The Daily Alaska empire., 1947-03-28

{ WAilH eii iii esoy oiA itSAAh wrestle with the general appropria- tions bill--which wound up far the biggest in Alaska's history - the [ Eighteenth Alaska Legislature ad- journed Sine Die at 7:3o o'clock this morning.
 At least the Senate broke up it's party by mutual consent at that hour, to be followed a few minutes ; later by the House which tarried to go through the prescribed formal tiles The motion that sent the last of the Legislators home was pre- sented by youthful Representative Harry Newell after unanimous ac- ceptance of Rep. Cobles request , that the thanks of the House for , Juneau hospitality be spread upon the final days Journal.
 | Wearying Grind
 It was wearying grind that fin- ally resulted in passage of gener- al appropriations bill authorizing Territorial expenditures during the next biennium of S8,476, ,30994. In addition to this amount, approxi- mately one and one-half million dollars of revenues from the doubl- ed motor fuel tax has been ear marked for roads and airfields, and miscellaneous appropriations made through the session add up to more than another million; for a total biennial outlay exceeding $ll0O0,- 00O
 The appropriations bill of slight ly in excess of nine million dollars which the House finally passed late : Wednesday, was received by the Senate on the afternoon of the Sixtieth Day.
 Cut Is Made
 The Senate immediately went in- to Committee of the Whole on the | measure, with Senator Norman Walker in the chair. By early eve- ming, the Senate sent back over to | the House a measure ostensibly cut more than $600,000, but in real ity increased nearly a million dol lars. After being rough as possible with the Governors Office and the Alaska Development Board, the Senate was open handed where practically every other department was concerned and turned most of the agency heads away smiling. The Governors Office was stripped of two stenographers, the printing or Green Book" fund, and the en- tertainment fund was cut from $500 to $2,500 The $2,50O was left just in case the President should come north.
 Schools Fare We'll Schools in particular fared well at the hands of the Senate, Com missioner of Education James Ryan getting in all his January revised estimates, for a total increase of more than half a million. Also ex- pressing himself as satisfied was University of Alaska President Charles Bunnell, who was given another $100,0O0 to construct new kitchen and dining hall
 At the insistence of Senator O. D. Cochran, a $45, ,0OO fund for en- forcement of liquor went into the bill, only to come out again in conference later. The Senate arriv- ed at their lower total figure by striking out nearly million and i one half dollars for roads and air fields that the House had put in it's version. The reason for striking was that gas tax funds already had been earmarked. Also going by the boards in the Senate was $25000O for southern branch of the Uni versity.
 Economy Bloc
 When the measure got back to the House, it looked for a time as though the unique occurrence of immediate acquiescence in the Sem ate amendments might take place. But the economy bloc in the House couldn't see where that much mon ey was coming from, despite the assurance of Senate Finance Chair man Joe Green that the money would be there. Rallied by a spir- tied speech from Rep. Newell, the House refused concurrence in the Senate amendments by a 10-l3 vote, and the measure followed the usual , appropria tion bill course into free conference"
 1 Early evening packed galleries in both chambers began to thin as the bill was turned down by the House at about one o'clock and only meagre death watch was left five hours later when the confer ence committee had done it's work. Approximately quarter million was peeled off in conference, though the total was seemingly raised by writing in a S400,000 loan" to tide the road fund over until second quarter gas tax re- ceipts come in.