The Daily Alaska empire., 1947-04-29

down enough schools and hospitals to s577ooo. Can that be correct?
 Are there no economy moves that can be taken by the Alaska Native Service to s179000 in some other way?
 What about those numerous (and substantiaD budget items calling for salary increases for prac tically all employeesP The general superintendent would have his salary raised from S7,366 to s8,536 The assistant superintendent would have his salary increased from $5 80 to $6126 The Director of Ma tive Resources would have a salary increase of from $3,790 to $5,964 And down the line of the 524 employees of the Alaska Native Service which by the way would be increased to S43 in 1947 and 9O8 in l948.
 We realize, of course that many salary increases needed, but we are also sure that enough could be saved in this item, without undue hardship, to keep the schools and hospitals open and perhaps the Alaska Native Service could also considerable by keeping it's personnel near the 800 mark instead of shooting for 1000 which to be the aim now.
 Much has been accomplished in the way of Federal services for the Indians Eskmos and Aeuts of Alaska in the last 10 12 years.
 Before 1886 there no coordinated program in Alaska. It in that year largely through the efforts of Claude M Hirst. then in charge of educa- ton for the natives of Alaska that consolidated program brought about, and all departments brought under the Alaska Office of Indian Affairs with Hirst general superintendent.
 The office then consisted of three departments Education, Medical and Reindeer Service Later three more departments added Arts and Crafts Vel fare and Organization and Credit. The total budget in 1886 $595000. In 1914 when Hirst removed the total budget had grown to $l 100000 in eight He had added only 200 employees in that period and probably had less than 300 total employed. Twenty schools had been built and opened, and four new hospitals Seven thousand native children rolled in Indian Office schools (Now 25 per cent of the children in Alaska Territorial schools natives and the number is growng)
 We realize of that Alaska should get all it can in the way of Federal appropriations But will get better treatment from Congress if cooperate and if present the true facts. The present Con- greSs is intent upon cutting down expenditures That was the promise to the American people, and it is going to be carried out. The sooner a good many offices realize that the ree-and-easy spending and expanding days of the New Deal" over the better off they'll be. And the goes for Territorial offices.
 We believe there is for efficiency of ad- ministration of the Alaska Native Service that it get by without thousand on the payroll and without other things including time off for coffee good many expensive trips the mails and place responsible people in the field))
 Concentrate on health and education, make the salary increases and personnel increases little less. It will be easy to few hundred thousand, and it certainly shouldn't be necessary to close down any schools, hospitals sanatoriums. We'll bet old friend Claude Hirst (wherever he may be today) would be able to carry the office along S3 for year and nicely, too. We believe Don Foster can do the same