The Wrangell sentinel., 1938-02-25

 E WASHINGTON NEWS LETTER E J. J. EekIes. Sec. to the Delegate g <
 WASHINGTON. D.C.-For several days past a subcommittee of the House Committee on Appropriations has considered the budget estimates for the Office of Indian Affairs con tained in the Department of the In terior Appropriation bill. Particular attention has been given to those items pertaining to the construction of native schools and hospitals in Alaska and also to the estimate of S1.000,00O contained in the bill for carrying out the purposes of the Reindeer Act which was passed in August of 1887 and which contem- plates the purchase by the Govern ment of all nOn-natiYe owned rein deer and the ultimate distribution of such reindeer among all of the natives of Alaska who can use them adyantageousIy.
 At the present time the bill car ries money for the construction of one native hospital at Kanakauak and also contains an estimate of S90,00O for the construction of new school buildings at English Bay, Quiguk. Shaktoolik, .Meycoruk on Nuniyak Island, and Solomon These buildings are in addition to new buildings which were authorized and for which appropriations were made in the fiscal 193S appropria- ton act. 4 total of Sl19,OOO was carried in that act for new build ings at Minto. ColYilIe, Teller, Hoop CT Bay. Gambel, Pilot Point and Umnak. It is possible that there will be some changes made in the list of buildings just given and that the proposed school for ColYille will be omitted and a school built at some other place.
 Many new native schools are need ed in various parts of Alaska and it is estimated that the school build ing program which ought to be un- dertaken at the earliest possible moment would probably total at least S600.0o0.
 The hospital program contem- plates native hospitals at a number of places in Alaska particularly TOT the accommodation of the natives who are afflicted with tuberculosis, thus not only giving them a chance to recover, but removing them from association with others, with a con- sequent lessening of the danger of spread of the infection to members of their families and friends.
 Several of the members of the Committee evidently doubted the wisdom of the Reindeer Act and suggested that the Item of $1,000,- GOO carried for the reindeer be very much reduced or entirely omitted from the Act and that increased amounts be given instead for the construction Of native hospitals and schools.
 Delegate Dimond attended the hearings of the subcommittee and testified in spport or all of the ap- propriations. One of the committee members asked him what he would do if he were given s1,OOO,000 for the benefit of the natives of Alaska and he promptly replied that he would spend the first million for hospitals and schools and that the bill should carry ufficient funds to permit the immediate construction or number of hospitals instead of the single one which is now proYid- ed for in the bill. MT. Dimond fur- ther urged that the entire amount of s1,000,000 set up for the rein deer program be appropriated and that what really should be done vas to make an approprition of $2,O00,- 0oO to remain available until ex- pended. There is no means of know ing what action the Committee will take with relation of the matter. inme