bill
\ As Passed by the Senate
WASHINGTON, July 25.—By a practically unanimous
vote, the Senate yesterday passed the Alaska home rule bill.
The bill in question was known as the Sulzer bill in the
House, and when it reached the Senate it was changed by Sen
ator Jones of Washington to include a provision for a railroad
commission to investigate and report to Congress the feasibility
of government railroads in Alaska.
In the shape it is at present it will be returned to the House
for a conference, and if acceptable to the House in its present
form, it will be ready for the President’s signature. A canvass
of the situation has convinced the friends of the measure that
it will reecive both the endorsement of the House and the sig
nature of the President and become a law.
Another important change made in the pi-esent bill over
that introduced by both Wickersham and Sulzer in the House,
is a provision doing away with the upper legislative hr inch of
the territorial government and providing a io\ .*r bn;... h only
of sixteen members, four from each judicial tlx vision.
The first legislative assembly is to be held on the first Mon
day in March, 1913, at Juneau, and the election of members
thereto will be held on the first Tuesday in November, 1912.
The legislature shall remain in session not longer than sixty
days in any two years, unless a special session is called by the
governor.
The railway plank introduced by Jones in the Senate pro
vides for an officer of the engineer corps of the army; a geolo
gist in charge of Alaska surveys, and a civil engineer who has
had practical experience in Alaska railroad construction, ail to
be appointed by the President. This commission will examine
all railway routes from the seaboard to the coal fields and to the
interior navigable rivers. It will secure surveys and other in
formation as to cost of construction and operation, trade value
prospective and otherwise of the territory to be served, proxim
ity of coal fields to the several routes, with a recommendation
as to the best route for developing natural resources and pro
viding coal for the navy and government. This commission is
to make its report to Congress at the December term, 191 •2, or
as soon thereafter as proper information can be secured, and
the sum of $25,000 will be appropriated for that purpose.
WASHINGTON, July 27.—The House Committee on Ter
ritories agrees to accept the Senate provision in the Alaska
home rule bill for a government commission to visit Alaska and
report on the best route for a government railway, but also in
sists that there shall be two branches of the territorial legisla
ture, the same as has been provided for all other territories.
This action means that it will have to go to the Senate again,
unless a joint conference of committees can agree upon the pro
visions.
The bill in its amended form, as passed by the Senate the
other day, is as follows:
An Act to Create a Legislative Assem
bly in the Territory of Alaska, to
Confer Legislative Power Tbereon,
and for Other Purposes,
lie it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the
United States of America, in Con
gress assembled,
Alaska Territory Organized.
That the territory ceded to the
United States by Russia by the treaty
of March thirtieth, eighteen hundred
and sixty-seven, and known as Alas
ka, shall be and constitute the Ter
ritory of Alaska under the laws of
the United States, the government of
which shall be organized and admin
istered as provided by said laws.
Capital at Juneau.
Sec. 2. That the capital of the
Territory of Alaska shall be at the
city of Juneau, Alaska, and the seat
of government shall be maintained
there.
Constitution anil Laws of l mted
States Extended.
Sec. 3. That the Constitution of
the United States and all the laws
thereof which are not locally inap
plicable, shall have the same force
and effect within the said Territory
as elsewhere in the United States;
that all the laws of the United States
heretofore passed establishing the
executive and judicial departments
in Alaska shall continue in full force
and effect until amended or repealed
by Act of Congress; that except as
herein provided all laws now in force
in Alaska shall continue in full force
and effect until altered, amended, or
repealed by Congress or by the legis
lature: Provided, That the authority
herein granted to the legislature to
alter, amend, modify and repeal laws
in force in Alaska shall not extend
to the customs, internal revenue, pos
tal or other general laws of the
United States or to the game, fish
and fur-seal laws of the United States
applicable to Alaska, or to the law's
of the United States providing for
taxes on business and trade, or to the
Act entitled “An Act to provide for
the construction and maintenance of
roads, the establishment and main
tenance of schools, and the care and
support of insane persons in the Dis
trict of Alaska, and for other pur
poses,” approved January twenty-esv
enth, nineteen hundred and five, and
the several Acts amendatory thereof.
And the legislature shall pass no law
depriving the judges and officers of
the district court of Alaska of any
authority, jurisdiction, or function
exercised by like judges or officers of
district courts of the United States.
The Legislature.
Sec. 4.—That the legislative pow-er
and authority of.said Territory shall
be vested in a legislative assembly, to
be hereafter called the legislature,
which shall consist of a house of rep
resentatives. composed of sixteen
members, four from each of the four
Judicial divisions into which Alaska is
now divided by Act of Congress. The
term of office of each representative
shall be for two years, each of whom
shall have at the time of his election
the qualifications of an elector in
Alaska and shall have been an actual
resident and inhabitant in the divi
sion from which he is elected for at
least two years prior to the time of
his election, and the four persons re
ceiving the highest number of legal
votes for such office in each of said
judicial divisions shall be deemed
elected. In case of a vacancy the
governor shall order an election to
fill such vacancy, giving due and
proper notice thereof. That each
member shall be paid by the United
States the sum of fifteen dollars ppr
day for each day’s attendance while
in session, and mileage, in addition,
at the rate of fifteen cents per mile
for each mile from his home to the
capital and return by the nearest
traveled route.
Election of Members of the Legis
lature.
Sec. 5. That the first election for
members of the Legislature of Alas
ka shall be held on the Tuesday next
after the first Monday in November,
nineteen hundred and twelve, and all
subsequent elections for the election
of such members shall be held on the
Tuesday next after the first Monday
in November biennially thereafter;
that the qualifications of electors, the
regulations governing the creation of
voting precincts, the appointment and
qualifications of election officers, the
supervision of elections, the giving of
notices thereof, the forms of ballots,
the register of votes, the challenging
of voters, and the returns and the
canvass of the returns of the result
of all such elections for members of
the legislature shall be the same as
those prescribed in the Act of Con
gress entitled ‘‘An Act providing for
the election of a Delegate to the
House of Representatives from the
Territory of Alaska,” approved May
seventh, nineteen hundred and six,
and al the provisions of said Act
which are applicable are extended to
said elections for members of the leg
islature, and shall govern the same,
and the canvassing board created by
said Act shall canvass the returns of
such elections and issue certificates
of election to each member elected to
the said legislature; and all the penal
provisions contained in section fifteen
of the said Act shall apply to elec
tions for members of the legislature
as fully as they now apply to elec
tions for Delegate from Alaska to the
House of Representatives.
Convening and Sessions of Legisla
ture.
Sec. 6. That the Legislature of
Alaska shall convene at the capitol at
the city of Juneau, Alaska, on the
first Monday in March in the year
nineteen hundred and thirteen, and
on tlie first Monday in March every
two years thereafter; but the said
Legislature shall not continue in ses
sion longer than sixty days in any
two years unless again convened in
extraordinary session by a proclama
tion of the governor, which shall set
forth the object thereof and give at
least thirty days’ written notice to
each member of said Legislature, and
in such case shall not continue in
session longer than fifteen days. The
governor of Alaska is hereby author
ized to convene the legislature in ex
traordinary session for a period not
exceeding fifteen days when request
ed to do so by the President of the
united States, or w'hen any public
danger or necessity may require it.
Organization of the Legislature.
Sec. 7. That when the legislature
convenes it shall organize by the
election of one of its members as pre
siding officer, who shall be designat
ed as “speaker of the legislature,”
and by the election of the following
subordinate officers: One chief clerk,
who shall receive a compensation of
eight dollars per day, and one assist
ant clerk, one enrolling clerk, one en
grossing clerk, one sergeant-at-arms,
one doorkeeper, one messenger, and
one watchman, who shall receive a
compensation of five dolars per day
during the sessions, and no charge
for a greater number of officers and
attendants, or any larger per diem,
shall be allowed or paid by the United
States to the Territory of Alaska:
Provided, That no person shall be
employed for whom salary, wages, or
compensation is not provided In the
appropriation made by Congress.
Knncting Clause—Subject of Act.
Sec. 8. That the enacting clause
of all laws passed by the legislature
shall be “Be it enacted by the Legis
lature of the Territory of Alaska.”
No law shall embrace more than one
subject, which shall be expressed in
its title.
Legislative Power—Limitations
Sec. 9. The legislative power of
'the Territory shall extend to all right
ful subjects of legislation not incon
sistent with the Constitution and laws
of the United States, but no law shall
be passed interfering with the pri
mary disposal of the soil; no tax shall
be imposed upon the property of the
United States; nor shall the lands or
other property of nonresidents be
taxed higher than the lands or other
property of residents; nor shall the
legislature grant to any corporation,
association, or individual any special
or exclusive privilege, immunity, or
franchise without the affirmative ap
proval of Congress; nor shall the
legislature pass local or special laws
in any of the cases enumerated in the
Act of July thirtieth, eighteen hun
dred and eighty-six; nor shall it grant
private charters or special privileges,
but it may, by general act, permit
persons to associate themselves to
gether as bodies corporate for manu
facturing, mining, agricultural, and
other industrial pursuits, and for the
conduct of business of insurance, sav
ings banks, banks of discount and
deposit (but not of issue), loans,
trust, and guaranty associations, for
the establishment and conduct of
cemeteries, and for the construction
and operation of railroads, wagon
roads, vessels and irrigating ditches,
and the colonization and improve
ment of lands in connection there
with, or for colleges, seminaries,
churches, libraries, or any other be
nevolent, charitable or scientific as
sociation, but the authority embraced
in this section shall only permit the
organization of corporations or asso
ciations whose chief business shall be
in the Territory of Alaska; no di
vorce shall be granted by the legisla
ture, nor shall any divorce be grant
ed by the courts of the Territory, un
less the applicant therefor shall have
resided in the Territory for two years
next preceding the application, which
residence and all causes for divorce
shall be determined by the court up
on evidence adduced in open court;
nor shall any lottery or the sale of
lottery tickets be allowed; nor shall
the legislature or any municipality
interfere with or attempt in any wise
to limit the Acts of Congress to pre
vent and punish gambling, and all
gambling implements shal be seized
by the United States marshal or any
of his deputies, or any constable or
police officer, and destroyed; nor
shall spiritous or intoxicating liq
uors be manufactured or sold except
under such regulations and restric
tions as Congress shall provide; nor
shall any public money be appropri
ated by the Territory or any munici
pal corporation therein for the sup
port or benefit of any sectarian, de
nominational, or private school, or
any school not under the exclusive
control of the government; nor shall
the government of the Territory of
Alaska or any political or municipal
corporation or subdivision of the Ter
ritory make any subscription to the
capital stock of any incorporated
company, or in any manner lend its
credit for the use thereof; nor shall
the Territory, or any municipal cor
poration therein, havfe power or au
thority to create or assume any bond
ed indebtedness whatever; nor to
borrow money in the name of the
Territory or of any municipal divi
sion thereof; nor to pledge the faith
of the people of the same for any loan
whatever, either directly or indirect
ly; nor to create, nor to assume, any
indebtedness, exeept for the actual
running expenses therof; and no such
indebtedness for actual running ex
penses shall be created or assumed
in excess of ihe actual income of the
Territory or municipality for that
year, including as a part of such in
come appropriations then made by
Congress, and taxes levied and pay
able and applicable to the payment
of such indebtedness and cash and
otlier money credits on hand and
payable and not already pledged for
prior indebtedness: Provided, That
all authorized indebtedness shall lie
paid in the order of its creation; all
taxes shall be uniform upon the same
class of subjects and shall be levied
and collected under general laws, and
the assessme ts shall be according to
the actual venue thereof. No tax shall
be levied for Territorial purposes in
excess of one per centum upon the
assessed valuation of property there
in in any one year; nor shall any in
corporated town or municipality levy
any tax for any purpose, fn excess of
two per centum of the assessed valua
tion of property within the town in
any one year: Provided, That Con
gress reserves the exclusive power for
five years from the date of the ap
proval of this Act to fix and impose
any tax or taxes upon railways or
railway property in Alaska, and no
acts or laws passed by the Legislature
of Alaska providing for a county
form of government therein shall
have any force or effect until it shall
be submitted to and approved by tlie
affirmative action of Congress; and
all laws passed, or attempted to he
passed, by such legislature in said
Territory inconsistent with the provi
sions of this section shall be null and
void: Provided further, That nothing
herein contained shall be held to
abridge the right of the legislature
to modify the qualifications of elect
ors by extending the elective fran
chise to women.
miles, giiornni, and Majority.
Sec. 10. That the legislature shall
choose its own officers, determine the
rules of its own proceedings not in
consistent with this Act, and keep a
journal of its proceeaings; that the
ayes and noes of the members on any
question shall, at the request of one
fifth of the members present, be en
tered upon the journal; that a ma
jority of the members shall consti
tute a quorum for the conduct of
business, and no legislative act shall
be valid unless voted for by at least
nine members; that a smaller num
ber than a quorum may adjourn from
day to day and compel the attendance
of absent members, in such manner
and under such penalties as the legis
lature may provide; that for the pur
pose of ascertaining whether there is
a quorum present the presiding offi
cer shall count and report the actual
number present.
Legislator Shall Not Hold Other
Office.
Sec. 11. That no member of the
legislature shall hold or be appointed
to any office which has been created,
or the salary or emoluments of which
have been increased, while he was a
member, during the term for which
he was elected and for one year af
ter the expiration of such term; and
no person holding a commission or
appointment under the United States
shall be a member of the legislature
or shall hold any office under the
government of said Territory.
Exemptions of Legislators.
Sec. 12. That no member of the
legislature shall be held to answer
before any other tribunal for any
words uttered in the exercise of his
legislative functions. That the mem
bers of the legislature shall, in all
cases except treason, felony, or
breach of the peace, be privileged
from arrest during their attendance
upon the sessions thereof, and in go
ing to and returning from the same:
Provided, That such privilege as to
going and returning shall not cover
a period of more than ten days each
way, except in the second division,
when it shall extend to twenty days
each way, and the fourth division, to
fifteen days each way.
Passage of Laws.
Sec. 13. That a bill in order to
become a law shall have three sepa
rate readings, the final passage of
which shall be by a majority vote of
all the members, taken by ayes and
noes, and entered upon its journal.
That every bill, when passed by the
legislature, shal immediately be en
rolled and certified by the presiding
officer and the clerk.
Tlie Veto Power.
Sec. 14. That, except as herein
provided, all bills passed by the leg
islature shall, in order to be valid,
be signed by the governor. That ev
ery bill which shall have passed the
legislature shall be presented to the
governor. If he approves it. he shall
sign it and it shall become a law at
the expiration of ninety days there
after. unless sooner given effect by
a two-thirds vote of said legislature.
If the governor does not approve such
bill, he may return it, with his ob
jections, to the legislature. He may
veto any specific item or items in any
bill which appropriates money for
specific purposes, but shall veto other
bills, if at all. only as a whole. That
upon the receipt of a veto message
from the governor the legislature
shall enter the same at large upon
its journal and proceed to reconsider
such bill, or part of a bill, and again
vote upon it by ayes and noes, which
shall be entered upon its journal. If,
after such reconsideration, such bill
or part of a bill shall be approved by
two-thirds vote of all the members it
shall thereby become a law. That if
the governor neither signs nor ve
toes a bill within three days (Sundays
excepted) after it is delivered to
him, it shall be come a law without
his signature, unless the legislature
adjourns sine die prior to the expira
tion of such three days. If any bill
shall not be returned by the govern
or within three days (Sundays except
ed) after it shall have been present
ed to him, the same shall be a law in
like manner as if he had signed it,
unless the legislature, by its adjourn
ment. prevents the return of the bill,
in which case it shall not be a law.
Payment of Legislative Expenses.
Sec. 15. That there shall be an
nually appropriated by Congress a
sum sufficient to pay the salaries of
members and authorized employees
of the Legislature of Alaska, the
printing of the laws, and other inci
dental expenses thereof; the said
sums shall be disbursed by the gov
ernor of Alaska, under sole instruc
tions from the Secretary of the Treas
ury, and he shall account quarterly
to the Secretary for the manner in
which the said funds shall have been
expended; and no expenditure, to be
paid out of money appropriated by
Congress, shall be made by the gov
ernor or by the legislature for ob
jects not authorized by the Acts of
Congress making the appropriations,
nor beyond the sums thus appropri
ated for such objects.
Laws Transmitted to President and
Printed.
That the governor of Alaska shall,
within ninety days after the close of
each session of the legislature of the
Territory of Alaska, transmit a cor
rect copy of all the laws and resolu
tions passed hy the said legislature,
certified to by the secretary of the
Territory, with the seal of the Terri
tory attached; one copy to the Presi
dent of the United States, and one
to the Secretary of State of the Unit
ed otates; and the legislature shall
make provisions for printing the ses
sion laws and resolutions within
ninety days after the close of each
session and for their distribution to
public officials and sale to the people
of the Territory.
Election of Delegates.
Sec. 17. That after the year nine
teen hundred and twelve the election
for Delegate from the Territory of
Alaska, provided by “An Act provid
ing for the election of a Delegate to
the House of Representatives from
the Territory of Alaska,” approved
May seventh, nineteen hundred and
six, shall be held on the Tuesday
next after the first Monday in No
vember in the year nineteen hundred
an<i fourteen, and every second year
thereafter on the said Tuesday next
after the first money in November,
and all of the provisions of the afore
said Act shall continue to be in full
force and effect and shall apply to
the said election in every respect as
is now provided for the election to
be held in the month of August
therein: Provided, That the time for
holding an election in said Territory
for Delegate in Alaska to the House
of Representatives to fill a vacancy,
whether such vacancy is caused by
| failure to elect at the time prescrib
ied by law, or by the death, resigna
I tion, or incapacity of a person elect
| ed, may be prescribed by an Act
passed by the Legislature of the Ter
ritory of Alaska: Provided further,
That when such election is held it
shall be governed in every respect by
the laws passed by Congress govern
ing such election.
Creating Railroad Commission.
Sec. 18. That an officer of the
Engineer Corps of the United States
Army, a geologist in charge of Alas
kan surveys, an officer in the En
gineer Corps of the United States
Navy, and a civil engineer who has
had practical experience in railroad
construction and has not been con
nected wita any railroad enterprise
in said Territory be appointed by the
President as a commission hereby
authorized and instructed to conduct
an examination into the transporta
tion question in the Territory of
Alaska; to examine railroad routes
from the seaboard to the coal fields
and to the interior and navigable wa
terways; to secure surveys and other
Information with respect to railroads,
Including cost of construction and
4»4»4»4«4« »l»4»4i4. A *1.1T1 if ..»■ AAJ. A A.f. A .t. .tin .f i.t.f | | f | | ^11 t tl I 111 t I 1 llj
t
Happenings About Town 1
1
Ole Berg of Kuskulana was In
town a few days this week.
The warm weather for the last
week has raised the rivers and thir
teen bents of the bridge were taken
out, but were replaced in a few days.
This bridge continues to be an expen
sive nuisance.
James Rockefeler returned Wed
nesday from a business trip out the
trail.
Arthur Barnes and family have
moved into the neat residence just
completed by Axel Michelson.
Those stopping at the Ohitina Ho
tel this week are T. I). McGee, Matt
Larson, C. . Howard, W. M. Wolf, R.
Capilla, George Geiger, C. W. Little
john, Charles Young, T. W. Lwnc.i,
Ole Berg, ,1. L. Brice, r'. A. Gray and
wife, H. J. Elliott. Mr. and Mrs. ,1.
C. Gilson, .1. E. Clarkin, L. L. Butler,
Harry Lloyd.
Mrs. Rose Johnson and family pass
ed through Chitina on their way to
ivennecott.
t ■
M. Finkelstein returned to Chltl
na on Friday's train.
!
BASK BAIX PARK
The last stumps were pulled Fri
da.v, leaving a cleared field of about
three acres. The women of Chitina
have shown their interest in the mat
ter in a most substantial manner,
and have served good working
lunches in most delicious form to
tthose working on the stump puller,
every day for more than a week. The
unselfish attitude everybody shows In
the undertaking is certainly refresh
ing.
A dance for the benefit of the ball
grounds netted $57, which will cover
the slight expenses incurred so far.
The equipment will soon be here,
and some good games are in sight for
the summer. It seems as though
Chitina is ful of ball players who will
make it interesting for anyone who
is looking for a game.
r:.'. ■ !: j
WASHINGTON, July 2(5.—With an eye on the election in
Alaska, James Wiekersham has indulged in another acute at"
tack of “blind staggers” and has discovered a “nigger in the
woodpile” in a hill introduced by Charles F. Booher, repre
sentative from the Fifth district of Missouri, for the leasing of
coal lands in Alaska.
The delegate from Alaska charges that the hill in question
is the result of a conspiracy on the part of railroads fo lease
the Alaska coal and build railroads thereto and thus control the
output.
The friends of Mr. Booher were greatly surprised at the un
warranted attack and are resenting it, although those best ac
quainted with the methods of the delegate from Alaska have
been expecting for some time that Wiekersham was about due
for another outbreak, only wanting an excuse, especially as it
is now necessary to make political thunder to catch the votes
of the unthinking in Alaska.
The record of Representative Booher as a Democrat always
anxious to advance the best interests of the people is without
reproach. He was educated in the common schools, brought up
on a farm, and made his own way. He held office as prosecut
ing attorney of Savannah, Mo., later mayor, a presidential elec
tor on the Democratic ticket, and has served in Congress since
the Fiftieth Congress. He was re-elected for the present Con
gress by a large majority over the Republican candidate.
The friends of Alaska deplore the fact that at a time when
everything seemed ripe to secure some remedial legislation for
Alaska, when the Democrats as well as members of the admin
istration are working to that end, that the delegate should
again attempt to block progress by making wild charges, which
many publications and those interests which have been work
ing to keep the Alaska coal from being developed, will eagerly
seize upon to forward their own selfish purposes.
operation; to obtain information in
respect to coal fields and their prox
imity to railroad routes; and to make
report of the facts to Congress on or
before the first day of December,
nineteen hundred and twelve, or as
soon thereafter as may be practica
ble, together with their conclusions
and recommendations in respect to
the best and most available routes
for railroads in Alaska which will de
velop the country and the resources
thereof, and the best system of con
structing and operating railroads and
coal mines in the said Territory for
the use of the Government in naval
and military operations and for the
use of the people of the United
States: Provided further, That the
sum of twenty-five thousand dollars,
or so much thereof as may be neces
sary, is hereby appropriated, out of
any money in the Treasury not other
wise appropriated, to defray the ex
penses of said commission.
Sec. 19. That the Committee on
Territories of the Senate and the
Committee on Territories of the
House of Representatives are hereby
authorized, empowered and directed
to jointly codify, compile, publish,
and annotate al the laws of the Unit
ed States applicable to the Territory
of Alaska, and said committees are
jointly authorized to employ such as
sistance as may be necessary for that
purpose; and the sum of five thous
and dollars, or so much thereof as
may be necessary, is hereby appropri
ated, out of any money in the Treas
ury not otherwise appropriated, to
cover the expenses of said work,
which shall ue paid upon vouchers
properly signed and approved by the
chairmen of said committees.
Laws Shall Be Submitted to Congress.
Sec. 20. That all laws passed by
the Legislature of the Territory of
Alaska shall be submitted to the
Congress by the President of the
United States, and, if disapproved by
Congress they shall be null and of
no effect.
MIXING NEWS OF SLATE CREEK
Reports from Slate creek are en
couraging, with plenty of water flow
ing to insure good clean-ups for the
entire season.
Meyers and Correge are doing good
work with half a dozen men taking
out ?25 to the shovel. They are do
ing better than any on the creek.
McDowell is now working full
blast and is doing well.
Chick Nelson and John Grouse are
iworking on Beck gulch.
The Kraemer ground is now being
ground sluiced prior to shoveling in.
Black is about ready to start in
shoveling, having been delayed by
last spring's big snow slide.
Swanson is doing a great deal of
work at the mouth of Slate creek.
John Hazelett, who is working a
keystone drill on the Chesna, has got
down three holes above the canyon.
He has heretofore been working be
low, having drilled ten holes in all.
Bob Pollard, Tom Holland and Cal
vin Hazelett are working on the
Chesna divide, doing fairly well.
Dempsey is waiting for his people
to come in.
-o—o—o —
Delegate James Wickersham at
tended the Republican national con
vention, sitting ns an alternate to a
Missouri delegate.
—-o—o ■ o .
Try the Chitina Hotel for cigtra
and pipes, at Seattle prices.