The Wrangell sentinel., 1937-01-29
BILL GIVES TERRITORY RIGHT
 TO BOND FOR TWO MILLION


 TO BOND FOR TWO MILLION
 A bill to authorize the Territory of Alaska to incur bonded indebt- edness in any amount up to 2 mil lion dollars for the purpose of con structing, repairing, or acquiring public works of a permanent char acter was introduced in the House by Delegate Dimond on January II.
 The bill stipulates that funds se- cured under it's authority may in clude buildings and facilities for the University of Alaska, public school buildings, public hospitals, airfields and air navigation aids, and highways, roads, trails and bridges. Bonds may be issued there under only with the approval of the Territorial Legislature and must also be approved by a majority of the members of the Territorial Board of Finance, which would be established by enactment of the bill and would consist of the Gov ernor of Alaska, the treasurer, the auditor, the secretary, and the Ter ritorial highway engineer. T h e bonds would mature in not to ex- ceed 30 years, and the interest rate could not exceed 3 per cent.
 Authority is also provided in the bill for the Territory to accept grants of money to aid itsin financ- ing any of the public works under taken through it.
 New Department Proposed
 Proposed legislation to create a department of the Government to be known as the Department of Territories and Insular Affairs was introduced in the Senate January s by Senator Gibson of Vermont, This is identical with a bill of the same title that he introduced in the 74th Congress, but on which no action was taken.
 The sponsor of the bill believes that it's enactment would result in considerable economy through a con solidation of functions now under taken by a number of offices and, also, that the interests Of the Ter ritories and insular possessions would be better served through CO., ordination planned through one Federal Department.
 The proposed department would have jurisdiction over matters of civil government in Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Philippine Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Midway, and Wake Islands, which are now taken. care of in of- fees in three different departments. These departments are the Interior Department, the War Department, and the Navy Department.
 Public Education
 Assistance to the States and Ter ritories in providing more effective programs of public education is intended by S. 419, bill introduced in the Senate by Hon. Pat Harrison of Mississippi.
 The bill authorizes the appropria- tion of 100 million dollars annually to be apportioned among the States and Territories, with an increase of 50 million dollars each year until the annual appropriation reaches 300 million dollars, but not to ex- ceed that amount. Provision is made that the apportionment will be based on the proportion that the number of persons aged to 20 years in each State or Territory bears to the total population between those ages in all the States and Territories.
 The manner in which these funds would be used for public education is left entirely at the discretion of the State or Territorial legislature, as the bill stipulates that no pro- vision therein shall be construed to limit the States or Territories in their definition of program of public education.
 Figures compiled from the 1880 census indicate that through enact ment of this bill Alaska would re- ceive approximately $39,70O under the first appropriation authorized for 100 million dollars. The maxi mum that could be received by the Territory through the increase au- thorized in the annual appropriation would be about S119, 1000.
 Modifies Decision
 The Acting Comptroller General