The Wrangell sentinel., 1945-11-30
THROUGH THE SENTINEL PERISCOPE

6dS that The Juneau lHamner was against. The Juneau hoys claim we're all wet. but we're not entir- ely convinced. so herewith. We pre- sent the further reports of the Juneau Chamber. Draw your own conclusions. We'll have our fur ther comment ready by next week
 The Legislative Comm itfee at the Juneau Chamber of Commerce notes the following article was printed in The Wrangeu Sentinel. at Wrangen, Alaska, under date of October 29th. 19+5:
 After reading the printed Re port of Legislative Committee of Juneau Chamber of Commerce on H R. 3S9S. a Bill 10 provide for admission of Alaska as the 49th State it is easier 10 understand why congressman Jed Johnson House Appropriations sub-commiJ- tee. which was up here last sum mer. decided Alaska wasn't ready for statehood In keeping with is traditional stand against statehood the Juneau Chamber of Commerce in it's report adopted by that body unanimously October proceeds to tear H. F. 3S9S. or the Bartlett Bill for getting admitted into the Union to peices This is the sort of thing. of course. the Johnson Committee heard lots of on it's wis it last summer. There's been sig ling eritism of the published John son Committee report by the very interests the Juneau Chamber rep resents. but it seems i'll founded from such sources. After all, the Juneau Chambers report on the Bartlett Statehood Bill. and the conclusion reached by the Johnson Committee that Alaska wasn't ready for statehood assay out to exactly the same answer-against state hood.
 THE WRANGELL SENTINEL article concluded as follows:
 Actually the Bartlett Bill is request for an enabling act pat erned after the one former Dele gate Dimond introduced two years ago. It would enable the Territory to have constitutional convention, draw up a program for statehood and submit 1T to the voters for ratification or rejection. If the voters turned it down, statehood would be out: if it was ratified the machinery would be in motion for actual statehood. It's the procedure that has been followed through for years for enabling Territories to become states At the present time it is before Chairman Peterson's House Committee on Territories. It's likely no action will be taken on it before next October when Alaskans will vote for or against the statehood issue as a result of the referendum by the last Legis- lature."
 COMMENT
 Even a casual reading of the rinted Report on the Bartlett Enab- ling Act Bill should at once reveal that the Chamber of Commerce did not go on record against statehood for Alaska On the contrary, the Juneau Chamber expressly went on record in favor of statehood for Alaska in principle: and also ex- pressly went on record in favor of the Bartlett Bill in principle. It is apparent that THE WRANGELL SENTINEL inadvertently or other wise. has enormously construed timely constructive criticism of the indefinitely and uncertain proYi- sion of the Bartlett Enabling Act Bill: and has enormously con- cluded therefrom that the Chamber of Commerce is opposed to state hood for Alaska. To correct sucl conclusions the Legislative Com mittee makes the following reply tc THE WRANGELL SENTINEL concerning the Bartlett Bill (H. R 389S):
 The Legislative Committee oi the Juneau Chamber of Commerc' is in favor of statehood for Alaska in principle. It is in favor of thu Bartlett Enabling Act Bill 1T principle. It is still of the opinion that the people of Alaska are en titled to know definitely - ant should know before they can ac intelligently on the matter of state hood for Alaska what burdens an responsibilities of statehood will b as well as what the benefits O statehood will be. Consequently the Committee again points ou the weaknesses and uncertaintie of the Bartlett Bill. hoping tha the Bill may be clarified and mad more definite and certain so tha the people of Alaska will know and the constitutional convention to be called to form State Con stitution as provided in the Bart lett Bill will know, what woul he the respective rights and re