The Daily Alaska empire., 1948-03-03

1 Tony AmunuSen, owner or Irony.
 apartments on Finn Alley.
 Passengers leaving by Totem thi!
 morning were: MT. and Mrs. Clar.
 ence Bands, enroute to Honolulu tc
 visit their son-in-law and daughter
 they will be joined by their daughter
 Rarbara, student at Pullman. The
 Bands plan to be gone for about
 two months.
 Mrs. Robert LaGuire, resident oi Kalinen Bay.
 H A. Gilbert, accompanying the five Woods children; Jake Ingle- man. James Peacock and Mrs. Lloyd Gamble with daughter, Sharon.
 A Chamber of commerce com mitee of three, Ike Weathers, Leslie Yaw and Neil Anderson, appeared before the Council at their regular meeting Tuesday evening, to ask suspension of the City Sales and Service tax for three months dur ing the summer fishing season or ahclition of the tax at the expira- tion date of the Territorial Vet eran's tax. Reasons for the request were: that fishermen believed all fish sold would be taxed here through the fishbuyers; that the tax would discourage fishermen from op- erating out of Sitka.
 Mayor Hagen expressed unqual- flied opposition to the abolition or suspension of the tax for any per iod CT any reason. He stated that new mayor and four new council men would soon he elected and that the present council could not ana would not jeopardize the new admin istration by cutting off school ana prospective hospital funds.
 Scotty Dennard, appeared to state the views of the Longshoremen's Union, that if the tax be waived for any period, the Union believed 1t should be abolished, but as Council refused the request for suspenslon' he had nothing more to say
 City Clerk Calvin informed the c. of c. committee he believed that Alaska fish was the one commodity not taxed anywhere Councilman Gnpatrick stated that suspension or abolition of the sales tax would end negotiations with a religious group, which, with the City's ald in operation through funds made available by the sales tax, is now interested in building a hoSlptal III Sitka. Mayor Hagen added that com pletion and formal announcement of negotiations were being left to the new administration.
 Council authorized the mayor and city clerk to borrow S8,000 for use of the School Board for payment o1 current payroll and other expenses in case territorial funds were again 
 Council voted to raise the tax rate to the legal limit of 20 mills, with Councilman Gilpatrick dissent ing; passed Resolution 142, providing for the purchase of the High School Building for Sl5,e00; set the caucus date for Saturday, March 6-place' Council Chambers; authorized City Clerk Frank Calvin to represent the city at the Southeast Alaska May or's Convention in Juneau; heard read a letter from Delegate Bob Bartlett, announcing that HR 5l22 would provide for a percent terri torial tax and percent municipal tax; also a letter from Assistant Secretary of the Interior Warne and Alaska's Governor on HR 3503 which permits taxing of Indian properties; authorized payment of current bills tctaling S1,500.88, adjourned
 Mrs. w. A. Thomas arrived this week to work at Bands Music Store and accupy their home during the Bands absence. The Rev and Mrs Thomas made their home here at St. Peters by the Sea manse for many years before being transferred to Ohio.
 pr. and Mrs Phillip Moore left by Alaska Island plane Thursday for Petersburg where Dr. Moore will perform operations and con suit on crippled children before returning to Japonski tomorrow or Monday.
 Mrs. Jerry Nordby was hostess last night to ten Sitka High Basket ball team members at spaghetti dinner which she promised them via telegram, if they won the first