The Wrangell sentinel., 1947-02-07
THROUGH THE SENTINEL RERTSCOPE

AIaska's 18th economy-minded Legislature has learned about port al to portal pay and the members have decided they should have a little. House Joint Resolution No 1. first bill enacted by the lawmak- CTS, provides appropriations for raying the help out of Territordi funds It also provides that a little item of $18,000 be appropriated to pay each Legislator seven dollars per day in addition to the S15 per day and mileage they receive from the federal government at Is cents per mile. The extra seven bucks in- cludes four days travel time to and from their home, which is being referred to these days around the legislative halls as portal to portal pay.
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 Transportation, or rather, lack of water transportation, dominated the legislative picture this week. Wires from Delegate Bartlett 10 both houses brought out that the Seattle steamship companies had issued an ultimatum that if the Territory carried on it's fight d. gainst increased steamship rates and ultimately took it to the Mari time Commission for a rate hearing ship operations to Alaska wouiG cease as of March 1 after the yes sels are turned back to the owners by the shipping board. Actually, the Delegate pointed out, the 30 per cent rate increase demanded by the companies really amounted to 58 per cent, covering both freight and passengers. House and Senate, after joint session, wired the Dele gate to carry on the fight. Next day Senate passed a memorial sharply attacking the rate increase proposal and calling the steamship owners ultimatum. Its prayer in behalf of the Territory said:
 Your memorlalist accepts tue challenge laid down by the carriers and directs it's administrative )f- ticers to light any increase ln waterborne freight rates with ey~ cry means at their disposal, ana Hereby urges Federal authorities 10 lend support to the Territory in this matter of national concern.'
 The snip owners demand for q 35 per cent overall increase was probably one of the biggest gouges ever attempted on the people of Al aska. it was brought out in the joint sesslon. Actually, some in creases would be as much as Il Der cent on loodstuff and essentials of life. Unuer the ship owners pro posaI, they would not only get 35 Der cent overall, increase but would get shIps from the govern" ment tor aonar year, Ohcle oam carrying tue insurance dh1 upkeep, anu uuen- the owners want ed a guarantee or SIX per cent oh their investment and a monopoly right to operate.
 Attitude of the lawmakers ap- peared to be, to heck With eni. IL was revealed that others were lnterested in the shipping business to Alaska and that service rom Prince Rupert ana rortland was Ill the making. Three snlps already are uned up Tn fortalnd to enter the Alaska trade, backed by Port Ind interests.
 Backing up the move to flght lh- crease in rates, hep. Steve Mc- Cutcheon tossed a bllI in the hop per in the House which would set up an Alaska transportation auth ority, authorized to operate steam ships if necessary. The authority would be made up or three Terri torial officials Highway En- gineer, Attorney General and the Auditor and could issue bonds up to fifteen million dollars to carry on operations.
 Alaskans, it was revealed through their representatives il the Legislature, are fighting mad over the general inadequacy of shipping to the Territory and the endeavor to kick them in he pants again with another rate boost.
 An income tax bill, authored by Speaker Oscar Gill, made the leg islative hopper this week, provid- ing for a tax of one half of one per cent on gross income with an exemption of $500 for single per