The Daily Alaska empire., 1947-09-12

VFW opposition to the Lemke Bill, added that veterans could be aid- cd in this area by liberalization of restrictions on getting patents to small tracts of land.
 More School Reserves
 Allen Shattuck offered a Cham Der of Commerce proposal for amendments to the Bartlett State hood Bill to increase the amount of land reserved for educational support to five sections of each township, also that state shares of timber and land sales be set aside for construction of roads and trails. Shattuck said that 1t is felt that If all lands were turned over to Alaska outright, it would require a number of years experience be- fore the new state would be prop ierly prepared to administer them. Also, that to turn over the na- tional forests to the state govern ment would "stymie" pulp develop Iinent for a number of years.
 Commissioner of Education James c, Ryan also argued for a larger reserve of school lands
 n Alaska and again presented the Board of Education's position re- garding unification of the Native and Territorial schools systems. He stressed that unification should come about over a long time, through a planned policy. The three Senators displayed deep in terest in the school system, with Chairman Butler indicating inn mediate action to relieve the load dumped on the Territory by clos ure of g native schools. Butter wondered if the teachers for those closed schools might not still he on the permanent Federal payroll He was later answered no on that point hy Alaska Native Service General Superintendent Don Fost- CT.
 After considerable questioning or Ryan, Senator Ecton set up the aboriginal claims questions as one of the major problems of Alska that Congress will have to act to solve.
 TB Program Urged
 Foster, who appeared during the a if erpnor1 cppp11rrad will, tho foro neon statements of Commissioner of Health c. Earl Albrecht that the Federal government is now wasting money by only part-way measures against acute problems of tuberculosis. He declared the ANS goes along with Dr. Albrecht all the way" in emphasizing the importance of comprehensive pro- gram for controlling that Alaska Iscourge, He pleaded for addi- tional funds, not just for hospital beds, but as also important in the fight against TB for proper hous- ing and overcoming malnutrition among natives.
 Philip Briggs, founder of the Briggs Steamship Co, earned sym pathetic interest of the Committee with his complaint that Federal subsidies have teen confined by the Maritime Commission to the three Seattle companies. Alaska shipping, he urged, must have long range Federal subsidization on the same basis fer all operators, large and small, until port fac ilities and connecting roads can be built up and the sediment of the country fostered. It is es lsential, he declared, that the Federal government give Alaska the same basic aid to development that the western states had.
 A general settlement of labor strife would also be of great help to small operators, he said He asked that his company be put in competitive position under new contracts for Alaska shipping aid. Then, he concluded, his company would be able to serve more ports and reduce rates.
 Bristol Bay Discrimination
 One other witness, appearing during the afternoon, was Com missioner of Labor Henry Ben son. He charged that resident | AlaSkans are not given equal | opportunities with non-residents in Bristol Bay salmon fishing the worlds most lucrative red salmon area. That rich fishery, he said, is exploited for non- residents. The 1947 season is de- rided as "The Indian Invasion of Bristol Bay" Non-residents reap the fishing profits while resident Alaskans sit on the beach.
 He advanced that bill is to be introduced in Congress to give Alaskan fishermen preference in Bristol Bay, aimed at an exclusive resident nxnlOitatjOn in 10 years