The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1942-01-08
HAAS BLASTS
COMPANY FOR
RATE RAISES
Labor Commissioner Says
Increases 10 Hamper
Territorial Officials

Alaskan business and labor can
not absorb the Alaska Steamship
Company's As per cent increase in
passenger and freight rates, Com
missioner Michael j, Haas of the
Territorial Department of Labor
declared today.
Hitler, Benito, the Japs, and now
As per cent freight and passenger
raises" Mr. Haas observed sue
entity. I'VE will deal with the Japs
and their like, but Alaska Steam
don't hit in the clinches."
Haas declared the raises, an
nounced by the steamship company
yesterday, will affect all Territor-
ial offices and hamper good adj
ministration, forcing reductions in
travel by Alaskan officials.
Business cannot absorb the raise
and labor cannot spend more to
live than what their pay envelopes
hold, Many operators have been
wondering about their coming sum-
mer's operations. They can stop
their worries now"
The complete and unchanged text
of Mr.. Haas statement follows:
People have been contracting the
Territorial Department of Labor
their requests are, will the As
per cent freight and passenger rates
effect the labor set up?" The an
swer is, of course, yes. 1t will
effect all Territorial offices.
Travel has always been costly
in Alaska and because of that fact
all too little travel has been done
by TerritQriai departments. Alaska
is large Territory to police and
enforcement cannot be done with
out travel. The Department of
Labor will have to cut its travel
which already has been less than
desired. This will apply to all
offices and tend to hamper good
administration.
I'VE would like to believe that
the IS per cent raise will only in
crease living 3 per cent, but we
have gone through other raises and
know all too well what takes place.
Business cannot absorb the raise
and labor cannot spend more to
live than their pay envelopes hold.
Many operators have been wonder
ing about the coming summers op-
efations. They can stop their
worries now.
The people of Anchorage and
rail points were told that lower
rates would be theirs when the
railroad cutoff was finished. Now.
with the increase, perhaps it will
be wise to up the toll tax on the
Rlc h ards son Highway. Alaskans
want to stay in Alaska, but if liv-
Ing here becomes prohibitive and
travel costs impossible, well woe
IS us. Like the isolationist, the
Of the International
Highway will now have to fold their
tents and silently fade away. If
we hold out long enough and if
tires are to be had and gas can
be secured, maybe we will see the
Old folks at home again.
True, the Steamship Company is
having added burdens-are we not
all? Yet, many winters steamship
travel was maintained when little
ether than mail was aboard the
boats. and now for months passage
has been all but unobtainable.
MI 1912, you carry a hefty
Wallop. Hitler. Benito, the Japs
and now As per cent freight and
passenger raises. We will deal with
The Japs and their like, but Alaska
Steam don't hit in the clinches.
1t is our hope that matters can
&c adjusted SO that Alaska can
Withstand the dark days ahead
We must buy bonds, pay taxes, keep
up cur cities, enforce our laws. we
must travel and not become a
walled in land.
1T has long cost near a fortune
TO travel from Fairbanks to the
States and return. Travel to AM
orleans is not luxury-it is a real
need to maintain our way of life
LABOR, like the business man, wants
TO do his part. All Americans know
that his dollars are needed and
stands ready to do his best, but he