The Wrangell sentinel., 1943-04-02
Probe
 Final Report
 TOLegiSlature
lBy Associated #Press)

or. issued to the Legislature III It's eolsing hours, found former Com missioner Mihcael J. Haas negli- gent for failing to keep books of ac- count and records of the Depart ment. guilty of using the office 10 advance the political interests of himself. and also found former em- ployee Senator A. P. Walker used the facilities of the office to ad- vance his political campaign.
 The report exploded like bombshell on the last day of the session. All members of tie commit lee except Chairman Joseph W. Kehoe signed the report He sub mitted a separate minority opinion. Concurring were Reps. John J. O. Shea. Harvey J. Smith. Christian R. Roust, Senators 0. D. Cochran, N. R. Walker, Edward D. Coffey and Hjalmar Nordale.
 Personal Telegrams
 The committee found that Haas failed to keep books Of accounts, leaving only vouchers as records, that of 1S4 telegrams sent or re- ceived by Haas during his incum- bency. only copies of 94 were left in the files, and a few of these were of purely personal nature of political nature. having no refen- 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. lat which time Mir Haas was a candidate for election to the office of Labor Commissioner. one Of the inspectors employed by him, ' fSteve McCutcheon). "unnecessar- fly and without benefit to the De- partment. the Territory or anyone else. except that of MT. Haas and said inspector. proceeded to An chorage for the sole purpose of making a 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 os said trip together with the per diem of said employee were charged to and paid by the Depart ment of Labor out of funds appro- priated for its legitimate use"
 Office For Politics
 The report continued, The Com mittee further finds that the facil- ities of the office of the Commits sioner of Labor were used by said Michael J. Haas to advance his pol itical interests and those of one In spector A. P. Walker who at said time, was a candidate to the office of Senator from the First Division.
 Regarding trip made by Walker during February and March of last year while he was employed by the Department, and while he was a candidate for Senator in the prim ary election coming up in April, 1912, the report stated that he made two trips to various points in Southeastern Alaska. includ g 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 Southeastern 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 distributed campaign literature in his interest and the interest of said Michael J. Haas. That said trips were of no benefit to the Department of Labor, the Territory or anyone else, except the said Walker and Haas"
 Finally, the report stated, "we find that the facilities of the office of the Commissioner of Labor were used by said Walker to advance his political campaign"
 The report closed with recom- Inended legislation, that legislation be enacted requiring all Territorial employees who are required to tray el on their jobs to make written ap- plication to the head of their office requesting the permission, making an outline of the work to be done on the trip, the necessity for the trip. the estimated cost.
 If the head of the office would approve the request, the employee would be allowed to travel, but must keep a daily record of the work performed and that the ap- proved request, together with the record of the trip, would be sub mitted to the Auditor with the voucher who would not hold claims valid unless all provisions were
 Continued on Page Four1