The Daily Alaska empire., 1947-03-11
HOUSE PASSES
 CHILD BENEFIT
 INCREASE BILL

| their own executive officers for the administration of Territorial laws, the House of Representa- tives this morning killed HUM. "A, which sought to have an Alaskan named as Federal governor of the Territory when the term of the present incumbent expires.
 The memorial suggested Senator Norman R. Walker of Ketchikan as a potential candidate for the position. During the brief discus sion before the roll was called, Rep. McCutcheon asked if there weren't others in the Territory as well qualified for the position as Walker, and suggested Senators Nerland and Coffey. Rep. Hoopes, author of the bill, said he had 1 asked the two Senators and that they did not feel qualified for the office
 The final vote on the memorial was II for, l3 against passage.
 The House this morning went rather extensively into the ques- ton of aid to dependent children, a subject which the Senate ex- amined at some length. The two bodies reached opposite conclu- sions, however. The Senate kill ed a measure which would in- crease the benefits; the House passed a similar bill this morning by vote of 14-l0.
 Maynard On Stand
 Russell Maynard, director of the Welfare Department, appeared be- fore the House to testify on the Bill, H B. 99, which would in crease maximum benefits to $40 instead of $25 for the first child in one family. and to $20 instead of SIS for additional children in the same family.
 Cost to the Territory of these increases would be about $30,000 for the next biennium, Maynard said. The Federal government bears about 55 percent of the present cost of the program, he said, and contributes $13.50 of present maximum payments. He admitted that there would be no increase in Federal participation if the maximum is raised.
 Maynard explained that the number of children cared for un- der the program has increased from about 100 to 500 since July l. l945, and estimated that between $50 and 1000 children will require such assistance during the coming biennium. This, he said, Wou.u te between five and six percent of the children in the Territory.
 Asked by Rep. Hoopes as to his present status as Welfare Director, Maynard said that the Welfare Board has been reappointing him from meeting to meeting only. Ask ed about the biennial report of his office, he said that it is now be- ing prepared and that while he as sumes that it will be available to the Legislators before the end of the present session. he cannot say for certain that it will be.
 Three other bills passed by the House this morning were:
 Senate Substitute for H. B. 76, which will bring marine workers in Alaska under the Unemploy- ment Compensation Act. The bill had previously been passed by the House, but was then redrafted in the Senate and passed by that body. It now goes to the Governor for approval.
 H. B. l08, requiring that all Territorial boards, agencies or com missions hold open meetings when adopting rules and regulations ap- plicable to the general public. Passed by a vote of 1894, with ? absent.
 H. B. l09, requiring that Terri torial agencies which handle funds other than those appropriated by the Legislature be required to- furnish biennial statements of receipts and disbursements.
 H. B. IA, making a minor change in wording in the laws re- lating to liquor licenses and en- forcement of them.
 The House adjourned shortly be- fore p. m today until ? p, m. to- morrow, when the few members who have not gone to Sitka will report for roll call. Fourteen or 15 members of the House expected to make the Sitka trip on the De- mali, which was to sail at 4 p. m. today and return early Thursday morning
 TOM SELBYS SOUTHBOUND