The Alaska daily empire., 1921-04-14
ROSS BILL KEEPS TEMPORARY PLAN OF COOPERATION
Ross Road Bill Passes Second Reading Livestock Bill
 Is Recommitted.

Defeating all efforts at further amendment in the House this morn ing, the Ross Road Bill was put through it's second reading and ord cred engrossed. It is said to provide for temporary cooperative roac work. The bill was brought ul shortly after the House convened with the report of the Committee oI the Whole from yesterdays session The report being adopted
 MT Murray attempted tc have it amended by increasine the saliry of the p"eseDt nivisiona! Road CouI- missioners from the stipend pro- vided for of $10 per day while actually engaged in work to an al- lowance of $20 per day. MT, Coch- ran opposed the increase, declar- 1 ing that he was not willing to approve a salary of $500 per month for the Commissioners although, he said. it seemed to be on par with the bill generally MT. Murray's amendment was defeated
 MT Cochran again attempted to amend the bill so as to make com pulsOry the approval of all co-opera- tive agreements by the entire per 5onncl of the Divisional Road Com missions. He declared that he had a mandate from his constituents on that phase of the matter and he would carry it out if possible. His amendment was defeated
 Assure Cooperative Work
 Amendments adopted by the House in Committee of the Whole to the Ross Road Bill yesterday afternoon are said in effect to guarantee con- trol by the Territorial Road Bureau of all cooperative road construction agreements entered into the Terri tory and Federal road building agen- cooperative provisions of the meas ure are contained in Section r which as amended, reads:
 "It shall be the duty of the Ter ritorial Board of Road Commission CTS, at the request of the Chairman of the Divisional Road Commission, to enter into cooperative agreements with the Alaska Road Commission and the Secretary of Agriculture or other Federal authority, for the cor struction, repair or maintenance of any public road, bridge or ferry within the Territory in the manner now prescribed by Jaw. but no such cooperative agreement shall become effective until approved by the Chair man of the Divisional Road Commis. sion"
 Under the provisions of the bill, for the next two years the Chair men of the four Divisional Road Commissions will be appointed by the Territorial Commission and be unier it's authority and responsive to it's suggestions In this manner, l it was pointed out. the central i boards power to initiate and carry out in behalf of the Territory coop erative agreements considered by it for the best interests of the coun- try.
 Cochran Fights Amendment
 As originally drawn, cooperative agreements would not be undertak- en nor could they become effective until they were fully approved by the entire Divisional Commission, in each district The membership on the several Wiyisional Commissions will vary For the next two years ! they will be composed of a chairman appointed by the Territorial Board and two members elected last No vember If the Ross bill is enacted. however beginning with 1923. these commissions will be composed of an elective chairman and assistants ap- pointed by such chairman from each recording precinct
 Mir. Cochran fought the amend ment adopted taking away from the assistant commissioners voice in ap proving cooperative agreements and bestowing it entirely on the chair man He declared that the people of his division are solidly against such action and demand that the whole cOmmSSl0n nave the rlSHt te say who shall expend the Territory's road funds and where they shall bf : expended.
 Strike Salary Clause The House in Committee of the
 Whole yesterday also adopted adopt
 ed an amendment striking the clause
 providing for a fixed salary of S2,
 500 per year fc- the elected Com !, missioner and inserted a provision giving such chairman six per cent
 of the amount appropriated by the Legislature to carry out the provis | ions of the Act, however, not to ex ceed $2.50O in any one year and tC be paid in monthly installments. On' or two other minor amendment were also made.
 When the Committee arose yester
 day afternoon, owing to the latenes' of the hour the report was no F made The bill was continued oi
 it's second reading to be taken III
 Ia;l