The Nome nugget., 1940-09-02
TERRITORIAL LIQUOR CONTROL - SOME OF ITS ASPECTS
Office of the Governor of Alaska
 Press Release

Press Release
 >s.
 In this, the third and conclud ing article, released by Governor Ernest Gruening regarding the Alaska liquor industry, Rear Ad- sniral L. E. Gregory, U. s. N. Rtd., Chairman of the Washing ton State Liquor Control Board, describes the operations of the state monopoly in that State and gives his opinion as to the prseticability of putting it into effect in the Territory. Admiral Gregory has been Chairman of th< Washington Board since it was created six and one-half years ago, the only individual in the United States holding such a position for such a record time.
 Admiral Gregory will be re- nembered by Alaskans as a mem ber of the U. s. Navy Coal Com mission which investigated the Matanuska coal fields for the Navy. Admiral Gregory has trav elled extensively throughout AL aska and has a personal know ledge of the problems of the Territory.
 "AS the people of Alaska are currently considering various methods of controlling and reg ulsting the liquor trade, feel thas should make available any pertinent facts or information that may be of assistance to them in arriving at a conclusion" said Governor Ernest Gruening in a statement released today.
 "A letter recently received from Admiral L. E. Gregory Chairman of the Washington State Liquor Control Board, giv- es some interesting facts about the operations of that States monopoly sale system, and his conclusions as to its feasibility in Alaska" he added.
 Admiral Gregory's letter fol lows:
 This will acknowledge your letter of July 25 with regard to information concerning the ap- plication of the Washington state monopoly liquor system to Al aska conditions. After six and one-half years of operation in this state, I have come to certain conclusions with regard to our own operations which may be ot some value to you in your con- sideration of the possibility of a gnonopoly system of liquor con- trol for Alaska.
 The Washington State Liquor Control Board, in addition to op- erating fifty-one stores and one hundred thirty-four agencies fol the sale of hard liquor and wine in package form, has complete licensing control over the manu- featuring, wholesaling and re- tailing of beer and Washington wines. There are some five thou sand retail establishments in this state selling beer and wine.
 Our stores are located in the larger centers of population They are wholly controlled from Olympia by the Board, that is rent, light, heat, hiring and firing of all personnel, payment of sal aries, etc. On the whole it has ap. peared to be undesirable to put such stores in communities witt less than three thousand popula. ton. Tn addition to these stores the Board operates a system o1 agencies which are located in out lying communities. In these az. ehcies a local merchant is or. dinarily appointed to handle tht sale of liquor. Prices etc, are completely controlled by the Board from Olympia and the liq uor stocks are owned by the Board. The agent is paid a cer tain sum per month for which he handles the sales, furnishe, space and takes care of all details in connection herewith.
 All of the liquor is warehous