The Wrangell sentinel., 1946-04-19

. - Ra as it has been elsewhere.
 Upon the advent of statehood Alaska would also probably lose } the money that is now appropriat- ed yearly for the construction and maintenance of roads and trails in the Territory but this. in my judgment would be more than off set by the funds to which Alaska would become eligible in statehood from appropriations now made by Congress for all the States and for Hawaii and Puerto Rico under the provisions of the Federal Highway Act It is true that these funds SO appropriated must be matched but it seems highly probable that formula could be readily worked out which would give Alaska as a state much more money for roads than it ever had as a territory, and yet not impose an undue burden upon the state treasury
 Alaska now supports it's schools and takes care of the usual eOntri- buttons required of all states and territories without distinction un- der the various social security laws. and Alaska also maintains an efficient if relatively inexpensive. territorial government within the limits of it's authority aa a te-fi- tory. and it would seem that the advent of statehood would not necessarily increase our financial responsibilities in these respects.
 Territorial Revenues
 The yearly revenue of the ter ritorial government at this time is roughly about $2,0O0,000 This revenue is derived from system of taxation = if it can be called a system - that is primitive beyond any comparison to be found else where in the nation No one can justly say that by any ordinary standards our tax burden is now a heavy one. Since Alaska is a iron tier country it is highly desirable that taxes be kept just as low as is consistent with the public welfare. So much productive labor must be done in any frontier country to bring the wilderness in subiection that special attention should be given to the problem of keeping taxes to a minimum But that de- sideration must have been in the minds of all the peoples of all the territories when they considered statehood, and yet they deliberate ly I believe rightly, embraced in each instance the proposal to be- come a state Alaska, in my judg- ment. not only without oppression but easily and readily and in complete harmony with the maxim of low taxes for frontier countries, can secure enough additional local revenue to undertake the burdens of statehood. As indicated above, the additional required to maintain a state government as I calculate it. would be around S2,000,O00 suggest that Alaska a. state at this time can main ain itself foe about S4,00O,000 var. This would make neces7ary tho raising annually of S2 OO0.O0O n1re th h7n is now paid into the treasury 2f the terr' torial government Un eT scientific tax svstem tax in come of s4.ON0. 000 year 7. fairly and equitablv dis .ributcd can he secured withort difficulty a I d without imposing any pa nful tqv 1 burden It now seen"e f7o'rotta Il" that the Territorial egi lature of 1899 failed to n~ro. Q. s'-'to 'le ia- come tax law, for vi h sach Inv in eyiqterc. we -"1l' hev07d dorbt hara th1 f'~an.ie' ~-e-ne ,..~''t nov. to npd~rtake . state government.
 After all, i+ ie f, = qbe~ad aq the late Tu-tioe Holmos o veil said. "Taxns arn !Ho 7rt-9 wa 0Gv fer civilization" Surelv h. log oal development and extension in Alas- ka of our system of froa govern ment may justly be called a part Of that intangible thing for which we use the word civilization,
 Can Srrtain Taxr1
 Az throwing some light upon our ability to maintain a state government. it may be forthwhile tn inquire as to the amount spent yearly in Alaska for alcoholic liq- nor. both in pre-war days and at the present time. suggest that that anyone who is really interest