The Daily Alaska empire., 1945-02-13
SENATE WADEl INT0(ALEkDAR
 THIS MORNING
Two Measures Jump Sec ond Reading HurdIe-
 Burial Bill Amended

Two more prospective pieces of legislation jumped the hurdle of second reading in the Territorial Senate this morning. Senator O. D. Cochrans Senate Bill No. 13 moved along without amendment, while Senate Bill No. II, introduced by Senator Andy Gundersen, had one alteration hung to it.
 House Bill No. 10 was re-referred to the Senate Finance Committee; House Bill No. 13 was carried over until this afternoon in second read ing; House Bill No. 6, the Fish Trap Referendum measure, was continued in second reading until next Mon- day. Senate Bill No. Is was carried over until tomorrow. as was Senate Joint Memorial No l.
 House Joint Memorial No. 8 was up for second reading when Senator Walker moved for indefinite postponement and a recess was talk en until 1 80 o'clock this afternoon, WiiCll bilC ItulCo AOiihihtoCN Wao pSh ed to advise on procedure.
 A question had arisen as to whether the house had transmitted proper amended copies of the mea- sure for Senate consideration.
 Russel Maynard, director of the Territorial Board of Public Welfare was called for questioning as to Senate Bill No. II, which provided for an increase from $100 to $125 in the maximum amount that can be expended for the burial of indigents.
 MT. Maynard explained that ris- ing costs had made the present sum insufficient in some sections of the Territory, particularly the In- terior. If the bill is passed, he said, he would ask that the Board provide an increase of 25 per cent over pres ent rates paid. The expenditure
 or burial in the First Division
 gould then be raised from the pres
 mt S75 to approximately $95. In jthere divisions the maximum sum would have to be expended.
 Support of indigents by relatives, IS provided in the present law, drew lttack from Senator Don Carlos 3rownell, who moved to strike the requirement. that any relative be
 equired to contribute to the sup port of any person who should be- ,ome an indigent as result of in
 oxication or other vice. The amendment lost by a 9 to vote.
 Senator Andrew Nerland then proposed to amend the existing act ,y striking all that clause that linn ted the type of relative that should be required to support or bury an
 ndigent through drunkenness or other vice. His amendment carried by 9 to ' vote, and as the bill now reads, all indigents are placed on the same basis.
 A question had previously arisen IS to contributions to an indigents funeral from other sources than the Welfare Board MT. Maynard re- piled that voluntary donations could be added to provide a better burial, but that funeral directors were pro- hibited from soliciting funds be- yond those provided by the Territory.
 Senator Cochran explained the full purpose of Senate Bill No. B as being to make it possible for U. s. Commissioners, who are not mem bers of the bar, to issue Abstracts of Title and Certificates of Abstracts of | Title. He declared that experience i has shown the inadyiSability of the | situation under the present act re- Iating to the practice of law in Territory. wherein Commissioners 1 are prohibited from performing that function, which is properly part of their. office.