The Alaska daily empire., 1923-04-02
BILL
 HEARING TODAY
 BEFORE SENATE
Many Attend Hearing and
 Urge Passage-Aldrich Announces Opposition.

Interest today in the Legislature eenteied mainly in the Senate hear ing on the Foster Literacy bill passed ten days ago by the House by vote of 10 to 6, which was taken up by the upper House at ? D. m. today At that time many local citizens were expected to ap- pear and urge the passage of the bill and petitions from other towns fayoring the measure were expected to be presented.
 Aldrich Discovers Reasons.
 At least one Senator, Aldrich. of this Division, has received telegrams urging him to support the measure. One, from the Woman's Club of Skagway. advised him that a peti- ton with AZ names was being for warded him. In response, Mir. Ald- rich has openly declared his opposi- ton to the bill, giving several req sens, the principal one being ob. jection 10 giving the judges of elec- tion power to apply literacy test. This system, he declared has been abandoned in every Northern State. In a letter written by him, copy ef which was sent to the Juneau Woman's Club, he is quoted as fol- lows:
 Did it ever to occur to you why, at this time, there is such a per sistent effort to bring back to AL aska the old system banished from every Northern State?
 "I shall tell you why.
 At no time in the history of this country was political black-hand as much in evidence as at present. The most vigorous effort ever known is being made to give control over the political destinies of Alaska into the hands of men who repre- sent not the people of the Terri tory. The Federal officials still have control of the election ma chinery, at least outside of incor- porated towns. The Indians are largely fishermen and vote with the fishing population. It has become important for those who represent the interests of the Fish Trust to eliminate the fishing population from the political life of the Ter ritory When that is done others will be eliminated.
 He also declared that the bill was in opposition to the Organic Act This might lead, he added, to future election contests, as there are some people in the Territory "who might attempt to enforce the law" if it were passed.
 Asks Reimbursement.
 Senate Bill No. 88, asking for the reimbursement of Dr. George E. Dickenson, of Ketchikan, for serv- ices rendered the town of Peters burg during the flu epidemic in 1919, was introduced in the Senate by Senator Hunt. It asks for an appropriation of $1,968.75. A sim liar bill was introduced in the 1921 session but failed of passage.
 Senate Bill No. 81, amending section 1900, Compiled Laws of Alaska, relative to yoiding of mar riage, was passed by the Senate. No. S2, bill for an Act relieving the Territory and municipalities and officials from filing bonds in civil cases. was killed, the Senate unani- mously adopting a motoin for in- definite postponement. Senate Bill No. 70, amending section SS0, Con- piled Laws of Alaska, passed its sec ond reading.
 Set Municipal Bill Hearing.
 The first of the length measures pending in the Senate was reached on second reading this morning when Bill No. 8, codifying and re- visnig laws relating to municipali- ties, came up on the daily file. Chairman Dimond, of the Judiciary Committee, said it would take at least an entire day to consider the bill and at his request it was con tinued in second reading and made a special order of business for We'd nesday at P. M.
 Senate Bill No. 67, amending the pharmacy act of the Territorial Leg islature of 1913, was continued in second reading until tomorrow at the request of Senator Aldrich.
 Governor Bone notified the Sen ate that he had signed Bills No. 20, 58, so and 15.
 no,;J Yc NouE r,~,al