The Wrangell sentinel., 1946-09-06
Alaska Statehood Issues
 and Facts i'm Brief

The information developed in the course of this study may be summarized very briefly as follows:
 l. The territorial form of government has many inherent oSadVanage and was never intended continue for long
 2 territory is inferior state in that it exercises, p influence over the federal government while the federal government has much authority over territory ina, over state.
 5 Sefgovernment generally preferable to government by others and home rule superior to government from distance.
 Alaska is so far removed from Washington and has so many unique requirements that fantastic to expect under the territorial form that good local government will stem from the national capital
 D. The congressional grant legislative powers to Alaska has been wholly inadequate permit the fiscal affairs of the territory to be placed a sound basis
 G. The terrtorys grant of powers as to have legislature or Delegate in Congress may be taken away at any time Alaska has no inherent powers
 Other specific disadvantages of the territorial form of government that laws passed by the legislature may be vetoed by the Governor nued by Congress- the Gov ernor IS federal appontee and the authority given the legislature restricted to make real government impossible
 Lacking vote in Congress and an equal standing with the states Alaska suffers many discrnnatons which can be ended only by statehood
 g. The vote in Congress the chief advantage of statehood would be of immense benefit to Alaska It would be worth the additional cost of statehood.
 10 There sound this day rapid transpor taon and communication why noncontiguous should not become state, if possesses the other qualifications
 H. Alaska already has served territorial apprenticeship longer than any but four states in all history has belonged to the United States without statehood longeB than all but five possessions in all history.
 F. The mechanics of statehood if Congress should act immediately to enable AlaSka admission prob ably would about three years Many required much longer
 13 The population of Alaska larger than of many states at time of admission and sufficient support
 state government has been growing steadily since 1929 The experience of the other states has been that state hood itself attracts population and wealth to
 A. Because of the stream of people coming to the Territory state formed could reflect in it's constitution and institutions the point of of the people really know Alaska whereas in few years this might longer be possible
 15 No state regrets did regret taking the step from territorial status to statehood.
 6 There nothing necessarily inherently costly abort the state form of government compared with the ter torial one.
 IT. The argument of excessive cost made against state hood in virtually every territory and has been used repeat edy to thwar governmental reforms in Alaska Subsequent events in every demonstrate that the argument has merit at all.
 8 The additional expense of statehood would be $1000 900 to g 100000 year. cost which Alaska would have difficulty in meeting
 19 Whatever statehood costs Alaska should get far back not merely the abstract but in simple financial and economic returns. Continued Page