The Daily Alaska empire., 1947-09-11
Butler Feels
 Committee 10
 Thumbs Down
Senator Etton Definitely States Opposition al
 Hearing Here

Quiet demise--or at least consid- erable revision--was prophesied for the Lemke Bill here today by Sem ator Hugh Butler, before whose Sem ate Public Lands Committee that much condemned bit of Alaska homestead legislation for veterans is now resting.
 Though stressing that officially he can speak only for himself, the Senate Committee Chairman added that he believes he has talked with enough of the 13 members of the Public Lands Committee to be able to give reasonable assurance there is no chance of the Lemke Bill. in it's present form. ever coming out of the. committee" Senator Butler qualified the statement by saying it is possible that the bill can be amended into acceptable form.
 Another member of the Senate group now in Juneau, Montana Re- publican Zales Ecton, was more out spoken. He forthrightly declared that he is not in favor of the Lemke Bill"
 The two Senators advanced their comments this morning at the pub lie hearing held before the com mittee in the Alaska Senate Cham Der. Their remarks were in reply to statements in opposition to the Lemke Bill made by opening wit ness. Norman Banfield, who was Representing the Juneau Post of the American Legion and the Juneau Chamber of Commerce.
 Resume After Lunch
 The hearing was recessed at noon ,oday after a number of witnesses lad appeared. It was resumed at 1 80 o'clock. after the Senators went to lunch with the Chamber of Con- nerce.
 Third United States Senator in she visiting group, Democrat Ernest w. Mcfarland of Arizona voiced no opinion on the Lemke Bill but did display deep interest in other AL aska problems, particularly the tuberculosis plague as set forth by Commissioner of Health c. Earl AL brecht, who was the last to testify before the recess.
 The hearing today was opened by the Governor of Alaska who intro duced the Public Lands Committee as the most important of the major committees of the Senate as far as Alaska is concerned. Of it's five sub commmitees, four directly influence legislation for Alaska. he said. They are the subcommittees on Terri tories, Indian Affairs, Mines and Mining, and Public Lands. The fifth, dealing with irrigation and reclama- ton, will in time be also of great importance to Alaska, he pointed out.
 Chairman Butler replied by ex- pressing pleasure at the results ob- tained by his group on it's Alaska trip, adding regret that the entire committee could not be along. The fourth member who did arrive iis Alaska, Arthur V. Watkins tR.- Utah) was forced to turn back from Skagway because of illness.
 Senators from West
 Butler emphasized that all l3 members of the Public Lands Con- mittee are from Western States, probably for the first time in the history of Congress He discounted the influence of partisan politics in the work of the Congress. declaring his party is in Alaska on non partisan basis to listen because that is how the committee does it's work, on a non- partisan basis.
 Also an official member of the Senate group now here is Hugh R. Brown, Chief Clerk of the Senate Lands Committee, who also was ac- tive in today's hearing. The entire group. travelling back to Juneau by chartered plane, was delayed over- night at Gustavus and only arrived in Juneau this morning in time to begin the hearing. A number of wives and other family members are travelling with the Senators.
 At the conclusion of the informal public hearing, the Senators had private investigations" to make in Juneau, as Senator Butler described it. after which they are to be dinner guests, with their families. this eve- ming at the Governors House. The party is to sail south aboard the Princess Louise tomorrow morning, to return to the States.
 Other Witnesses
 Besides Banfield and Albrecht.