The Wrangell sentinel., 1946-04-05
THROUGH THE SENTINEL PERISCOPE

In the final hours of it's last
 day the 17th Territorial Legisla-
 ture in extraordinary session
 came through for the Alaska veter-
 ans of World War II It passed a
 liberal veterans bill carrying d
 sales tax provision for raising
 funds for putting it into effect.
 Assuring its being enacted into
 law, Gov Gruening said he would
 sign the bill when it reached his
 desk.
 On the whole the special session
 accomplished much despite it's ani-
 mosities and bitterness. It enacted
 complete health legislation to give
 the health department full auth ority and funds to carry out a pro gram for the welfare of the people oi Alaska It passed other worth while measures a list of which may be found elsewhere in this peerless journal, and as a final stroke of business it got together on a veterans bill The sales tax feature of the measure was not particularly popular, but it was the best that could be done under | the circumstances T Senate | majority, sales tax proponents, held | the whip hand with the result it f was sales tax or nothing. The sales tax had to be adopted to save the veterans bill.
 Few states have passed legisla- tion more liberal for the veteran than the Alaska veterans act Ii provides that the Alaska veteran may borrow up to $2,500 for edu catiOnal purposes and up to $l0, 900 for farming and business pur- poses with the rate of interest at four per cent. In lieu of loan, the veteran may apply for a straight bonus and this is established at $10 per month for each month of service Most vets have at least two years of service, hany have more. The average bonus will pro bably be around 30 months service or $500
 The tax provision provides for a one per cent tax on gross revenues, and one half of one per cent on gross market value of fish, fur gold and lumber for export. One per cent on wholesale transactions. Where the tax is levied against { service concerns certain exemp- tions are allowed for wages, sal { aries, etc. The money thus raised { will go into the Veterans Revolv- ing Fund until that fund has reached an amount of $3 250, 0,000. ] An appropriation of S350 900 from present monies in the Treasury I-i feet until machinery is set up to collect the tax and start building up the revolving fund. {
 The act will be administered un- fer a board of five members to be ! appointed by the Governor and s confirmed by the Legislature or by the Board of Administration when { the Legislature ia not in session. The Board is authorized to appoint ] Commissioner to carry on the c executive duties and employ such I help as may be needed. AS the bill I was passed on the final day and I did not reach the Governors desk I until after adjournment, appoint l ments will be made by the Gov I ernor subject to k. by the ' Board of Administration
 * * * * * ( , With only four dissenting votes, the House in the final days of the ( special session reversed the Senate action by confirming the appoint ( Ment of M. Mullaney as Tax E Voting against the I were Curtis Shattuck of Juneau, Robert Hoopes of Fair banks. Maurice Johnson of Fair banks and Wallace Porter of Hay ' cock Mrs Louise Weaver Miller l of Ketchikan, who was rejected by l the Senate, was confirmed unan- 7 imously by the House to the Hous- f ing Authority as were the other Z - George Gasser to f be Commissioner of Agriculture, Harold Byrd of Fairbanks and Ed
 (Continued on Page Four)