The Daily Alaska empire., 1946-03-26
Senate Turns Thumbs Down
 On Nominees
MuIIaney, Mrs. Miller Re- fused Confirmation
 School Bill Passes

I Mrs Louise Weaver Miller of Ketchikan and Mathew P. Null fancy, if they continue to act as Alaska Housing Authority Commis- sioner and Tax Commissioner re- spectively, will do so without the approval of the Alaska Senate. A third nomination, Antonio Po- let of Nome as member of the {, Alaska Development Board, barely squeaked through to confirmation by to 2 majority in the upper i house.
 i The three remaining nominations submitted by Governor Ernest Gruening to this special session of tre Legislature were all confirmed ! by unanimous vote of the Senate. They are. To the Alaska Housing Authority-Harold Byrd of Fair banks and Edward " Davis of An , chorage; as Commissioner of Agri- culture-Dr. George w. Gasser of ! Fairbanks.
 1 Mullaney, former Alaska Rural Rehabilitation Corporation account ant, was appointed by the Governor to succeer Tax Commissioner o. s. Sullivan, who resigned February l of this year Mrs. Miller was once confirmed by the Legislature as an original member of the Housing Authority and today was up for confirmation to succeed herself. The House of Representatives has, so far, taken no action in confirm ation or rejection of any of the six nominations. The Senate's pro- cedure this morning was in ac- cordance with it's recently adopted policy of acting alone on all con- firrnations not specified by law to be voted in point session.
 Miller Vote
 i Vote on Mrs. Miller was 6 to g against confirmation; the yeas be- ing Senators Brownell, Butrovich, ,, Gordon, Gundersen, McCutcheon and Nerland. Lyng was absent. 1 Voting to confirm Mullaney were Senators Brownell, Butrovich, Cor don, Gundersen, McCutcheon, Ner- land anf Coffey. Lyng, arriving late, requested that his vote be recorded for confirmation, but was !denied though his vote would have left only an even split, not enough l to confirm Lyng's request was entered in the Journal.
 On PoIet
 The nine members, of the Senate carrying confirmation of Polet were: Butrovich, Cochran, Gordon Gundersen, Lyng, McCutcheon, Ner- Hand, Scott and Whaley-aH Second IDivisioners going for their towns man.
 1 Two education measures receiv- ed the attention of the Senate and explanation by Commissioner oi Education James Ryan this morn ing. Passed, unanimously with emergency cause, was HB. 46 which enlarges permitted areas of independent school districts from 50 to 250 miles and guarantees them ithe same Territorial refunds of tuition as are made to municipal schools No amendments were made Ito the bill by the Senate, so all that's now needed to make it law is the Governors signature.
 1 School Refunds
 Also considered, at the Third Reading stage. was H.B. AS, increas- ing by five percent Territorial re- funds to city schools. Ryan ex- plained that it is a companion measure to HB 43 which raises minimum and maximum salary scales for teachers. The purpose ,of HB. AS, he said, is to take care lof the additional burden on cities should the higher pay rates be put into effect. Smaller cities, espec- iially, are now finding it great burden to meet present school costs. he stated.
 Alaska schools are now getting most of their applications from teachers wanting to come north just for the trip or who have inferior qualifications, Dr. Ryan added Turnover in Alaska teachers is now averaging 45 percent. The reason he said, is that Alaska pay rates for teachers do not make up the difference in living costs above those in the States. Alaska teach CTS, he added, often are not paid as well as policemen, garbage col
 lectors or typists.
 He estimated the cost to the Territory. if the higher pay brack- cts and increased refunds to cities are put into effect would be $l81 .00(