The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1937-01-08
THE BIG THREE OF THE COMING
LEGISLATURE

Indications that liquor, social security and
revenue going to be the big three of the legislative
session which opens Monday The latter revenue
having bearing on every action the Legislature will
take probably should be listed first since the be-
ginning of legislative assemblies the raising of revenue
defray the costs of government has been the all
encompassing problem of lawmakers. It's importance
in the session about open Alaska centers primarily
whether fish gold is to pay the freight and how
much thus it can be readily that revenue is
going to open up vast field for the Legislators to
prowl around in
Already, as the lawmakers assemble in the city,
one hears the arguments that the fish industry is
carrying its capacity load of the tax burden,
while those with leaning toward minerals quickly
forth in support of gold by pointing out that
too heavy a tax that famed northland product
would tend to curb the vast mining development
now going forward Well hear arguments pro and
by the carload during the sixty days Suffice
it to say that it pertains to fish and gold
is going to have its usually prominent place in the
legislative picture
Between liquor and social security the latter
probably will take the spotlight due to its national
proportions. Also it is new, and incidentally, is
going to require a whale of a lot of work the part
of some committee Drafting measure in confor
nifty with the national program and at the time
taking into consideration the old age and pensions
problems of the Territory going to be easy task.
Whether the Legislators ultimately pass social Sc
curity provision for the Territory not the matter
will have to be gotten into shape for action, which
will entail just much work and hot argument.
And again the little matter of adjusting to
meet the cost cannot be overlooked
Liquor, always a timely topic but seldom i'm
portant it sounds will, of course, figure in the
deliberations 1t has been two long years. the
Republicans wont to consider the passing
time OnV thew said since legislature
drafted brief liquor law and laid the entire matter
in the lap of the Territorial Board of Liquor Control
to use its best judgment. 1t goes without saying
that the Liquor Board has used its best Judgment.
Some do not agree with that Judgment, thus liquor
becomes vital issue in the legislative session. Fore
casts that there will be the usual numbers of bills
presented to correct evils alleged evils
1t seems safe to predict that will see measure
for Territorial liquor stores, bill for the old high
license system with drinks dispensed the bar
and measure based the present system but pro-
vidng easier way obtain local option by cutting
down the percentage of persons necessary to initiate
and calling for approval only by majority in the
district desiring local option There may be other
measures the question but doubtless these will
present themselves again they did last session.
What the upshot will be is only guess but there
is evidence that the cry of affction about liquor is
not going to be loud as at first indicated There
is reason to believe that a number of the lawmakers
going to adopt the attitude that the Indian prob
lem doesn't enter into the TerritoIys control of liquor
They going point cut that the indian is ward
of the Federal government which pays somewhere
in the neghhorhood Of million dollars year to the
Indian Bureau to take care of him They going
say that liquor and the Indian the Federal govern
ments problem and that if the Federal government
wants the Territory to take the Indian then
the Federal government Will have to give the Terri
tory the money it gives the Indian Bureeu its
. equivalent to AXE care Ct hin There is indication
that the contention IS gong to get considerable SUI
port
There are multitude Of o her things TO come
before the leg stature as virtually cyery Legislator
has something Of particular interest to his Division
But we can bank on plenty Of s!- revenue
social security and liquor.