The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1947-08-26

Ans School Closing Is First
Step Toward Federal Govt.
Withdrawal, States Warne

| tie Congress" that the Federal
government withdraw from the
education field in Alaska" was ex-
pressed here this morning by
Assistant Secretary Of the Interior
William B. Warne, both at pub
! lie hearing held in the Alaska
! Senate Chamber in the Federal
Building and at succeeding press
conference.
/ That the Congress intends that
the Territory take over all educa-
ton duties, the Assistant Secretary
thinks is borne out by the action
i of Congress this year in not al
lowing the full amount of appro-
priations required to operate all
Alaska Native Service schools.
Warne considers that the Congress
! forced the closing OF number OF
!; ANS schools this year as first
step toward total withdrawal from
the education field
! He is thereto, definitely OF the
opinion that an orderly program
for assimilation of ANS school
charges into the Territorial system,
then do the best we can to hold
i, to it, In that way repetition OF
this years sudden dumping OF
considerable additional burdens
upon unprepared schools of the
Territory could be avoided in the
future.
i This mornings hearing before
Warne was presided over by the
Governor of Alaska, with the
Assistant Secretary attended by
Joseph T. Flakne, chief of the
J, Alaska Branch of the Interior
Departments Division of Terri
] tories, and by DR.. Harlan H. Bar
rows, special consultant ON settle
ment problems.
Fish Enforcement Asked
! Territorial Commissioner of Edu-
cation James c. Ryan presented
the case for Alaska schools and
was followed by two working fish
lernmen, Carl Weidman and H. B
Manery, who called for more en-
.foroement of conservation regula-
tion to protect Alaska's salmon.
| Ryan first discussed school lands
asking the Interior Department S
aid in securing Congressional set
aside of at least four sections OF
land in each township of the
Territory for school purposes and
revenues. He pointed out that two
, sections in each township are now
so set aside, while in four OF
the States the number of. school
Isections is four out OF each So
The designation of four sections
was made in these four states, Ry-
. an said, because of the poor quail
lily of land. Alaska lands on the
average are even poorer, he held
The school system can derive
very little benefit from the set
ting aside of sections of tundra
land mountain, Ryan concluded.
In stating his view OF the present
;dual school system in Alaska, Ryar
also commended that there should
be some definite long-range policy
for uniting the ANS schools with
THE Territory's system. Lauding the
cooperative attitude of local ANS
. officials, he charged the Chicago
and Washington offices of the
office of Indian Affairs with con-
, fusing attempts that have beer
made by the two school system:
to work out problems together.
Ryan again urged adoption Of
1.-THE plan he laid before the In
dian service and Congress while
/, in Washington last year: That th'
; Territory he paid 500 tuition fol
, each native pupil in Territorial
. schools, with ANS schools ther
: being integrated into the Alasks
system as the local ANS officials
? decide to turn them over.
4 Warne later INDICATED that HI
! reads the view of Congress as op
jposed to payment OF tuition t
1.-THE Territory--though Ryan con
TENDED there is ample preceden
lin the States. Since 1885, ever
, Estate that has Indian pupils re
lceives tuition under contracts will
THE Federal Government. ANS
General Manager Don c. Foste
lintervened that Alaska is differen
= because of absence of Indial
! treaties and the full Citizenship
status of Alaska natives. Ryai
!, replied that he cannot see why
since rich states like Californi
q and Oklahoma receive compensa
a ton for Indian pupils, Alask
! should not also.
Warne told reporters that chang
ing the mind of the Congress o.
the matter of tuition is somethin
that the Interior Department coul
/ be able to work on. Warne sal
: he would look up Ryans pro
. posal when he returns to the Ma