The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-08-05
HEARINGS ARE OVER; DECISION
 SHOULD COME PROMPTLY.

The public hearings of the Pioneers Home Build ing Commission over the question Of site TOT tfie projected home for aged indlgent AiasKahS have been completed. The Chairman, Hghway Engineer w. A. Hesse, or the full Commission, has heard all of those who desired to make showing in support of their applications for the institution. Three ommunties-Douglas Skagway and Anchor- age-seek it's removal from Stka and ask It De transferred to themselves. Craig only desires the Home if the Commission feels it advisable to remove it from it's present location at Stka And Of course Sitka urged strongly that no change be made.
 The Empire earlier during the series of hearings, went on record for it's retention where it has been for the past two decades ever since 1t was first established We believe that economies Of import ance sufficient to justify it's removal can be achieved by transfer We think that the paramount factor in the final decision ought to be the desires of the residents of the Home itself. In any institution of that nature contentment of those who i've III it is properly the main concern of the Territory. Without it. the word nome" becomes mockery and the largess of the public by which it is sup ported is made byword by those the public seeks to care for as they the shadows at the end of the long, long trail that the last divide It is matter of record repeated many occasions that vast majority probably 99 per cent, of those who now reside in the Sitka Home and Of those residing there during the past decade, are opposed to it's removal to any other place in Alaska That opposition we hold ought to be governing.
 The Commission, composed of the elective Ter roral officers we are positive, will make it's de- csion only after proper consideration of all the data submitted by the several applicants and after duly weighing all of the factors involved The Com missioners have no personal interest in the matter The duty of selecting a site unsought by them and was imposed on them by the Legislature with out their suggestion. They will discharge it Loyalty and faithfully not as agents of the Legislature, but as elected servants of all the people of Alaska
 We hope that there will be no long delay in arriving at a final decision Had the Legislature before it adjourned last May, selected the site and authorized the work to be started as soon as plans and specifications could be prepared and arrange ments completed for construction, at least 20 per cent would have been saved up to now. In other words contract awarded last Spring would be that much lower than awarded today. Construction costs including labor and materials still rising If weeks of delay yet to come costs are almost certain to be higher than lower.
 There is another not unmportant reason why a start should be made quickly possible Our unemployment situation is not greatly improved Next Winter will find it almost serious it was last Winter If a decision is not made shortly or until Fall it may not be possible to do much. ii any, work until next Spring In authorizing i'm mediate construction of the new Home, the Legisla- ture officially declared the legislation covering the project that it for work relief It ought to be kept in that class, and every effort made to expedite the beginning of construction. We are confident the Commission will do this and we are positive that it will be unanimously approved by Aaskans in every section of the Territory.