The Wrangell sentinel., 1947-09-12
CRAWORD COMMITTEE
 HEARS WRANGELL VIEWS
 ON ALASKA STATEHOOD

Committee. headed by congress man Fred Crawford of Michigan. with Representatives Edward Pen nison. of Illinois. J. Le Fevre Of New York and Wm. Dawson, of Utah, heard expression from Wrau- gell residents as to their views oti statehood for Alaska at a hearing held at Elks Hall yesterday aft 1T noon.
 The party arrived in Wrangen at 9 o'clock yesterday morning and was greeted upoh arrival by Mayor Doris Barues who later drove them to points of interest about Wran- gell in her car.
 Alaska's Delegate to Congress, [. L. Bob" Bartlett accompanied the Congressional party which mas covered Alaska from Nome an1 Barrow to Dixon's Entrance find ing out conditions in the Territory and sentiment Of it's people before voting on Delegate Bartlett's i'm portant Statehood Bill next session.
 Also accompanying the Congress- men was Joe Flakne, head of the Alaska Division of the Division on Territories and Insular Possessions of the Interior Department and Miss Gardiner, Secretary for the committee The Committee vas travelling aboard the Fish and Wildlife Service vessel Brant.
 Electrical transcripuons were made yesterday of all arguments and statements at the meeting al Blks hall. Appearing first was Walter J. Rudolph who presented a brief from the Alaska Native Brotherhood asking that fish traps be allowed to fish only from sun Up to sundown and that limits oe put on sizes of seines. It also asked that canneries be prosecuted Hor uying illegal fish
 Next called to testify was James Nolan who went on record for statehood for Alaska and further asked amendment of Section 2l of the Jones Act which prohibits the carrying of passengers between American ports by Canadian yes sels.
 C. T. Eslick gave a good picture Ot shipping and transportation diff faculties as pertaining his shingle production and general merchan- disc and Fred c. Hanford, who al so went on record for statehood,, explained how large outside inter ests, which take wealth from the Territory outside. were largely re- sponsibie for opposition to state hood. The Congressman asked Mir. Hanford what he thought of mak- ing the Territory into two states Southeast Alaska as one state ana the Westward and Interior another. MT. Hanford expressed the opinIon that because O. the diversified in dustries Of these sections, it might. be well to work ont some such Ul- visitn, especially. a3 t might tenu to promote better understanding in the legislatures.
 Toward Balt2o gave a detailed record Of the fishing problem in Southeastern Alaska. Mr Baltzo is a graduate of the University of Washington with a Bachelor Of Science Degree in Fisheries and the congressman evinced much in- terest in Mr. BaltZo's statements
 IT fact, Chairman Ora wford sug gest d that Mr. Baltzo and some local fishe.. .lcn write a brief of information Mr. Baltzo gave them and send il to Congress to have it read into the Congressional Re cord
 "}ye have never had such a fine rres ntation of !he matter" Chair man Craword told Mr Baltzo. T thin, you should write it up ana send it in f2r the Congressional RecC I'd so every Congressman ana every Senator can read it. We need such enlightenment on a subject on which We know little"
 Congressman Le FeVre inter- ruptad to ray that he thought M Balteo should sell it to Reader S Digest" first and get paid for it.
 E, c. Intolubbe spoke informally on native claims and Earl Ledlng spoka for the Lemke bill and on general Alaska matters CharIes Rurti ick, Assitant Regional Forest CT f r Alaska. told of how the For est Service plans to take care of pollution of streems as far as pa- per mills are concerned and als0 take measures against erosion.
 Mf yor Doris Barnes gave a state l, ent as to difficulties of the small cam ary operator and closed me meet ng by thanking the commit tee for coming to Wrangell arn giving its citizens a chance to De heard