The Wrangell sentinel., 1943-10-29

able to present both reports in
 this issue.
 Your Legislative Committee to whom was referred Senate Bill No. 951, introduced in the 7Sth Con- gress, 1st Session, by Senators Lan- ger and McCarran, submit the fol- lowing report:
 A very important consideration and the one We feel there is unan- imity of opinion upon is the desir- ability of the status of full citizen ship the Bill is designed to give the people of Alaska. This includes, among the things we do not now have the right to elect representa- tives to both houses of Congress, with a voice in both national and international affairs, determination of disputes settled by those whom we choose as officers of the law, control of the fisheries, fur and game.
 Along with these privileges there would be responsibilities. The ones your Committee believes should have mature consideration are those connected with the costs of operation of the proposed State and whether the economy of the Terri tory, as at present constituted could without undue, hardship take on the added financial burden of Statehood.
 
 Your Committee realizes the diff ficulty in comparing an intangible thing like the benefits enumerated above with a very tangible thing like the cost of operation of a state and possible sources of revenue to meet this cost. We feel, however that the matters of cost and revenue are so vital to a sensible determin- ation of the question that they cannot be lightly pushed aside
 The Territorial revenues hover around $2,00O,0OO a year under the present tax plan. This amount has been sufficient during the past several years to carry on the reg ular functions of government, the public schools, the University, road building and maintenance, in CO., operation with Federal agencies; besides carrying on quite a heavy social welfare program.
 These costs would all continue under Statehood. In addition, we would necessarily have to set up State Courts, perhaps three, pos sibly four and State Supreme Court. The cost of four courts based on actual District Court cost re- cords, which We believe would be a fairly accurate estimate, would be $500,00 per year. This represents costs of the Courts including all operations, marshals, commissioners, operations of jails, etc. The cost of the four district courts in Alaska for the years 1888, 1889, 1940 and 1941 averaged $561,992 per year.
 It is certain that the costs of administering a State Government would greatly exceed the cost of the Territorial administration, and it is impossible to see at this time any additional sources of revenue which would be available to the people of Alaska, if it were made a State Those who are in favor of the Bill for Statehood are of the opinion that the new State would take control of the fisheries, but even if that were so, the Committee is un. able to see where this would bring any additional revenue to the Ter. ritory. It does not seem to be gen, orally understood that all the re venue derived from taxes on fish. cries now accrues to the Territory but this is not all, for if the Ter ritory or a newly created State were to take control of the fisheries that control would undoubtedly carry with it the obligation to pay the expenses of regulation, whicl are now paid by the United States.
 The Bureau of Fisheries budge and appropriation for the fisca year 1943-1944 is $464,500. In ad dition to that, there is appropriate, for the same period, for scientifi research. the sum of $150,000 an, an additional $9O,0O0 for certail prescribed investigations. This cos would not seem to be extravagant for Congress has been viewing ev cry peace-time appropriation wit a critical eye and has cut man
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