The Daily Alaska empire., 1940-03-31
GOVERNOR
Continued from Page One)

policy of the Federal Government has been to deny all requests for appropriations for new construction and to supply only funds for main tenance. If there is to be substan- tial new construction in the Terri tory henceforth, it can come only through a change of policy by the Bureau of the Budget and Congress, or bv an increase. of Territorial ap- propriationS for the purpose. The coming of the International High way will of course mean several hundred miles of new highway for Alaska and in addition should stim- ulate further construction of con- meeting roads. The measures being taken for national defense in the Territory should also bring about some additional road construction but this will probably be limited to the areas near the new bases.
 Employment of Alaska Residents
 1IllS lullOdIlCllbdl loOdC Aloo M
 come increasingly acute. The posi- tion of those whose duty 1t is to defend the interest of Alaska is that qualified Alaskans should be given the first opportunities at employ ment in Alaska on public projects and in private employment. This is no narrow attitude of exclusion. In seasonal occupations, on new and vast projects. it is undoubted that outside talent, skill and labor are and will be required. But it is in- tolerable that Alaskans-men and women who have settled here and desire to make Alaska their home. should be Adisclirnhiated sagainst on work in Alaska. This issue has been raised most sharply in the. great new Navy air base projects at Sitka and Kodiak. The facts are by now familiar to many Alaskans. The contracts relating to employ ment as drawn up definitely and flagrantly discriminate against AL dShdllS. ilicy SiFC SCdetIC Wo4 hei D first opportunities at employment, paying their transportation to and from the job and their way home in case of injury or illness-while Alaskans have had to seek employ ment at their own expense at Sitka and Kodiak By persistent hammer ing it has been possible to secure notifications of these diScrimina- tions so that at present the employ ment manager of the contractors makes periodic visits to Juneau and Anchorage, where, through the Ter ritorial Employment Service, he is placed in contact with available AL aska workers. At this writing the effort is being made to add Kethi- kan as third port where Alaskans may secure employment and there after their transportation to Sitka or Kodiak. This is not a wholly satisfactory solution since it still creates a problem for potential workers in the other ports but at least it is substantial improve ment over the original discrimina- tory conditions.
 Likewise, in the fisheries we have been in the past, and are still stead fly confronted with the prospect of having Alaska fishermen denied the fullest rights to fish and sell their product or to be employed in can- nerieS as against fishermen or can- nery workers coming from down below. They would all be welcome If the opportunities for fishing were unlimited. But unfortunately be- cause of the indispensable necessity for conservation-for the preServa- tion of both the supply of fish and the livelihood of our fishermen in future rations-fishing activi- ties have to be curtailed When this takes place it is wholly just that Alaskans should come first and that those who come up merely for the short fishing season, or for any other seasonable jobs, should come second. Let them settle herel
 There is no final answer to this problem except that eternal vigi- lance is required, that unceasing protest shall be made whenever there is any sign of discrimination, and that Alaskans should become in- creasingly conscious of, and militant in behalf of this fundamental right to work This right should not be denied on any ground other than lack of ability to perform a given task. (And it is the Territory's duty to train its youngsters so that they will be equipped to perform the tasks where livelihoods are most probable.)
 INCREASED REVENUES NEEDED
 The drastic curtailment in the amount of fishing which will be per- mitted in Alaska this summer will be reflected in the Territorial reve- nues during the next fiscal year.
 T. LH