The Wrangell sentinel., 1948-11-05
THROUGH THE SENTINEL PERISCOPE

Once again Alaska proved that as the Territory goes, so goes the nation as President Truman thig week scored his great triumph in winning the presidency and lead ing the Democratic party back to control of both houses of Congress. The Presidents personal victory means for Amska that it is prob ably closer to statehood now than at any time in it's history. MT. Truman, in a special message to the last Congress. urged early AL aska statehood and now with Congress of his own party, there appears to be a golden opportunity for the Territory to achieve it's goal.
 Delegate Bartlett said he would immediately, upon the converting of the new Congress in January, in- troduce a statehood bill and push for its passage. He believes the sentiment of the neew Congress will be favorable.
 q
 4 laska's new legislature con- Vening the fourth Monday in Jan uary. will be confronted with a financial headache. Treasurer Os- car Olson said this week that with the closing of his books at the end of October. the Territory's general fund was short $247,615 of being able 10 meet its obligations.
 There was $184,564 in the gen. eral fund at the end of October. Against this amount there were vouchers totaling $432.1S0 in the Auditors office which could not be paid. Among the items being held up for lack of cash were $46,93l for teachers retirement; S22l. .629 for school refunds; s55.- 21l for the University of Alaska and S189.406 in miscellaneous items. Payrolls for Territorial em- ploy aes, including teachrrs for the months of November and December amount 10 approximately $280,0OO. During those months the Commis- sioner Of Education will issue you hers totaling $2S5.5OO for re- funds to schools.
 In view of the fact that very little money, if any, can be re- leased for payment of other gen. epal fund vouchers, the Treasurer said
 *sSs
 When the 18th Territorial Sen- ate meets on the fourth Monday of next January the political lines eight eight Republicans and eight Democrats, as the result of the recent Territorial election. The Republicans. with six holdoVers, captured two additional seats. Democrats, with two holdovers, took over the remaining six. When the Secretary of Alaska calls the roll to determine who is present and accounted for tso the boys and girls can get their mileage) these are the names which will be ans wering: Republican side Bill Munz. Charley Jones, E. B. Col lins, Andrew Nerland, Gunnar Engebreth. Doe" Dawes, all hold overs, and Anita Garnick and John Butroyich, newly elected and on the Democratic side Vic Rivers and Frank Peratrovich. holdovers, with Howard Lyng, Edward An derson, Frank Barr. Walter Hunt ley, Steve MeCutcheon and Dr. R. NJ. Mackenzie. Wantta bet who will be the next President of the Senate? o. K. neither do we. Only tum-tum we have is that Vic Riv- present the Democrats at the pre- siding officers desk while the GOPers probably will be centering their strength on moving Andy Nerland. ex-President and ex- Speaker of the House, into the control seat. Any way one looks at it, the 18th legislative Senate promises to be one of the most re- presentative that Alaska ever has had an outstanding cross sec ton of Alaska citizenship.
 Over on the House side. the Dem ocrats with a top-heavy majority can write their own ticket, and probably will. Just our guess is that Stan McCuteheon of A nchor- age will be pushed up to the Speakers cfrir and Jim Nolan of Wrangell will be heading the all-