The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-09-06
SENATORS MEAN TO HELP.

We want to devise ways and means not to abandon your railroad but to save it. That was declaration of Senator Howell Chair man of the Senate Select Committee which cam to Alaska to discover the cause for the deficit l the operation of the Alaska Railroad and to see a remedy if possible. He had previously declare that he was devoted to the cause of public owner ship, but insisted that mo public utility, publcl owned can persist unless it is a success finan cialy"
 This declaration was made at a banquet give the visiting Senators, Interstate Commerce Com missioner McManamy Admiral Coontz and Assistar Attorney General Sisson at Fairbanks. According the accounts of the speeches made at Fairbank Senator Howell seemed to represent the attitude the committee All of the Senators expressed tn hope that way out would be discovered, and em phaticaly favored aid in the development of tn Territory Senator Howell was hopeful and sal he thought there be no question about tn future of Alaska Americas last great frontier" Likewise hopeful was Senator Thomas who's desire to be helpful was emphatic. The Fairbanl News-M Miner said of his speech
 Mayor de la Vergne next introduced Sem ator John Thomas of Idaho T have been on the frontier all my life and while this is my first trip here it is one of the most enjoyable have ever taken" said the Sen 
 the most wonderful from a scenic stand point I have ever, made
 Alaska's resouces. in Senator Thomass opinion have been only scratched. He spoke of the fine agricultural products saying, "To- night when I sat at this table and con- sumed vegetables grown here I certainly amazed It changes my entire viewpoint about Alaskas agriculture"
 For the committee to come to Alaska and intelligently tell the Government how to reduce the deficit by spending a couple of weeks here, is of course, obviously im- possible, but it is the hope of the commit tee and MT. McManamy, the Chairman of the Interstate Commerce Commission, and Admiral Coontz to be able to take back con- structive suggestions" said Senator Thomas. He declared he feels the committee has convinced the community that it came with one purpose in mnd-that of doing the thing which is going to help this great Territory And you rest assured the committee will keep that purpose in mind. Even buoyantly hopeful if possible, w. Senator Kerndick. Reporting his speech at u banquet. the Fairbanks News-Miner said:
 The committees visit to Alaska has been a purely business mission it was stated by Senator Kendrick, who called on next by Mayor de la Vergne. Tt is business trip and we business men in the United States Senate We are pioneers and Westerners and we ought to have at least Western ideas and ideals and we ought to have the closest sympathy with Western people With that attitude in mind going to be prepared to say that during our limited time have succeeded, even if to small extent in getting the facts we should have in passing on this important question.
 We came with open and unbiased minds. But I should say if going to stay that way should get on our way quickly It is for all and all for one. That is the way we feel toward your Alaska. I can't conceive of any failure of tremendous de- velopment in this country Tourist hosts are bound to here.
 More and more as l prepare to turn backward I find myself feeling that I may wander back to these inviting sites and scenes.
 T am much impressed with the work of aviation as any other incident which has been brought to the atention of this com mittee of Senators It is to prove of su- preme importance in the development of this new land"
 Here Senator Kendrick paused to praise Pilot S E. Robbins with whom he flew inside the Arctic Circle Monday, as "prob- ably the best pilot in the United States"
 Continuing he said, T am strong for aviation and already our committee is will ing and anxious to lend hand to these people who pioneers in this industry which is particularly adapted to the coun- try.
 The air mail act ought to be extended to Alaska affirmed Senator Kendrick and speaking for himself and he said, he thought also in behalf of other members of the committee he promised to do every thing possible along this line. This is a practical way we can be of aid to you"
 The Senator pointed out that the mere fact that the committee memebrs had visited the Territory would give weight to their statements when matters pertaining to Alaska are brought up in the Senate.
 Turning again to the Alaska Railroad the Senator declared that "There isn't on