The Daily Alaska empire., 1948-08-12
LA. Mclean
 sClaInber
 President
Engineer and Maga' zine Writer Speak at
 Juneau {. of (. Meet


 J. A. McLca:i, local attorney and insurance man, today was named President of the Juneau Chamber of Commerce which held its noon luncheon meeting in the Gold Room of the Baranof Hotel. Robert Boochever was elected First Vice President and Dr. Dick Williams Second Vice President of the or sanization.
 The Chamber had two guest speakers, Richard L. Neuberger, writer from Portland. and George F. Hopkins, engineer with the U. s. Corps of Engineers, headquarters Seattle.
 Hopkins described the work of the Corps of Engineers and nam ed many of the navigation and flood control projects that it had completed in Alaska. The engineer pointed to the false impression that the Engineers organization can urge Congress to approve or vote funds for specific projects. The Engineers cannot in any way in- fluence Congress to support mea- sures. he said. His agency makes preliminary and survey reports and submits them for congressional ac- ton. When Congress approves and votes funds, the Corps again goes into action, Hopkins explained He suggested that if Juneau wants to utilize the fill material to be dredged from Gastineau Channel that some of tits citizens should seek approval very shortly. Neuberger, in Alaska to write series of articles for newspapers and magazines, urges Alaskans tt welcome newcomers to the Terri tory, not to be hostile to them He pointed to the 42 percent in crease in California's population during the past eight years ane its advantages. He said he wa i impressed with the similarity O.
 Alaska's problems to those of tht Northwest, such as the fish traI issue, forest conservation and oth. CT such matters. He believes Se' attle has more or less, revised it! attitude toward the Territory ant is in more cooperative spirit; tha Seattle's Mayor Devin told him hs was ardently' in favor of State. hood for the Territory.
 R. E. Robertson's offer to prepare a letter of protest for the Cham Der against H. R. 7OO2, bill pro. viding for settlement of Indial claims, was accepted by the mem bership. Material already in tn, Chambers files was suggested a good source for argument agains the bill.
 Ed Chester told the group O Delegate Bartlett's proposal to con struct two additional wings on th' Federal Building here and asked that the Chamber look into possible additional space for housing loca agencies and also for Coast Guart offices.
 Attorney Norman Banfield sais he was advised by Colonel Ly man Talbot of the Graves Regis tration Service, that the Arm.
 cannot avail itself of the propert,
 donated in Juneau for. a cemeter.
 until such time as Congress passe I a bill authorizing the building o
 a, second National Cemetery il Alaska. Banfield urged that tn Chamber notify Delegate Bartlett
 to submit such proposal mex January. .ss.ss Talbot indicated, Banfield dis
 closed, that Anchorage is also in tterested in having the cemeter, III us lOCduty.
 Guests today included the Re, John L. Cauble, former Juneau res Eident now living at Longviev
 Wash; Ken Axelson of Columbi
 Lumber Co.,. Juneau; Floyd F. voll
 Ketchikan Spruce Mills, Ketchi
 kan; Bruce Hoffman, consultin
 logging engineer from Portland
 Oregon: and J. Hawthorne of tn
 Southeastern Alaska Transit Co Ketchikan.
 l Two new members were intro duced, H. H. Davies, Canada
 Pacific Agent for Juneau, and F. I
 Nagel of the Alaska Electric Ligh
 and Power Company.