The Wrangell sentinel., 1938-07-01
WASHINGTON NEWS LETTER

WASHINGTON NEWS LETTER WASHINGTON, D. C., June 18,- The four days ending on June 16s which marked the closing week of the Seventy-fifth Congress. climaxed the hurry and legislative rush that had been building up during the last month of the session with the rapid-fire consideration and pass age or rejection of bills that had been long under study of the legis- lators. But in all of this the con sistent activity of Delegate DimOnd in both the House and the Senate up to the hour of adjournment result ed in final favorable action during those closing days on the few Alas ka bills that were still awaiting approval of only one of the houses.
 Game Law Amended
 The bill to amend the Alaska Game Law passed the Senate with an amendment on June 13. The fol- lowing day. June Il, the House agreed to the Senate amendment. and on June 16 1t was sent to the White House Approval of the bill will provide q more definite protec- ton for musk-Oxen bison. muskrats. and other animals or birds that are introduced into the Territory by chasing them, as the case may re- quire, under the definitions of game annals, fur bearing animals. or game birds, in the Alaska Game Law II will also permit the inclusion Of the black bear under the definition of game-animal in areas where it is hunted chiefly for sport and such classification would therefore be de- sirable
 Authority is provided for inereas- ing the residence requirement for obtaining a residents trapping H eense to three years if deemed desir- able for protection of the trapping rights of resident white and native trappers. Purchase, maintenance, l and use of airplanes for enforcement Of the Game Law will also be auth orized by approval of the bill
 Alaska Fisheries For Citizens
 Legislation proposed by the Dele gate to prevent aliens from fishing in Alaska waters also passed the Senate with a minor amendment on June 13 and the amendment was approved in the House on June 14. | AS indicated. this bill is frankly to reserve the fishery of Alaska for American citizens, except that non- citizens may be employed 'in con- nection with the canning, salting, or otherwise preserving of fish"
 However, in order that hardship | will not be unnecessarily placed on ] aliens who have been bona fide res idents of Alaska and engaged in i commercial fishing during the past three years, provision is made that such noncitizen residents may con- .inue to engage in fishing in Al ask waters for commercial purposes Tor three years following the date of approval of the Act This was Ob- x4ously planned to provide reason able time in which to allow aliens | desiring to fish commercially to be- come citizens or adapt themselves Tor other occupations.
 Deficiency Bill The second deficiency bill, contain ing supplemental appropriation items for the several Federal depart ments, including the item of S100,-l 000 set up for payment of transport tation of mail by air from Seattle tol Juneau during the fiscal year be-I ginning July l, 1888, was also re- ported out of conference and the conference report agreed to by both house of Congress on June 16.
 This bill also contains other ap-l propriation items for Alaska total-l ing in excess of $351, 1000. One of the items provides an additional $35,0O0 for the Office of Indian At- fairs aid to the Natives of Alaska.
 Flood Control
 General flood control legislation, embracing authority for 565,000 tol be expended for flood control atl Fairbanks through the construction of a three-miIe long dike from Moose Butte to the Panama River and the relocation of a part of Richardson Highway, was cleared by Congress