The Daily Alaska empire., 1947-02-14
SENATE 0k'S CHANCES IN
 ADM. BOARD

A bill which would replace the Governor on the Board of Admin istration of the Territory by the Attorney General was passed by the Senate yesterday afternoon by a 10 to 6 vote after it had been moved from second into third read ing by unanimous consent.
 Under the bill, the Attorney Gen. eral would become the chairman of the Board of Administration, with the Commissioner of Labor, the Commissioner of Education, Trea- surer, Auditor and Highway En- gineer
 Objection to the passage of the bill was offered by Senators Brown ell and Engebreth. Senator Brown ell reminded his colleagues that the Governor is appointed by the Pres ident and represents the Chief Ex- ecutive in Alaska.
 "We are still a territory, not state" the Senator said.
 He blamed personalities for the bill being introduced and said that it challenges the constituted auth ority invested in the Governor by Congress.
 May Regret Action
 Senator Engebreth neld out a possible Republican Governor with in the next two years as reason for not passing the bill
 Some of the members of the present Senate may be here to re- gret their vote if this bill is pass ed" Engebreth said. and to wish the Governor returned to the Beard of Administration"
 ' can admire the wishful think ing of the Senator from the Third Division,' said Senator Cochran when Senator Engebreth had fin- ished.
 The Senator from Nome went on to give a history of the Board of Administration, which, he said, can veto and nullify@ actions of the Legislature.
 While I do not approve of a Third House to veto our legislation, the Board was set up for a good reason" Senator Cochran said.
 Some years ago, he explained, the Legislature ran wild on appropria- tions, passing hills to spend more money than was available. Several projects were started but were dis continued and became valueless be- cause of lack of funds to finish them.
 Control Over Projects
 This brought the creation of the Board of Administration, Senator Cochran said, with control over which projects S hould be started and which should not
 The Board has a purely Terri torial function and has nothing to do with the Federal Government" the Nome Senator said He contin- ued.
 T mean to cast no aspersionS on the Governor, but he does not be- long on this Board. He is not answerable to the voters of this Territory and we are; they can vote us out of office if they see fit The members of the Board oi Administration should be officials elected by the people so that they can be turned out Of office If the people do not like their actions"
 The 10-6 vote on the bill would not be sufficient to override pos sible veto of the measure. Voting against it's passage were Senators Brownell Butrovich, Engebreth, Peratrovich, Rivers and Nerland.
 Bill Held Over
 The controversial s. B. 4, which seeks to abolish the Alaska Devel- opment Board, was held over an- other day for final action.
 House Joint Memorial l, which seeks passage of an Alaska State hood Law by Congress, was sent back to the House for correction. H. J. M. 2 and H. J. M. 3 were quickly passed through both sec end and third readings, the latter with some amendments, and on to final passage. The former seeks a road from Fort Davis to Council, the latter a new Federal building for Valdez.
 Senator Coffey called attention to the large amount of work to be done by the finance committee and the need for longer working day, and the Senate adjourned until 10 o'clock this morning instead of Il o'clock
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