The Daily Alaska empire., 1938-04-20

needed in the reindeer work in Alaska, which are now owned by others than natives, ITO provide subsistence for the Eskimos and other natives of Alaska by cStab- fishing for them permanent and self-sustaining economy
 The Bureau of the Budget ap- proved an item for this purpose in the Interior Department approprla- ton estimates in the amount of million dollars. However, when the subcommittee of the House Com mittee cn Appropriation was draft ing the bill to be reported to the House. some of the subcommittee members contended that more in 1 formation was needed as to the proposed purchasing program be- fore setting up such an amount, and disregarding the arguments of Delegate Dimond and others who testified before it and urged the need for the full appropriation as approved in the Budget the com mittee reported the bill out to the House with this item set at $50,000 flor an investigation"
 Sum Is Increased
 ] AS this figure was insufficient to even make the necessary inVen- tories of the badly mixed herds cf deer in the Territory, together with an accurate appraisal of property required in the reindeer business, which is now owned by others than natives the Delegate succeeded in having this figure increased to $50,- 900 when the bill was up for amendments in the House.
 Amendment Approved
 The Senate Committee on Appro- priations, when it got the bill rom the House, decided that further ln- vestigation of the industry was not required, and the thing to do now YVES to place the Interior Depart ment in position where 1t couio actually commence to acquire non native owned reindeer and equip- ment for the benefit of the na- tiyes. It was to do this that sen ator Hayden offered the committee amendment to be inserted in the bill in lieu of the item set up ln the House. After a somewhat splr- ited debate the amendment Was finally agreed to by the Senate.
 In addition to the authority giv- en the Secretary of the Interior tf purchase reindeer and range equip ment for the natives of Alaska III to the amount of $5O0,000 the Sen ate amendment carries an appro priation of $25, 900 for the purcnas' and erection of range cabins, maln tenance of communications, ant other equipment necessary to 1uilii the purposes of the Reindeer Ac' To safeguard the Government Il making purchase es of deer ar' equipment, the amendment con z tains a provision that "an appralsa of such reindeer or range equip ment shall be made by commute
 consisting of representative the Department of the Interior, representative of the Departmen of Agriculture and a third perSol
 not an employee of any agency 0 e' the Government to be selecte II jointly by the Secretaries of Inter II for and Agriculture" h order Una
 there will be no possibility oi LII
 reindeer industry as administere
 by the Interior Department enter
 ing into competition in the State
 with meat produced in the Sta'e IT the amendment contains stipula ton that mo part of the appr'
 priation herein made or the amour Id authorized to be appropriated sha e, he available for the purchase, ren oi al. or acquisition of abbattoirs, cole T. storage plants, and other faciliti r. for the storage or shipment
 reindeer meat"
 'i, The bill containing the amen' 'u ment passed the Senate the ne day, April 6, and will now go
 conference. where the many al
 ferences it contains will be smoot
 ed out through compromises D
 tween members of the House al il Senate who form the conferen ao committee. If the item as amen lu ed survives the conference the u- appears to be little doubt that ,. u,ill he maintained in the bill.