The Daily Alaska empire Newspaper, March 15, 1949, Page 1

THE DAILY ALASKA EMPIRE “ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME” VOL. LXXIL, NO. 11,144 JUNEAU, ALASKA, TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1949 MENDBER Al SSOCIATED PRESS PRICE TEN CENTS General Business Tax Bill Goes To Governor Claims 30 Alaskans Will | Fly fo Washingfon, Protest IN SENATE'S Confirmation of Gruening AMENDMENTS COMPTROLLER BILL TABLED BY REQUEST Sen. McCukh?m Bows fo Opinion that Streamlin- ing Measure Premature By BOB DeARMOND | The Senate bill to replace two | Territorial offices, Auditor and Treasurer, with one Comptroller, was laid on the table this morning in the Senate at the wequest of its author, Steve McCutcheon. Senator McCutcheon explained, in opening the debate on the mea- sure when it came up for third reading, that it was designed to streamline . the organization of the | Territorial government preparatory to statehood. He got fittle support from his | colleagues in the Senate, however, and Senators Peratrovich, Collins| and Butrovich all spoke against | passage of the bill at this time. | “There is a lot of merit in the bill,” Senator Butrovich admitted, “but this is not the time for it. Representatives of two national auditing firms are now due in Ju- neau and will soon start an audit of the Territory’s books, after which we can draw up some concrete plan for reorganization.” Senator Butrovich said he plans to ask for some sort of interim committee of the Senate, perhaps composed of hold-over members, to | receive the audit and make recom- mendations when it is completed. Health Dept. Bill S. B. 34, a general revision of laws pertaining to the Territorial Department of Health, had ‘its sec- ond reading this morning, -but was held over so that Senators could have an opportunity to consult with the Attorney General on some of its provisions. A defect in Alaska’s new code, the compiled laws of 1942, was pointed out by Dr. C. Earl Alcrecht dur- ing the ciscussion of the Health De- partment bill. Many of the Health Department laws were not included in the new compilation, Dr. Albrecht said, and had to be rewritten in the present bill. The Senate also started, but did not cemplete, a Committee of the Whole hearing on House Bill 37, to create a Territorial Department of Fisheries. Senator Howard Lyng was named chairman of the com- mittee, which recessed at noon. Fisheries Department John Wiese, representing CIO fishermen’s unions, took the stand to explaih the bill and the feelings of organized fishermen toward it. “We are approaching statehood— or at least we think we are—and now is the time to start organizing a fisheries department,” Wiese said. “While the quarter of a million dollars appropriated by the bill is a substantial sum,” Wiese said, “it is certainly not excessive when the requirements are studied and in (Continued on Page 6) The Washington Merry - Go- Round By DREW PEARSON (Copyright, 1949, by Bell Syndicate, Inc.) ASHINGTON —The list is sup- posed to be secret, but 39 form- er senators and congressmen are drawing retirement pay from the government. Several are indepen- dently wealthy; two have prison sen- tences hanging over their heads. Many others fully deserve pensions for their long service to their country. However, the greed of those who don't deserve pensions is likely to hurt those who do. Only eligibility requirements are that the applicant must be at least 62 years old and have six years' service in Congress. The amount he can draw is figured at 2 per cent of his average salary, multiphed by the number of years he served. The average payment is $3,238 an- nually, but runs as high as $6,500. Although the law went into effect oply two years ago, these retire- ment benefits are retroactive. ‘Two of the first to apply for the handout were former Congressmen Andrew May of Kentucky and James Curley of Massachusetts, whose itchy palms had already got (Continued on Page Four) American Legionls | 30 Today PARIS, March 15—#® — The American Legion is 30 years old to- day. On March 15, 1919, about 1,000 scldiers of world war one met in the Paris Circus to found the organi- zation which now claims over 4,~ 000,000 members. They were brought together by the late Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. The old Circus building has long since been torn down, ktut today; Paris Post Commander C. Denby: Wilkes, navy veteran of both world wars, will place a wreath on the site. Y The name American Legion was adopted on a motion made by Maj. Maurice K. Gordon, inspector gen- eral of the 36th division. He is now a lawyer in Madisonville, Ky. NOMINATION OF WALLGREN IS REJECTED WASHINGTON, March 15.—(®— The Senate Armed Services Com- mittee today rejected President Truman’s nomination of Mon C. Wallgren to be chairman of the Na- tional Security Resources Board. On a 7-6 vote, the committee tabled the nomination. That action has the effect of finally burying it unless some committeeman changes his mind or. the Senate itself calls it up. That procedure would require only a majority vote, but it is rarely used. ¥ i Senator Byrd (D-Va.) joined wnh[ six Reputlicans on the committee to tip the scales against Wallgren, a former Senator and a crony of Mr. Truman. Chairman Tydings (D-Md.) told reporters about the action after a closed committee meeting. H He said all the Reputlican mem- bers voted for the motion to table and all the Democrats except Byrd voted against it. ‘The motion adopted by the com- mittee said no evidence reflecting on Wallgren's loyalty had been filed but stated the former Washington Governor lacks sufficient “economic and industrial experience.” Senator Cain (R-Wash.), who led the fight against the nomination, had accused Wallgren in public hearings of being soft toward com- munism. He also called.him unfit. BAND CONCERT PLANS MADE BY ROTARIANS; SEE COLORED SLIDES The Rotary Club today was the third civic group to see slides of the Juneau Ice Cap shown by Tony Thomas of the U. 8. Forest Service. Gil Eide, chairman of the program committee, assisted Thomas in the showing of colored pictures taken on an American Geographic Society expedition last fall. Final week promotion for the Ro- tary-sponsored Juneau City Band concert March 22, took up most of the club’s business session today, with Dr. C. Earl Albrecht, concert chairman, reporting on progress of plans. An inquiry by Harold Foss on the status of the Juneau Memorial Li- trary fund raising program, brought a short discussion on the matter, but it was tatled until the return from the States of Frank Heintzle- man. Visiting Rotarians included Sen. E. B. Collins of Fairbanks, Sen. Gunnard Engebreth of Anchorage and Leonard Hopkins of Anchorage. Guests of the meeting were Bill Dean, high school ski coach and Herb Sawyer of Seattle. STEAMER MOVEMENTS Alaska from Seattle scheduled to arrive 6 o'clock tonight. Baranof scheduled to sail from Seattle Saturday. Princess Norah scheduled to ar- rive Wednesday morning at 8:00 LAYOFFS OF RAILROADERS IS SPREADING Systems Carrhyifig (oal Feel Pinch Because or Lewis’ Miners Stoppage PITTSBURGH, Maich 15—(P— Idleness among railroad workers spread through the coal fields to- day amid fears of some coalmen | that the mine shutdown may extend | beyond two weeks. Coal-carrying railroads felt thel pinch in earnest on the second day of the work stoppage called by John L. Lewis. | Other coal dependent industries hummed merrily. More than 62,000 railroaders are headed for lay-offs by the end of the week. One coal source pointed out that four days after the 463,000 idle min- ers are scheduled to return to the pits cn March 28, they will observe a traditional holiday—Mitchel Day. | John Mitchell was an early United | Mine Workers leader credited with| winning the eight-hour day. The coal industry spokesman said | he thought many miners might stay | away from work until after that holiday. Lewis called the holiday as a me- morial to men killed or injured in the mines last year. He also termed it a protest against appointment of Dr. James Boyd as Director of the Federal Bureau of Mines. e THREE 10 OLYMPIA DISCUSS RECRUIT OF ALASKAN LABOR High pressure labor recruiting icampaigns of Alaskan contractors have made for unsettled labor con- ditions in West Coast population centers, and have lured hundreds of men to Westward Alaska where expected fat pay jobs are not read- |ily available, according to Robert E. Sheldon, Unemployment Com- pensation Commission director. An attempt to provide a plan for orderly recruiting of Alaskan de- fense work labor, is the otject of a conference of State and Territorial Employment Services and the U. S. Social Security Administration to be held Thursday and Friday at Olympia, Wash. Sheldon will be one of three Ju- neau officials to attend the two- day meet. He leaves today by Pan American Airways for Olympia plan- ning to spend a day handling UCC vusiness prior to the called con- ference. Director of U. S. Social Security Administration for the Territory, Hugh J. Wade, and Arthur Hedges, Director of Employment Security, will leave tomorrow by PAA t6 at- tend the conference. ¥ The Alaska defense labor situa- tion has reached a point where some cooperation between stateside and Territorial enployment agencies is a necessity, Sheldon said, to not only supply the needed labor re- quirements, but also to control to some extent the flow. of labor to Alaska. SITKA TRIO 1S SEEKING FUNDS FOR HOSPITAL A three-man Sitka Geiegation was here today to confer with legisla- tors on.the chance of getting funds for a community hospital. They were awaiting a conference with the House Ways and Means Com- mittee at noontime. They are William Lentz, presi- dent of the Sitka Hospital Associa- | tion; Ivan Rezak, secretary-treas- | urer, and the Rev. E. Nygaard. They said the town is desperately in need of hospital facilities. The association has about $25,000 from sales tax revehuu, but it is in- sufficient to bring needed federal matching funds. The association found it would have a chance of only slight territorial financial aid in the bill now in the Legislature for aid of community-operated hos- pitals. Lentz said they hope they may be able to get an amendment to the hospital bill to provide $125,- o'clock and sails south one hour later at 9 am. R 000 and open the way for federal 1aid. (apifal Site StirsMerry Controversy ‘Palmer Scores Point in De* bate Over New Office Building By JIM HUTCHESON Palmer, in the Matanuska Valley, |scored a point last night in the campaign it hopes may some day win the capital away from Juneau. Climaxing a campaign by Third Divisions legislators, the House vot= ed 15 to 9 for a $660,000 appropria- tion bill for a new Territorial office building. An amendment provided that it be located on a free site at Palm- er. ? 1 The Bill previously had been tabled by a 13 to 10 vote after hours of wrangling had produec- ed a deadlock. In last night's action, it was untabled and put before the House for a decision. The amendment naming Palmer as the location for the new office building was passed after a three- way tug-of-war among Juneau, Fairbanks and Palmer supporters. The bill for the office building in Juneau was introduced originaily by Rep. Marcus Jensen as & pro- posal to add three extra stories to the projected Coast Guard building. That wasn't feasible, so the bili was changed to provide for a new building. It looked as though the only controversy would be over the amount of the proposed appropria- tion—and whether anything would Then Speaker Stanley McCutch- eon slipped in the “stinger” amend- ment to change the Juneau desig- nation to Palmer. That set off the merry three-way tug-of-war, and a series of eulogies to the weather at Fairbanks and in the Anchorage- Matanuska area that would have made the Chamber of Commerce bright eyed. Rep. Glen Franklin proposed to amend McCutcheon’s amendment to make it Fairbanks instead of Palm- er. That one lost. But the Palm- er amendment carried before the end of the afternoon session. Then Rep. Doris Barnes of the First Division moved in with an unsuccessful counter-attack. She proposed cutting the appropriation to $100,000. McCutcheon and Clarence Keat- ing argued for Palmer as being nearer the center of Alaska’s main activities. They emphasized that a site was available at no cost while a spot on which to build the office structure in Juneau would involve additional cost. They complained about Junecau being inaccessible by air at many times, while it's usually clear fly- ing weather in their home sector. Franklin said he’s double that for Fairbanks; that it was almost always open to air traffic. Mrs. Dale’s Idea Mrs. Essie Dale commented: “Take a look at the map and you can see the capital is going to be moved eventually. It's too far from the center of the territory.” She remarked also that she had heard innumerable people in Juneau talking about establishing a separ- ate state. She said she was wary about the territory putting any more money into Juneau buildings “so that when you have your own RAILROADERS ON STRIKE BUT NOT OVER WAGE PAY ST. LOUIS, March 15.—#—Oper- ating employees of the Wabash Railroad went on strike today at 6 am. | The walkout was ordered after & | breakdown in negotiations conduct- |ed by a Federal mediator. | A total of 3,500 to 4,000 employees are affected. The railroad operates | over 2,500 miles of tracks in Towa, | Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. Jack Donnelly, vice president of | the Brotherhood of Engineers and spokesman for the other Brother- | hoods, said the strike resulted “from a long standing dispute involving time claims, working conditions and other things—but not wages.” CONTROLBILL FOR PARTIES . IS APPROVED Four Democrats Join Re- “publicans in Passing Par- ty Procedures Measure : By BOB DeARMOND The bill to set up procedures for the organization and operation ot Political parties—a bill which its| five Republican authors did not hesitate to admit was aimed at the “White Republican” faction of the party in Alaska—was the first of a| Hong line 8f bills pushed through the Senate yesterday afternoon and eve- ning just before the fiftieth day deadline. Passage of the party organization Lill was unexpected and came only when four Sénate Democrats joined seven of the eight Senate Republi- cans in the final vote. Senator Anita Garnick was the only Republican member of the Ecnate who voted against the bill. Senator Victor Rivers led the Democrats favoring the bill and voted for it along with Democrats Peratrovich, MacKenzie and Mec- Cutcheon, Republicans Butrovich, Collins, Jones, Dawes, Munz, Enge- bréth and Nerland. The bill sets up procedures for holding precinct caucuses, divisional and territorial conventions, and for naming party officers and delegates to national conventions. “FORCES OF GREED" Senator Garnick lateled propon- ents of the bill “the forces of greed who held a rump convention in the Territory but wers not admitted to the national convention.” {™ “Bach and every Republican can- didate who ran on a ticket against this bill was elected, and those who favored this type of legislation were defeated,” Senator Garnick asserted. “That very fact,” Senator Collins retorted, “shows the power of the political boss, the czar who' holds conventions in cellars and ware- houses without informing the pub- lic when and wheré they are to be held.” “I feel that the people of Alaska, the people in the highways and by- ways of the Territory, should have some voice in the control of the parties to which they belong,” Ser.a- tor Collins continued. Senator Andrew Nerland recited some ancient history in support ot the oill. “In 1917 things got so bad in the political parties in Alaska that peo- ple demanced something be dcne,” he said. “A law was passed provid- ing for the election of National Committeemen and other officials of the parties, and that worked until 1933 when a politician, who is still here, got it repealed.” HAVE TO SCRATCH “This bill sets up fair procedures for both parties,” Senator Nerland stated. “If it doesn't pass the Re- publicans will have to scratch along the Lest they can, unable to prop- orly organize themselves because of this one individual.” 7 “I can remember when James Wickersham himself was shut out of a Republican convention,” Sena- tor Jones recalled. “I can see noth- ing unfair about this bill,” he add- ed. Senator Howard Lyng announted that as Democratic National Com- mitteeman for Alaska, he would have to vote against the bill because, while it follows the general pattern of procedures set up by the Demo- cratic Party, it does not entirely cenform. , Senator Rivers, on the other hand, contended that “this is in essence the very procedures of the Demo- cratic party.” “Any qualified group can organ- ize a political party, even a third or fourth party under this bill,” Senator Rivers said. “I believe in the two party system, but I also believe we should have strong minorities to keep these parties on their toes.” ELEVEN' BILLS PASSED The Senate passed 11 bills during its afternoon and evening sessions, which lasted until shortly after mid- night. One bill was tabled, one fail- ed to pass, one was indefinitely post- poned and seven others either fail- ed to achieve suspension of the rules for final passage or were held over ty consent. i Laid on the table was Senator Munz' bill to establish the office of Territorial Comptroller, by a 9-7 (Continued on Page Three) I (Continued on ?Q;e’?fi;» HOUSE GIVES APPROVAL T0 LIQUOR BILL Plan of Four Deputies Under Attorney Gen- eral WEI8-6 By JIM HUTCHESON Both houses of the Territorial Legislature whipped bills through at a rapid clip last night in sessions lasting to midnight. ‘They were clearing the decks ke- fore the midnight deadline for eith- er house to send its own bills to the other. A bill to create rour division depu- ties under the Attorney General for liquor enforcement topped 13 bills passed by the House. It was a once-rejected proposal! coming back in new costume from Speaker Stan- ley McCutcheon, It was written into the “hot po- tato” liquor control bill last week but died with the bill. Last night it won 16-8 approval after more than an hour's wrangling, mostly over the requirements for deputies to have two years' college education or three years’' law enforcement ex- perience. The votes against it last night ‘“wwers by 'Reps). Angermats) Franklin, dundersen, Jensen, Nolan, Rydeeh, " Barnes and Miscovich. The House also passed nine reso- lutions and memorials, all unani- mously, except for a 16-7 vote on a request to Congress to allow the legislature to modify two years’ residence requirement for divorce. The House killed four bills. In the House, before passage of McCutcheon’s 11quor -enforcement ill, a measure, introduced by Dem- ocrat Clarence Keating to estab- lish a Department of Attorney Gen- eral with an expanded law-enforce- ment division under a special coun- sel, was defeated 11-12. The House passed unanimously a $50,000 appropriation for buying and remodeling The Towers apartment house for a Pioneer Women’s Home at Sitka, tut rejected, 10-14, Demo-~ crat Chester Carlson's bill to pro- vide Pioneer Home men residents with $5 a month spending money. Beveral legislators expressed fear such spending money might bring trouble into the home in bottled form. House concurrence in a minor Senate amendment sent to the Gov- ernor the tobacco tax bill which levies 3 cents a pack on cigarettes. Among the late afternoon meas- ures gaining House approval was one sponsored by Rep. Warren A. Taylor prohibiting cruelty to ani- mals. SOLONS RECESS FOR ALMOUIST SERVICES Both houses of the Territorial Legislature recessed this afternoon for funeral services held for Mrs. G. E. Almquist, wife of Rep. G. E. Almgquist of the First Division. Funeral services were held at 2 o'clock at the Charles W. Carter Mortuary, with the Rev. Willis R. Booth of the Northern Light Presby- terian Church officiating. The House of Representatives re- cessed at noon until 3:15 o'clock, and the Senate until 3 o’clock. Music for the services was sung Ly Mrs. Stanley Baskin, accompan- fed by Mrs. Wilda Faunce Husted. Mrs. Almquist, 70, died Friday at St. Ann’s hospital, following an extended illness. Interment was in Evergreen Cem- etery. o DR. VAN SANDT HERE TO CONFER WITH ANS Dr. Max Van Sandt, U. S. Public Health physician at Mt. Edgecumbe hespital, has spent the past two days here conferring” with ANS of- ilcials. He returns tomorrow to Sitka. | WASHINGTON, March 15.—(P-—| Thirty Alaskans are to fly here in a chartered plane to oppose the con- firmation of Gov. Ernest Gruening for another four-year-term. | Donald MacDonald, of Anchor-| age, representing the Territory| Transport Company, said in a te]et gram the Alaskans will remain in | Washington until the Senate acts on Gruening’s nomination, now pend- ing before the Senate Interior Com- | mittee. ‘ The Committee postponed action on the nomination yesterday witn- out naming another date to con- sider it. BRBRBEIR Sy S LIVERPOOL, Eng.—A coroner’s jury has ruled that Wilkert Titus | Brocklehurst, 46, committeed suicide by swallowing nineteen safety pins. [ partment termed “completely ridicu- lous” a published report that the United States is preparing to turn | over six or more warships to Ar- gentina. NANKING--Pudgy former Pre- mier Sun Fo has been indicted on charges of approving the improper disposal of enemy alien property to Miss Lan Ni. His name has been linked romantically with the charming woman. PARIS.—Premier Henri Queujlle beat off a combined Communist-De- Gaullist assault on his cabinet. A motion_of oensure. ernment {ailed by CHICAGO.—A late winter cold snap chilled a wide area of the na- ion today. Temperatures were be- low normal from the Rockies to the Appalachians and from Arkansas- Tennessee to the Canadian border: i TETERBORO, . J.—William P. (Big Bill) Odom took of for Boston today on the first leg of a 17,000~ mile flight to aid the 1949 Ameri- can Red Cross Appeal. One-day stops at each of the points on his itinerary are planned, Odom said. They will include Port- land, Ore, Tacoma and Seattle, — e SENATE UNABLE T0 SETTLE FILIBUSTER WASHINGTON, March 15.—@— A new attempt to settle the Senate filibuster failed this afternoon. Democratic leader Lucas of Illi- nois announced after a meeting of all faction leaders that “we didn’t make much progress. That is all I can say.” He sald Southern representatives turned down' the compromise pro- pqsal offered. He told reporters the situation remains just atout where it was last night. Earlier Lucas had acknowledged that administration forces lacked the votes to end the stalemate if Southerners wanted to keep the Senate tied up and could get Re- publican help. et SGT. SODINI TO LEAVE Beginning a 30-day leave which will take him and his family to Chicago, 8gt. 1st cl. Mario Sodini, ACS technician, was scheduled to fly to Seattle today with his wue! and their two children i After his leave, Sodini will spend 8 few days at Juneau ACS head- quarters before going to Anchor- (lle. where he has been transferred. ————.. TLEONARD BERLIN GOES I ON TRIP TO WESTWARD Leonard Berlin, Public Survey | Office regional cadastral engineer, was booked for a PNA flight today to Anchorage. He is going on business ccncerned with the com- ing year’s program. COL. NOYES RETURNS 5 After an extended trip to Wash- ington, D. C, and other cities out- side, returning via Whitehorse and Fairbanks, Col. John R. Noyes re- turned to Juneau yesterday. Col. oy~ | Propriations 08t 100 vmtea.f The House HOUSE JOINS Legislators Have Quiet Morning After Long Night Session By JIM HUTCHESON Legislative action on the general license tax bill was completed by the House today and the measure will head shortly for the Governor's desk. Unlike other major tax laws of the session, however, it will not be- come effective immediately after Governor Gruening signs it. It car- ries a proviso that it is to become effective the first January after Congress appeals the act under which the territory’s miscellaneous business license taxes are now col- lected. The House coricurred unanimous- * ly in the Senate amendments. The principal amendments set a two percent tax on net income of banks and other financial institutions and exempt processing which is not headed directly for the consumer market. It is for the benefit of prospective pulp mills which will produce pulp for manufacture into rayon. The act sets a $25 license fee and levies one-half of one percent on gross sales above $20,000 and one- fourth per cent gbove $100,000. Both Houses in low gear this morning after last night's Jong sessions. The House is scheduled to take up the $12,000,000 se passed two One, ty Rep. Alfred Owen Jr., asks Congress and federal agencies to establish a National Labor Relations Board office in Alaska because of mounting labor problems *and the distance to Seattle. Another, by Rep. Glen Franklin, asks the Highway Engineer to taks * under. consideration the linking of two small airstrips at Crooked Creek on the Kuskokwim. It said an air- port for larger planes could be de- veloped in an area where air trans- portation is vital. The representatives delayed actio: on a memorial by Rep. Andre: Hcpe against a congressional meas- ure to clamp down on hand rod, spear and gaff fishing. He said it would be harmful to Alaska resi- dents who depend on their individ- ual catches for food. The delay came after Third Divis- lon representatives reported there is a serious conservation problem on streams thgre because of persons, many of them tourists or soldiers, taking large quantities of salmon on their way to spawn. The long-pending resolution in “the case of the valentine” came to a quiet end in the House. The reso- lution berated the Fairbanks News- Miner and the Daily Empire for an editorial sharply criticizing the house for a horsey valentine the members sent to Editor Sid Charles of Ket- chikan. When the resolution appeared at the head of today's short calendar, Rep. Amelia Gundersen immedtately moved for indefinite postponement. Rep. Warren Taylor promptly said he was withdriwing it. Speaker Stanley McCutcheon said reference to it would be stricken from the record. A —r— G ® 07 e b0 00000 WEATHER REPORT (U. 8, WEATHER BUREAU This data is for 24-hour pe- riod ending 6:30 am. PST. In Juneau— Maximum, 45; FORECAST (Juneaw and Vieinity) Rair tonight with some high cloudiness tonight and Wednesday. Lowest tempera- ture tonight near freezing. Highest Wednesday near 39 degrees. Gusty northeasterly winds. 2 PRECIPITATION ¢ ® (Past 24 hours ending 7:30 a.m. today @ ® In Juneau City — None; since March 1, 245 inches; ® since July 1, 94.45 inches. ® At the Airport — None; ® since March 1, 1 inch; Noyes is Alaska Road Commission- er. ® since July 1, 59.30 inches. < .