Seward daily gateway., 1931-12-03
IS A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE ALASKA
 LEGISLATURE REQUIRED?

It is to be expected that the Territorial officials of Alaska do not desire to give unpleasant publicity to the situation which has developed with reference to the school funds of Alaska.
 Recent communications from the Auditors office di- rected Treasuers of the respective school districts and apparently based upon opinion of the Attorney Gen. era would to directly raise the question as to whe ther the Legislature of the Territory or the appointed and elected officials thereof should do the calng off, The Legislature makes school year from July to June 30 fiscal and does direct, by duly enacted Legis laton the payment, within that period of certain sums support of the schools payment of teachers and other incidental expenses connected with the operation Of the schools
 The Wickersham organic act of August 24, 1912, which gave to the Territory Legislative organization withheld the right from such Legislative body Of school legislation The first session of the Legislature n moral asked the removal of such Wickersham-ike re- striction and presented to Congress with memorial III this regard proposing form of law which would re- suit in the establishment of definite and systematic ad mnistraton of such important matter. Congress sub- sequenty conceded to the Territory such right to school legislation and present system directly from the laws enacted by duly elected by the voters of Alaska representatives of the people.
 The president of the first Alaska Senate during it's sessions and since has consistently maintained that Federal appointive Territorial officer should have anything to do say with reference to strictly Terri toa finances In other worlds Senator Ray has asserted first principle of home rule government that Federal appontees should keep their fingers out of Territorial money; that the elected Representatives in Legislative assembly should handle the money of the Territory by making appropriations for it's expenditures
 It is asserted many appropriations for constructive Improvements in the Territory have been effectuay toed by indirect and hidden action the part of appontve and the part of some of the elected officials
 Would 1t not have been fair to have courageous y exercised the right of which is vested in the coon a appontee" Governor than to afterward achieve the result, when there was no longer Legislature in session, which organization might and could override such veto.
 Quoting from the Auditors letter. "The Legislature has by law defined the school year from July to June 3O The appropriations passed by the last Legislature ceeded the estimated revenues by approximately quarter of million dollars, so it readily be concluded thaE the schools and the pioneer pensions going to be with out funds if Mr. Rusgards opinions to be followed by this office The Governor and the Treasurer have sig nfed that they going to follow the advice which the Attorney General has given but this office is going to be guided by the wording of the appropriation bill."
 The ruling of the Attorney General to be that there is not cash enough in the Territorial Treasury at this time to meet the school obligations As we under stand the law is not how much money have collected but the question s the expenditures for which appro praons have been made within the actual income which may be reasonably expected to accrue from all sources for the year."
 Every municipality in Alaska, more than once, has ln making expenditures relied upon the prospective