The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1943-03-25
COMMITTEE
HANDS ITS
REPORT IN
Investigators Recommend
Legislation 10 Cor
rect Evil


committee investigating the Terri
torial Department of Labor, issued
to the Legislature this afternoon,
finds former Commissioner Michael
j. Haas negligent for failing to
keep books of accounts and records
of the Department, guilty OF using
the office to advance the political
interests of himself, and also finds
former employee Senator A. P.
Walker used the facilities of the
office to advance his political cam
paign.
The report exploded like bomb
shell on the last day of the ses-
sion. All members of the committee
except Chairman Joseph w. Kehoe
signed the report. He submitted a
separate minority opinion. Concur
ring were Reps. John ]. O'Shea,
Harvey j. Smith, Christian r
Roust, Senators o. D. Cochran, N
r. Walker, Edward D. Coffey and
Hjalmar Nordale.
The report was not whitewashed
Personal kilograms
The committee found that Haas
failed to keep books of accounts,
leaving only vouchers as records,
that of "a kilograms sent or re-
ceived by Haas during his incum-
bency, only copies of "a were left
in the files, and a few of these
were of purely personal nature or
political nature, having no refer
ence to any business of the Depart
ment and of no use or benefit to
the Territory
The committee report stated that
shortly before the primary election
last April, "at which time Mr.. Haas
was a candidate for election to the
office of Labor Commissioner, one
of the inspectors employed by him, y
(Steve McCutcheon), "unnecessar-
lily and without benefit to the De-
partment, the Territory or anyone
else, except that of Mr.. Haas and
said inspector, proceeded to An
chorage for the sole purpose OF
making political speech at An
chorage in the political interests of
said Michael j. Haas, and that said
political speech was made on the
eve of said primary election; that
the cost of said trip together with
the per diem of said employee were
charged to and paid by the De-
partment of Labor out of funds ap-
propriated for it's legitimate use
Office for Politics
The report continued, The Com
mittee further finds that the IA
cilities of the office of the Com
missioner of Labor were used by
said Michael j. Haas to advance
his political interests and those of
one Inspector A. p Walker, who
at said time, was a candidate to
the office Of Senator from the First
Division
Regarding a trip made by Walk
err during February and March OF
last year while he was employed
by the Department, and while he
was a candidate for Senator in
the primary election coming up in
April, 1912, the report stated that
he made two trips to various points
in Southeastern Alaska, including
Craig, Klawock and Hydaburg for
the "ostensible purpose of inspect
ing canneries at said points and
at, other places; that at the time
said trips were made no canneries
were operating anywhere in South
eastern Alaska, which was we'll
known to said Walker"
Walkers Trip
The report went on, pointing out
that Walker made no inspections
at said points, that on said trips
he carried with him and distribut-
ed campaign literature in his in
tereSt and the interest of said
Michael j. Haas. That said trips
were of no benefit to the Depart
nent of Labor, the Territory or
anyone else, except the said Walker
and Haas"
Finally, the report stated, I'VE