The Daily Alaska empire., 1940-03-31
WASHINGTON LOOKS NORTH
 5AySDIM0ND
Fight for Recognition Of Alaska Special Needs
 Is Being Won
By ANTHONY J. DIMOND Delegate to Congress

Delegate to Congress
 Out of all the tides, and the welter, and the currents ana Che cross currents, which beat and surge upon our National Government, and amid all of the play and mterplay of patriotism and expedlency, ol pure devotion and blind selfishness' of high endeavor and plain stu pidity, which always involve the op- eration of that governmental any other government of human belnes for that matter-our National Ad- ministration during the past year has found time to think occaSslon- ally about that part of the United States which is called Alaska and about the 10000 people who reside therein, and time also to take some action designed Ito provide for the common defense and to promote the general welfare" of the people ol the Territory.
 The great problem confronting the inhabitants of Alaska and ther relation with the National Govern ment is to make Congress and the Executive listen to us, not only to listen to us but to get in the habit of listening to us, and to become actively aware of our existence and of our importance in the national economy. The most encouraging part of our circumstances in our relations with Washington at this time is that Congress and the Exc cutive are more alive to the conse- ouence and value of Alaska than ever before in the history of the Territory That much is solid gain. Congressional Fisheries Committee
 Many people may be surprised to hear it said, but, in my judg- ment, one of the most valuable things that has happened to Alaska in the last decade was the visit to the Territory in the summer of 1859 of a Subcommittee of the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, and the hearings by that subcommittee in Alaska itself.
 Even in Congress the travel of Committee or Subcommittee of eith- CT House is frequently looked upon as sort of junket, as a pleasure jaunt for the members who may be fortunate enough to be assigned to service thereon. The Commit tee which came to Alaska last sum- mer was not that kind of a body. It was a working committee. The Chairman, Mir Bland, who is one of the ablest and one of the most ln- defatigable Members of the Con- gress, laid out program for the Committee which provided little time for recreation. In fact, it was only at my urgent insistence that the Committee made the journey from Anchorage to Fairbanks; but I think that was one of the most useful things the Committee did because it gave the members an idea of the size and character of Alaska, and the scope and multi plicity of the problems of Alaska, which otherwise the members could not have possibly obtained.
 Although the time of the visit of the Committee to the Territory was severely curtailed by the call ing of the special session of Con- gress to consider neutrality legis- lation, yet a vast deal of work was accomplished and the value of that work will operate to our benefit for many years to come The particu- lar Members of Congress who served on that Committee have knowledge and comprehension of Alaska and the economic difficult ties which confront those of us who live in Alaska which is bound to be to our benefit as long as these men shall serve in the National Legis- lature.
 Something of benefit to Alaska has already resulted from the Com mittee's hearings in the Territory. That particular something is the provision incorporated in the 194O fisheries regulations which forbids the conversion of any herring ta- ken from the waters of Southeast ern Alaska into oil, meal or fertil- izer.
 Alaska would unquestionably benefit if it were better known to all Members of Congress. Admin istrative officials may have occas- ion to visit Alaska on business in