The Daily Alaska empire., 1947-03-06
HOUSE 0K5 ONE
 BILL AND v0TES
 ONE DOWN TODAY

which sought to make the office of Territorial Commissioner of Mines elective instead of appoint i've but was amended to elimin- ate this change, passed the House this morning by a 23-l vote. The bill as passed sets a definite term of four years for the office and raises the salary from S5,000 a year to S5600 a year.
 The two Representative John sons were the only ones who spoke on the bill prior to the final vote. Rep. Frank Johnson, author of the bill, said that he had introduced it at the request of some people in Ketchikan," and that he was disappointed that it did not make the office elective
 Rep. Maurice Johnson, of Fair banks, said that he has never heard a single request from his Division, which is largely devoted to mining, to have the office made elective. He said that he feels the office should be appointive in order to secure the best qualified man for the position.
 Divisional OK Fails
 Another government mea- sure, H. B. 72, went down to de- feat by an l1-13 vote in the House. It would have required the ap- pointing power to secure the ap- proval of a majority of the Sena- tors and Representatives from the Division from which an appoint ment is made before a name is submitted to the Legislature for confirmation.
 Rep. Maurice Johnson started the discussion on this bill by say ing that he had heard good deal of opposition to it, opposition which he is unable to understand
 "The Governor is against this bill, and was against it when it was introduced in the House two years ago, at which time his power in the House was overwhelming, Johnson charged. Whether that power remains as overwhelming today, as regards this bill, re- mains to te seen"
 The machinery set up by H. B. 72. Johnson explained, would be as close to election by the people as would be possible in an appointive office, since it would require the approval of the legislators elected directly by the people before an appointment could be made.
 Stuffed Shirts
 That is what I consider to be democratic government" Johnson said. However, some people here have the idea that democracy is poking a stick into some stuffed shirt to watch the sawdust run out"
 Rep. Steve McCutcheon pointed out that Johnson was reversing his previous stand on the question of electing the Commissioner of Mines. The passage of this bill would allow the Legislature to usurp the powers of the executive branch of our government" Me- Cutcheon said.
 If the Governor, the present one or any other, is sincere in wishing for a good administration in Alaska, he should and could have no objections to this bill, I" Rep. Harry Newell told the mem bers. Representatives and Sena- tors are still in office even when the Legislature is not in session and could act on appointments during the g months of the bien- nium between sessions Newell went on to say that this would do away with possible abuses of good practice in recess appoint mentS.
 Reps Carl Anderson, Nolan and Vukovich have been named by Speaker Gill as members of a Committee on Conference, with free conference powers, to meet with a like committee from the Senate to reach an agreement on H. B. 21, which seeks to amend the law relating to bids on- service