The Alaska daily empire., 1917-04-06
NEW PENSION
 LAW PROPOSED
 FOR ALASKANS
Question of Amounts and Those Eligible for Pensions Before
 the Senate.
U R GED SAFEGUARDS
Careful Consideration Is Demanded Owing to the Troubles Experienced
 by Various States

IIUuUIcS CApci ltIiCcu
 by Various States
 An Alaska pension bill providing | allowances for certain residents in the Territory and presented before the Senate in the Committee of the Whole occupied attention for some time this morning. The bill. as ex- plained by Senator Aldrich, is really | an amendment to the Pioneers | Home bill to better safeguard the funds appropriated for allowances. | According to the provisions of the new act, allowances must not ex- ceed $20 for any individual and should be paid quarterly. The new act also provides for $30,000 ap- propriation instead of $20,000 as ap- propriated by the old act The age limit for either man or woman. eligi- ble to pension, was set at sixty five years. The provision for medi- 1 gal examination by a physician ap- pointed by the Governor, is also in cluded in the act as a further safe guard against misrepresentation of funds.
 Senator Heckman expressed him. l self as decidedly opposed to an Old Ladies Home and suggested giving each old lady eligible (which implies inability to support herself or with out relatives to do so) an allowance of $25, instead of $20 as the bill suggested. The Senator stated fur ther that he thought it would not only be less expensive but far more satisfactory tC all parties concerned to give an allowance of $25 than to maroon the dependent in a Home away from friends. Senator Roman favored pensioning old men also with an allowance of $25.
 Homes Are Hospitals
 Senator Aldrich explained that the Pioneers Home was really a hos pital and that many of the inmates were not eligible to the pension al lowance on account of age. Senator Sutherland called attention at this point to the trouble pension | urged careful consideration of the matter under consideration before taking any action. Upon order of Senator Hickman, chairman of the Committee of the Whole, the bill was recommended for further con ,ideration to the Finance committee.
 Two new bills were presented for
 
 morning. A bill introduced by Sena tor Sutherland providing an amend ment to the 1915 Session Laws. was referred to the Judiciary Commit l ee.
 The bill presented by the joint Committee of Education for the es tablishment of uniform school sys tenn in Alaska was referred to the Committee on Education.
 Bills Are Signed 1 The Senate convened at 10 o'clock | this morning with all members pres ent. Following the services by the Chaplain and the approval of the journal, Senate Bills Nos. 6 and B which passed the Senate yesterday | Copies of the Treasury report re ceived from the Governors office were distributed to each Senator.
 In the consideration of the daily file, the Senate accepted the report of the Committee of the Whole up on the following bills:
 Senate bills pertaining to the ac- | of x,I Of charter for an Agricultural College and School of Mines were carried over on the daily file. V
 1 Amendments to Senate bill pertain ing to annual leave of absence was passed The votes on the recOmmen- dation of Senator Aldrich to report the bill. with amendments, back to the Senate, stood: Sunback, Aldrich, and Roman in favor: Heckman, Suth- erland and Gaustad. opposed. Upon motion of Senator Sutherland the bill was voted for reconsideration.
 Senate Bill IT. reported by the Jul l. dietary Committee and pertaining to an amendment to the Compiled Laws regarding exemptions, was continued ' on the daily file upon motion of Senator Roman.
 Senate Bill No. 1, also reported by the Judiciary Committee, was placed on the table upon motion of Senator : Aldrich.
 [ Eieht-Hour Law is Up ,l Consideration of House Bill No. 5, eight hour law for underground work } slings, occupied the Senate after the , aaaafon rar.0nvQuad fhfS afternoon