The Wrangell sentinel., 1946-03-15
THROUGH THE SENTINEL PERISCOPE


 along in it's first week the Senate held a hearing on a health bill which had been proposed by the health department through the Senate committee on public health, did more or less commenting, called the roll call and approved the measure without a dissenting vote and sent it to the House. That body took it in tow immediately held it's hearing this week and with almost as much alacrity un- animously passed the measure up to the Governor for his signature A health program, one of the main purposes for the special session, was an assured achievement.
 The measure, not long appro- priates $250,0O0 to the health de- partment to take advantage of ob- taining surplus hospital and other equipment being turned over by the armed forces. It gives the depart ment, through amendment to the existing act broader authority in caring for tuberculosis patients and sets the machinery in motion for a more thorough health pro gram in the Territory.
 #&###
 No 1 in the call, but No. 9 on the legislative agenda due to it's more complicated and controver- sial nature, was veteran legisla- ton. Headway was being made on ( !, sr. their second week. Senate was first with a bill from its public health and veterans committee the so- called Walker bill sponsored by Senator Doe" Walker of Ketchi- kan. It proposes to provide loans for veterans of World War II up to S5,00O for educational, domes- tic and other personal purposes up to S10,000 to purchase or build homes for farm properties and up to $20,000 for financing busines- ses It offers an alternative bonus plan for those not desiring loans of $15 per month for each month of service. Provisions of the mea sure appear to have met with con- siderable favor Principal stickler seems to be the means of raising the money. The Senate bill pro vides for a gross sales tax and is a part of the measure itself It proposes 10 mills on all gross re- tail sales and five mills on all gross wholesale sales made in AL aska and this portion of the pro posed act would terminate at the end of the period when $3 1000 has been raised Administration of the fund, negotiating of loans and bonuses, would be under a board to be known as the Alaska World War II Veterans Board made up of five members, one from each Division and one at large appoint ed by the Governor.
 Over in the House another vet erans bill has reached the hopper, also providing for loans up to visions of $10 900, setting up a Director of Veterans Affairs, ap- propriating $S 5OO,O00 for carry ing out the provisions of the act. No form of raising the money is outlined in this bill. It's chances for passage do not appear as bright. as the Walker bill, all though the latter is bound to run into some trouble due to it's pro posal fo raising the revenue. That some form of veterans legislation will be passed, however, appears certain.
 Many other measures have been introduced the House had a total of 34 at midWeek and the Senate 15. Few of them were likely to get definite action. Legislature seemed in the mood to pass emergency leg islation and go home. Among those which might get somewhere were the Green-Shattuck workers com pensation bill, introduced in the Senate by Senator Joe Green and in the House by Representative Curtis Shattuck. It is the same bill. or similar to the one which caused so much controversy in the last session One of it's worst fea lures for the short special session il that it is Al pages long and most of it's main parts are highly controversial It has the support of Labor Commissioner Walter Sharpe but is not agreeable to all labor with the result it probably will run into some stumbling blocks and may we'll be left at the altar of unfulfilled hopes,
 * * *
 Alaska's Statehood Associations got away to a good start in Ju- neau this week. Representatives from five clubs formed in the Ter ritory thus far met in Juneau and formed a central group with Mrs Evangeline Atwood of Anchorage