The Daily Alaska empire., 1947-02-21
HOUSE VOTE KILLS WAGES,
 HOURS BILL
Too Muth Power for Labor Commissioner Given ds
 Reason for 12-12 Vote


 and Hours Bill, a measure which has appeared at several previous sessions of the Legislature, went by the board in the House of Repre- sentatives late yesterday afternoon by vote of 12 to 12 The vote which killed the bill came after an amendment to lower the minimum wage in Alaska from S1 an hour to 85 cents per hour had been adopted by l3 to II vote
 There was considerable discussion on the merits of the bill before the final roll was called, and Irving Hill, of the Alaska Territorial Fed e!ation of Labor was extended the privilege of the floor to discuss the measure.
 Main points of argument advanc- ed against the passage of the bill were:
 That both the sl and the 85- cents minimum were too high for some kinds of work and would work a hardship on some small businesses:
 That seasonal workers. farm la Dor. domestic help and perhaps some others should have been ex- ciuded from the maximum and minimum requirements;
 That the section on penalties, which provided for up to Sl,000 fine and Jail sentences up to one year. not only for violations of the proposed Act. but for any violations of rules, regulations or orders is sued by the Labor Commissioner under the Act, gave too much power to the Commissioner.
 Vote On the Bill
 The vote on passage of the bill was as follows:
 Yes:-Almquist, Edward Ander- son. Barnett, Egan, Engstrom, Gar nick, Hope, Huntley, Frank John son, McCutcheon, Newell and Pol lard.
 No:-Dewey Anderson, Coble, Hoopes, Maurice Johnson, Joy, Laws, Meath, Nolan, Ost, Snider. Vukovich and Gill.
 A bill which had been introduced by Rep. Snider to prohibit passing on the sales tax was laid on the table by almost unanimous vote of the House. The motion was made by Rep Meath and Rep. Snider rose to say: "As author of the tul, have no objection"
 Jones Act action
 H. J. M. 4, which asks that the Jcnss Act be amended by striking the words except Alaska" from Section 27, was passed unanimously. Amending that section of the Act would permit foreign flag vessels to carry American goods from foreign ports, thing they are not now permitted to do.
 Several other House bills were passed through second reading yes- terday, most of them with little amendment A bill by Rep. Me Cutcheon which would regulate out door advertising, caused consider able discussion before it finally went on it's regular course.
 Rep. Maurice Johnson objected to section which provided that:
 The finding Of any bill, sign, poster, advertisement or notice in any way advertising any person, painted or affixed to any public or private structure or building. shall be prima facie evidence that the same was affixed by the person so advertised"
 The ''prima facie evidence" word ing could cause the arrest of an entirely innocent person, Johnson said, and the whole portion was stricken from the bill.
 Rep. McCutcheon offered amend ments first to tax outdoor adver- Using signs on highways at the rate of S25 a month and, when that failed of adoption, to make the tax S25 year. The latter amend ment was adopted
 Candidates Not Excepted
 Rep. Egan picked out sentence which specifically exempted post CTS of candidates running in an election and said that he thought candidates picture locked just as bad as any other kind on a post or fence, and this too was struck out before the bill went on to it's s!eXt step.
 Other bills which went through second reading during the afternoon session were: H. B. 63, to purchase cars for US. Marshals in the Terri tory; H. B. 54, to classify places