The Daily Alaska empire., 1948-03-11
GOVERNOR OPPOSES
 ANS MOVE
Chamber of Com m cree Hears Report on Pro-
 posed Change

nt Julltdu CtldlllDcI Ol COf1l- merce heard a brief discussion to- day from Norman c. Banfield and the Governor of Alaska on the pro- posed move of the Alaska Native Service offices from Juneau to Anchorage. Banfield. who had in- vestigated the matter for the Chamber, recommended that no further action be taken until Don c. Foster, ANS General Superin- tendent, returns here from Wash- ington, D c.
 Banfield said that his investi- gation found that the Native Ser vice activities are now primarily concentrated in the Interior and along the Arctic slope. He said that 1t now operates only nine schools and two hospitals in SEE Alaska and feels that the move to Anchorage would give it more central location for it's work.
 He said however. that nothing has been decided although such action is under consideration. He pointed out that it must be ap- proved by the Secretary of the Interior and the U. S. Bureau of the Budget and may even re- quire special Congressional legisla- ton.
 If such move is made, Banfield explained, ANS will maintain a field office for SEE Alaska at Sitka where an Assistane General Super intendent would be in charge.
 Higher Living Costs
 Banfield declared that the only objection that he could see to such move would be the incon- venience to ANS employees who would be forced to move out of their present quarters for the high CT living costs at Anchorage.
 He pointed out that many of the upper bracketed employees would be forced to sell their Juneau homes for which they paid from $8,000 to $15,000 to purchase homes at Anchorage ranging in price from s15.000 to s25.000. The lower bracketed employees would be re- quired to pay higher rents and all concerned would find 1t necessary to stay in high-priced hotels until they could find suitable living &C., commodations.
 Banfield emphasized that the moving threat is not a "bogey' but is an actual possibility. Cham Der President Burr Johnson said that the Chamber wopld not inter- fere with the move.
 Governor Opposed
 At this time, the Governor of Alaska, who was present at the rose to his feet and stated that he opposes the removal of any government agency from the Capital City. He declared that he would do everything in his power to prevent this and any other move.
 The Governor stated that such a move would be great incon- venience because he believed that the centralization of government offices is quite important to the economical and efficient operation of the government.
 The Governor declared that An- chorage is not more central than Juneau. He said that he believes that Juneau should be the Capital because much money has been in- vested here to make 1t so.
 Banfield rose once more to de- clare that if one government of flee leaves here, others will follow. He pointed out that if the Native Service should move to Anchorage, then most others would also leave because the Federal Disbursing Office would almost be forced to go because of the large government payrclls there which would then include ANS. the Civil Aeronautics Administration, the Weather Bur- eau and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.