The Daily Alaska empire., 1946-03-07
BOND ISSUE pR0p05ED
 AS MEANS 10 FINANCE
 VET, HEALTH PROGRAM


 tain facilities, Army and Navy hos pitals and medical supplies. are available for the first time, pro vided we move to take advantage of them. and to hospitalize our tuberculosis patients in them.
 I will not detain you at this time. therefore. with detailed dts cussion of this vital problem. The Territorial Commissioner of Health will be available for that purpose The program presented for your consideration calls for an amend ment to existing laws concerning the care of tuberculous persons and an appropriation of $250,000.
 Certain other health proposals will also be presented to you. par ticularly a vocational rehabilita- tion bill
 Finally, there is need of an Alaska hospital survey. which is required if we are to be included in pend- ing Federal Hospital Program
 Veterans Legislation Loans
 And Bonuses
 No greater responsibility confronts the Territorial Legislature at this special session than to take con- structive action in behalf of our war veterans. Alaska remains the only State or Territory in the Union that has, so far, passed no Veterans Legislation Other States and Territories began passing such leg islation four years ago. At each successive legislative session, their legislators have added to it, until now. great body of legislation. designed to assist out returning boys and girls, has become law.
 The reasons for such legislation are obvious. Under the G. I. Bill of Rights passed by the Congress, much well-designed and well-in- tended legislation is, because of To- cal conditions, virtually imperative. It needs implementation by States and Territories to make is work able and practically beneficial. Without such supplementary legis- lation, the excellent purpose of the Congress remains, in its practical application, bitter disillusion and Betrayal to the returned service man.
 Consider the two outstanding as- poets of the G. I. legislation. Per- haps the most striking is that under which a veteran is entitled to loan. He is entitled, the GI. Bill Of Rights says. to a loan of $4,00O of which s2,000 is guaranteed by the Federal Government. The purpose of this loan is to enable the returned veteran to set him. self up in business or to acquire a home. Unfortunately in Alaska, and to a somewhat lesser extent in a few of the States, it is virtually impossible for the veteran to se- cure this loan. Therefore, it seems to me our first duty to our re- turning veterans, who number be- tween five and six thousand, to make it possible for them to se- cure loans and, to whatever extent may be necessary to enable them to do so, to back their loans with the funds or the credit of the Terri tory of Alaska.
 Not all veterans will desire loans. Some will return to their old jobs or find employment in such way that they do not require a loan either for business purposes or to establish a home. It is among those veterans that there is, in- stead, a desire and demand for bonus A number of states have adopted bonuses and an increasing number are doing it in their pres- ent legislative sessions. Tn this connection, I desire to read to you several letters from Alaskans re- turned veterans, which think ex- press fairly typical view.
 (At this point in his address. Gov. Gruening quoted three letters he has received in recent weeks from Alaska veterans of World War II. All three letters pointed need prevalent among returning service men of cash bonus and small inter- est loans which would enable them to start in business and establish their families.)
 Educational Pr0Disions For Veterans
 No less important than the loan ing provisions of the GI Bill of Rights. are the educational provis- ions. Under these, the Federal Government permits the returned veteran either to return to school or college and complete his unfin- ished education, or to secure addi- tional education. technical train- ing or training of any kind. that will better fit him for the battle of