The Daily Alaska empire., 1945-02-20

l parties, in that they are not definite and realistic.
 Senator Shattuck referred to the insufficiency of communications in the Territory to properly inform the voters; to the responsibility owed to the consuming public, a point of view often overlooked; to the likeli- hood of the taking over of Alaska's fishing industry by large seine boats operated from Outside, should fish traps be eliminated. There is no protection against tuna fishermen from Washington. oregon and Cali fornia moving in, he said, as the courts have held against legislation that would discourage them.
 Against Confiscation
 Senator Tolbert Scott announced his stand against the confiscation of property in which many have in- vested Investors are entitled to protection, he stated. We should regulate, not abolish. If the Terri tory wants to do away with traps, let the Territory buy them" he declar- ed
 Senator Andrew Nerland referred to Federal mandate to the Terri tory during the first World War, not to interfere with the fishing indus try, as it's products were needed for war. He then recalled that the fishing industry has been paying the bills of the Territory for good many years; making Alaska a good place to live and grow old in. He remarked on yesterdays hearing as being the best conducted and most informative of all his years in the Legislature, when the same general Tissue had been up for consideration,
 Not MOrons
 Senator McCutcheon took sec ond turn on the floor to say "The people of the Second and Fourth Divisions are not morons,' to be kept from voting on this matter. Senator Frank Gordon declared that he had learned considerable about fishing yesterday, but that the lquestion had regard to ''referen- dunn only" If the jeople vote that they want traps done away with, then it will be up to the Legislature to take what action it sees fit, he said The bill does not say that the Legislature must act to abolish traps. Senator Gordon pointed to the pro- cess of referendum as "one of the fundamentals of Democracy" Be- fore the issue can come to vote of the people they will be amply in formed, he concluded. The opposi- ton forces will flood the Territory with information.
 Pure Democracy Senator Walker replied that pure Democracy, when tried' had re- suited only in chaos and confus- ion; that out government had a
 more realistic approach, Democracy l. by representation"
 Senator Howard Lyng, siding with Senator McCutcheon, in having im , plicit faith in the people pointed to public opinion poll as national illustration. He then took stand on blanks, "in both the Democratic and Republican platforms" against fish
 traps.
 Senator Don Carlos Brownell de- clared himself amazed at reflec- tions heard on the floor of the Sem , ate that the majority of the people ; can not vote intelligently." Senator Shattuck took the floor again, to state that he had not been
 party candidate, that he ran !, only as Allen Shattuck", in a spe-
 cial election Our government is not a Democracy" he said. In the
 Unitetd States we have "Represen
 tative Government" and have had it for 150 years. The best in our gov ernment comes from the confidence of the people in those they elect to represent them
 i That Party Platform
 ! Senator Leo w. Rogge said he held the conviction that he was bound to adhere to his party's platform, only as closely as he could in agree men with his own judgment. Why i should we pass the buck" to the people on this matter, he asked. T Senator Nerland referred to Sena- tor Lyng's remarks. with the reply that they mo doubt meant the two- man platform from the First Divis- ion Republicans" We are not elected on that platform, and it does not tie either Senator Butro- vich or myself" he declared.
 ! The Fourth Division Republican Club opposes that platform thoroughly"
 ! Senator O. D. Cochran declared
 his intention to vote against the , bill, because ''the Territory has mo-
 thing whatever to do with traps. If |, on referendum, the people vote eith- CT for or against them-what then? Why should we spend money to put this issue to referendum, when it can accomplish absolutely nothing?" Jurisdiction over traps, he stressed, is lretained in Congress. He expressed ll~;. 1,~,,>;1x, tlnt tho onat,o;oe oI, n rr,