The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1927-03-16
HARMFUL BILLS
Will NOT PASS,
SAYS SENATOR
Only Laws to Further Pro-
gressive Policy of Devel-
opment Are Likely.

only such laws as will be in
furtheranee of beneficial, pro
gressive policy" will be enacted by
the Eighth Session of the Alaska
Legislature. declared Senator Harry
E. Pratt. spokesman for the Senate,
at the dinner given in honor o.
Gov. George A. Parks and members
of the Legislature by the Chamb II
of Commerce last night. And this
was the viewpoint of Representativ"
Joseph w Murray. one of the lead.
ers in the House and, in point Of
service. oldest member OF that BODY.
Approximately 200 diners attended
the banquet which was served in the
auditorium of Elks Hall. A program
of unusual excellence featured the
entertainment part of the occasion
Dusty" Rhodes. of the Gastinead
Cafe, provided splendid repast
which was well served. Music was
provided through the dinner by the
Alaskans.
Central Chamber Suggested
A big. al!-Alaska Chamber of Com
merce, representative of the entire
Territory, will come in time and be "A
factor in it's economic and industrial
life. said GOV. George A. Parks. the
first speaker to be introduced by
President II. |. Lucas, who was
toastmaster The Governor, Mr.. Lu-
cas- said. understands economic con
| l.,;, l,a nt A
aska as few other men do.
The world has come to realize,
Coy. Parks said, that better un-
lderstanding of the ideals and ideas
of various nationals is big factor
in maintaining peace. So, he added,
is an interchange and understanding
of ideas between the various sec
tions of the Territory, conducive to
harmony and unity of effort. Some
day, he believed, there would be a
central commercial organization to
act as clearing house for ideas
from the various sections. Pending
that. the interchange of views made
possible by the visits of legislators
to juneau aided in bringing about
better and more sympathetic undes-
standing between all the communities
and districts represented.
Mayor J. j. Connors. who followed
the Governor. voiced hearty wei
come to The legislators in the name
of the community.
Sti!lman Voices Welcome
Dr. O. A. Stillman. pastor of the
Northern Light Presbyterian Church,
welcomed the Legislators for the
Chamber in splendid short talk.
The Chamber of Commerce, he de-
clared, is not a political organiza-
tion nor is it interested in politics
as such. 1t is. however. interested
by the Legislature 1t has favored
on occasion legislative action on
some matters. II has, on the con
trary, opposed other proposed legisla-
ton and would not hesitate to work
against and endeayor to have de-
feated legislation which it was con
vinced was economically dangerous
and unsound. But it's interest in such
matters was business and not poll
tical
The man who stands for what he
! considers the best interests of the
Territory, regardless of political con-
siderations, has his job cut out for
him. declared DR.. Stillman. He must
have lot of backbone and not q
mere wishbone "a man can have
his property in his wifes name and
get away with it. In way. he can
have his religion in his wifes name
and as far as some of the world is
concerned, get by with it in d
fashion. But no man can get away
with letting his wife furnish the
spinal column for the entire fam
ily," he asserted.
Pratt Makes Good Talk
Senator Harry F.. Pratt, senior
Senator from the Fourth Division
selected by his colleagues to respond
in their behalf made brillian
speech, enlivened with wit and clev
ators. To each in turn he devoted
er satirizations Of his fellow sen
a few words in good-natured pan
ming" which kept the diners in al
most continuous laughter.
The days of arduOus toll he an,
! his colleagues are passing through
were touched upon deftly. Modestl,
| he pointed out how the Alaska legis
| lature has kept down the number O
= laws it has passed and how, in cor
trast to the rest of the country. al
looypporioons were in itq favor
"And we get along harmoniously