The Wrangell sentinel., 1942-04-24
Interior Dept. Appropriations
 For Alaska

WASHINGTON = The House of Representatives has passed the In- terior Appropriations Bill, H. R. 6S45. for the fiscal year ending June 30. 1943 All the Alaska items in the bill went through without re- duction. In fact no dispute concern ing appropriations for Alaska arose during the discussion on the measure except over the sum of S91,160 car ried in the bill under the heading Of Reindeer Service" for the pro- lection and care of the Alaska rein deer.
 In the hearings had on the bill. representatives of the Office of In dian Affairs testified that although 84.000 reindeer had been purchased of the white owners about two years ago, only approximately 5O,000 of those reindeer were now in eXis- tence. the remainder having been killed by wolves and coyotes or starved to death. It was further de- veloped in the testimony that where as there were formerly 641,000 reindeer altogether in Alaska, that number had now been reduced to 205,000, both figures being only approximate The question was at once raised as to what could be eX- pected from spending any further funds for the care and protection of the reindeer. and one of the rep resentatives of the Department said that it would take $340.00O a year to under take adequately the herd ing and care of the reindeer.
 When the matter finally came up on the floor of the House, Repres- entative Rich of Pennsylvania, @ member of the Appropriations Com mittee, prepared two amendments, one to reduce the amount of the ap- propriation for reindeer service toI $11, ,000, and the other to provide that at least $40, 1000 of the amount carried in the bill be used for theI extermination of wolves and coyotes. However, MT. Rich offered the sec ond amendment to use S40,000 ofI the sum for the eXtermination of wolves and coyotes after consider able debate.
 It was also developed at the hear ings that a part of the loss of rein deer was due to tundra fires which, have burned the moss off some mil- lion acres of the reindeer range. Testimony was also given that diff culty had been encountered in secur- ing adequate herding of the rein ha aCr some better showing can be made, Congress will be reluctant to appro- priate any further substantial sums for the reindeer service in Alaska.
 The appropriations in the Inter- for Department bill passed by the House for Alaska follow:
 For prevention and suppression of fires on the public domain in Alas ka, including maintenance of pa- trols, the employment of field per sonnel, and the use of airplanes by charter or otherwise, $27,650.
 Support and education and relief of destitution of the Eskimos, Aleuts Indians, and other natives of Alaska, including necessary travelling ex- penses of pupils to and from board ing schools in Alaska; repair and rental of school buildings; textbooks and industrial apparatus; pay and travelling expenses of employees; re- pair, equipment, maintenance. and operation of vessels: and all other necessary miscellaneous expenses which are not included under the above special heads S1,129,990.
 Medical and sanitary relief of the Eskimos Aleuts, Indians. and other natives of Alaska; repair, ren- tai, and equipment of hospital build ings; books and surgical apparatus; pay and travelling expenses of en- ployees, and all other necessary mis- cellaneous expenses which are not included under the above special heads, $55O,68O.
 Reindeer service: For supervision of reindeer in Alaska and instruc- tion- in the care and management thereof, including salaries and trav- el expenses of employees. purchase, rental, erection, and repair of range cabins, purchase and maintenance of communication and other equipment. and all other necessary miscel- laneous expenses, S91, ,160
 ($40,000 to be used for extermin- tion of wolves and coyotes = am- cndment offered and passed by House).
 Indian schools and quarters, $18,- 900; general repairs and improve ments, $25,00O.
 Topographic surveys; For topo- graphic surveys in the United States, Alaska, and Puerto Rico, $689,030.
 Strategic and critical minerals