The Daily Alaska empire., 1945-03-05
HAlIBUTERS
 BATTLE TAX
 FISH BOATS
Skipper Larson Wants to
 Take Tax Boosters for Ride on Gulf

The Juneau halibut fleet went through heavy weather this morn- ing in the halls of the House of Representative when a discussion of property taxes for fish boats be- came storm of debate over taxes in general.
 Let me take you on trip on the Gulf of Alaska and you'll stop vot- ing for all these taXes!" roared vet etan halibuter Olaf Larson.
 Larson had been aroused by Rep- resentative Taylor's question, wouldn't you be willing to pay a little. tax towards the maintenance of our Territorial Government and institutions if we need it?" ---
 I've don't need it though" Larson retorted, "Unless it's to make some more bureaus and jobs. Fishermen ate not against taxation, but if you're going to tax, tax all the boats" ... -r--.--..,...
 Tax Discriminatory"
 Juneau halibut vessel owners pro- tested that the proposed tax on fish boats under the Property Tax Bill was discriminatory" and placed them in an unfavorable competitive position with boats from Seattle.
 Those boats are taking our fish resources right along side of us,' Larson declared. Why should we have to pay a tax when they dont?'
 Fisherman E. J. Krause, also on the witness stand, got the discussion afield when he declared Nobody has proved this tax. necessary"
 Representative McCutcheon, who has a bill on the calendar to provide $i i,5D0, 900 for returning service men in the form of bonuses asked Krause if he did not think such bill war ranted finding new sources of reve- nue.
 'pon't you think they're worth it?1 McCutcheon asked.
 You mean all of them?" Krause queried.
 "Yes," McCutcheon answered.
 No, not all of them" Krause re-
 Hildre On Stand
 First witness on the stand today was Pete Hildre, 36 years Juneau f,alibuter. Hildre, under questioning from attorney R. E. Robertson, sketched the setup of the Alaska hallbut, fishing industry, declaring there are 27 halibut vessels in Ju- neau, 24 in Petersburg, and about as many in Ketchikan with an aver age of four men to boat.
 Hiidre asserted additional taxes would tend to make fishermen leave Alaska for Puget Sound where he declared there is no boat tax on the fishing fleet.
 Taxes can create a lot of hard feelings" Hildre said. "A lot of people are leaving the old country because of too much taxation.'
 I. Goldstein. Juneau fishing sup ply dealer and owner of three hali- buters vas also invited to the stand.
 Representative McCutcheon asked Goldstein, wouldn't you be willing to pay a little towards the upkeep of tine .Territory's schools and roads?",
 : T would" Goldstein replied. If ! knew that money went to schools and roads. I'd pay two percent if l knew that" ! New Tax Angle
 Fisherman Dan Stanworth gave Prpperty Tax Bill proponents their only encouragement of the session when he advanced the belief that people living out the road outside of town" should pay some taxes.
 However, when McCutcheon asked Stanworth if he was against tax to help run the various offices of the Territory. Stanworth replied heat edy, How did they pay for these benefits before they got this tax progran2"
 Principal argument of the halibut- CTS against the tax of one percent proposed in the Property Tax Bill on fish boats. was that OPA ceilings 'already give Seattle boats the edge" and that additional taxes here would make it harder to compete"
 Saturday the House voted an ex- eMption for fish boats used by heads of femilies in earning living to the sum of $5,000. A reconsideration vote .was scheduled for today on that amendment.
 ,TTie House recessed at noon with the fish boat question still unsettled. Gallery spectators were unanimous, however, that the morning was the uveliest of the session.