The Daily Alaska empire., 1947-02-04
WILLIAMS TELLS SENATOR'S ABOUT
 GUARDS STATUS
BrowneII Explains 0pposi- lion 10 Resolution De-
 lying Ship Operators

llCAAtsly dAblAJ.OOLA tO SC t'AeC t NSs-f mittee of the Whole Senate upon the freight rate increase problem as outlined by Delegate to Congress E. L. Bartlett. the Upper Chamber of the Alaska Legislature tarried to hear It. Col J, P. Williams, Ad- jutant General of the Alaska Terri torial Guard, describe what is still to be done to wind up the affairs of that organization lin an order ly manner"
 Col. Williams was questioned in 1 relation to Senate Bill 5, which had been advanced to second read i ing on the days calendar. That bill would immediately take away all unspent funds appropriated to l the Guard By the Legislature in the past. Following the Adjutant- Gen erals testimony. the bill was con- tinued in second reading at the request of Senator Edward D. Golf l fey, who stated he wished to try to ascertain why delay had occurred in the Guards receiving instructions from the U s. Army directing dis posal of equipment Col Williams had stated that he first asked for such instructions several months ago.
 I Principal points of Williams tes- timony were: That now unspent funds of the Guard total between $l2,00O and $l3,000; of these funds $8O00 to s9,000 is in the salary ac- count, with three persons on the payrell-the Adjutant General, his clerk and Captain Otto Geist sta tioned at Nome. Mention of Geist brought an explosion from Coffey. Whats that man doing there2
 Col. Williams stated that he had also reserved small portion of transportation funds which would be required if the Army instructed moving of equipment, although the Adjutant- General said he hopes the Army will return the Guards equip Menl to the leiillOIy.
 Must Have Funds
 Asked if he would be put in an embarrassing position if all funds were now taken away from the Guard, the ATG Commander said yes, that it would prevent his clos ing out the organization in a man ner that would be credit to the Territory. In reference to the re- quest for some $73,GO0 in appropria tion for the Guard for the next biennium. included in the budget report, Colonel Williams said the amount was purely and simply a guess; submitted because he had understood he was required to en- ter some figure. The amount was arrived at, he said, to make dis pensation for revival of the Alaska National Guard, an action for which the Army recently had indi- cated favor.
 Asked by Coffey why he had not long ago taken more definite steps to close cut the Guard, in com pliance with statements made tc . the Senate at last years special ses- sion. Col Williams stated he was unable to press for action until the erd of hostllities was declared
 As the Guard Commander com- r,etcd his statement, the Senate received an invitation from the House for Joint Committee of the Whole hearing upon the shipping problem, and, after discussion, de- cided to call off it's own scheduled hearing and immediately go into committee with the House.
 Immediately after return from the Committee of the Whole ses- sion, the Senate approved ano adopted the action of the Joint Committee. To demand hearing before the Maritime Commission be- fore submitting to any freight rate increase.
 Under privilege" Senator Dor Carlos Brownell explained why ht had cast the only No vote in tho joint meeting on the resolution to defy the operators. The Sewaro Senator said his action was based ion a statement made by Col. Johf P. Johnson, General Manager o the Alaska Railroad to the effec that any interruption of regulal steamship service during the nex few months would work untold damage upon the economy of tht Territory. Brownell said he, there. for, does not feel it wise to risl such interruption tut thinks 1t bet ter policy to leave the issue up tt Delegate Bartlett to try to work ou ] a compromise solution.
 Senate Joint Memorial No l which accepts the challenge bl the ship operators, was reported ou by the Rules Committee yesterda, afternoon for placement on today : calendar Also put on the ealen dar for today were two schoo measures. s. B II and s E. F