The Daily Alaska empire., 1947-02-21
SENATE GIVES NOD TO CHIEF
 EXEC. OFFICE
Administrator General Bill Passed in Morning
 Long Session

One of the half dozen top rank ing measures of the present session passed the Alaska Senate this morn- ing-the bill to create the office of Administrator General Twelve affirmative votes put the measure over, complete with emergency clause making it effective immed- lately it is approved Voting mo- on the bill were Senators Brownell, Butrovich, Peratrovich and Ner- land.
 Under the terms of the measure, which is Judiciary Committee Substitute for the bill introduced by Senator Joe Green as Senate Bill l, an Administrator General would be elected for a term of four years, at the General Election in 1948. He would take office on Ap- Til 1, 1949, until which date the Auditor of Alaska would serve in dual capacity as Administrator General without pay.
 Among qualifications for the chief executive" post are 10 years residence in Alaska and over 40 years of age. The Administrator General would be paid salary ot $7,5c0 per year and would exer- else powers now wielded by the Governor under acts passed by the Legislature-such as appointive authority, service upon territorial boards and as member of the Board of Administration. The Gov ernor would retail all present func- tions with regard to the Territor- ial Board of Education and the Board of Regents of the University of Alaska.
 No Disruption
 Any disruption of the present territorial government is avoided by a provision that all Governor appointees now in office shall con- tinue to serve until expiration of their terms.
 Though labelled by some quarters as a spite bill" the measure is similar to ones that have appear ed at most recent legislative ses- sions, even before any apparent schism between the Legislature and the Governor developed.
 Argument preceding passage was prolonged, with the keynote of pro- ponents being: We want Alaska for Alaskans," that the bill repre- sents a first step toward "self-gov- ernment" and is foundation for statehood. This bill has that pur- pose,3 declared original author Green.
 Those sponsoring the bill stress ed that no personalities were con- cerned. Senator O. D. Cochran declared: Tt does not make any difference who the Administrator General is the particular thing is to have an Administrator Gen. eral He continued: l dc not think the Governor, as such is at all concerned" Gov. Thomas Riggs, in an open letter published in 1921, favored vigorously every thing provided in this bill,' the Nome sage declared.
 Declaring he does not see 'how anyone can oppose the transfer o1 powers on principle" Cochran con- cluded that he firmly believes all territoria. duties and obligations created by the laws of Alaska should, in their performance, be placed in the hands of man elected by and responsible to the people of Alaska.
 The Governor is a Federal off cial, with duties prescribed by Con- gress, he emphasized, adding that he, personally, is among the many who always has resented that the Governor is not necessarily an Alaska resident.
 Prejudice Statehood
 Declaring the bill "stinks," it was opponent Don Carlos Brownell who insisted that there was persona reason back of the measures being introduced tat this time He as- serted it's passage now would pre- judice statehood; view also taker by Senator Frank Peratroyich.
 Calling upon all Republican Sen ators to vote for the bill, Senator William Munz read an endorsement of such a measure from the white Republican party platform adopted at Anchorage. That immediately raised the hair of black Repub- licans John Butrovich, Jr., and An drew Nerland though another Fourth Division GOPer, E. B. Col lins, said he considered the mea- sure under discussion to be above politics.
 At one point, a move came frcn