The Daily Alaska empire., 1936-08-26
M'CAIN ASSERTS GOLD PRICE IS
 GETTING RESULT
Boost to $35 Stimulating Industry, Declares Re-
 publican Candidate


 The boast in the price of gold has been without doubt one of the major factors in reviving the min ing industry in the Territory, and throughout the Interior mining is expanding great deal this sea- son, according to Harry G. Mccain, Republican candidate for Attorney General, who arrived here on the Alaska last night after a campaign trip through the Third and Fourth Divisions.
 Most of the cities are showing activity he reported, and there is a wide interest in politics, and he said, he believes the Republicans are going to have success in the Third and Fourth Divisions.
 Referring to his home town, Ket- chikan, where he is City Attorney and represented that city in the action which brought Ketchikan municipal power and light as well as public ownership telephone system, MT. Mccain said that the municipal setup is proving an ex- ceptiona success.
 For Public Ownership
 Last year." he said, i've made in excess of $l49,000 and rates are lower. Everyone is very well satis- fled"
 Asked as to his position on muni- cipal ownership, the candidate de- clared it his firm conviction that public utilities should be publicly owned and operated, and cited Ket- chikan as an example of what can be done He said the highest rate in Ketchikan is six cents a kilo- watt up to 50 kilowatts and over that amount it goes down to one fourth of a, cent for over 450 kilo- watts. The plant is run on the same basis as private concern, he said, and pays taxes the same as private firms. Deposits on meters are required but the city pays in- terest oon, deposits, the attorney explained.
 We are even building up de- presiation fund" he explained, "and I mean we really are putting money in the bank. It isn't just on paper"
 Rates Down.
 Telephone rates and power rates have gone down since municipal ownership was inaugurated, MT Mccain said, revealing what can be done, he pointed out. An ex- tension phone in Ketchikan, for example, is charged at the rate of 50 cents month, compared with $2.50 in Juneau.
 Commenting, the attorney said: While I am unalterably opposed to Government interference in private business, I feel that public utilities are not in that classification and can be operated most successfully for the consumer under public ownership"
 Speaking politically, MT. Mccain said he is passing his campaign in large measure against the trend toward standardization in govern ment by bureau. He referred par ticularly to the Liquor Control Board and the Board of Education. He declared it his belief that the Legislature should set up the liquor laws and leave only the matter of administration to the liquor board or some such board. The present system he decried as inadequate and discriminatory. He charged that the present board has dis criminated in issuing licenses, but named no specific cases, and held that the board had issued licenses over protest of the majority of citizens in some instances. 1 Would Elect Commissioner
 MT. Mccain said he favored the ] election of the Commissioner of Education and the revival of rural school boards. He declared such procedure a measure of home rule. There are too many carpetbag- gers, relatives and pinkwashed Re- publicans in office" he declared.
 The candidate said he found lit- tie or no need for relief about the Territory, but that he was opposed to many of the relief prof. ects because they burdened cities with bonded indebtedness.
 'Ketchikan," he added, lis the only town in the Territory that has incurred no bonded indebted ness. We are in good shape" | uHDC uIIHEM Cnro cOrynrr