The Wrangell sentinel., 1949-02-04
THROUGH THE SENTINEL RERISCOPE

There has been some agitation from the Third Division for hold ing constitutional convention this summer to frame a setup for statehood in anticipation of it be- ing granted by Congress, but it isn't likely anything will come of it. Any such unofficial action might well jeopardize Delegate Bartlett's bill now before Congress. asking for statehood and author izing the proper constitutional convention. Also. some of the Third Division boys wanted to hold it at Territorial expense by having the present Legislature appropriate for it. Holding an outlaw convel- tion would be bad enough, but holding such a gathering at Ter ritorial expense might well dam age the cause of statehood for years to come
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 In line with the Democratic party's platform, a Liquor control
  lature this week, being tossed in the House hopper by the commit tee on public welfare. It would set up a board to be appointed by the Governor, one from each judicial division, and a fifth member to act as Director at a salary of S12,O00 per year. The board would have control over Licensing and enforcement, assuming the duties of licensing now resting with the district courts. Under the bill, licenses would be issued on basis of population, community of D. 900 or less being entitled to two bars of dispensaries and two retail stores. An additional bar or store would be allowed for every ,000 population Provision, however, is made to permit those places al- ready licensed to continue, but no new ones would be allowed un- til the population reached the necessary requirements. The bill is aimed to cope with conditions ex- isting cut'.de of incorporated towns, particularly defense areas of the Interior where dozens of places have cropped up just out side of city limits where city pol ice forces are without authority and U. s. Marshals are handicap ped by antiquated procedures
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 The real and personal property . the present Legislature and is now before the Senate where it probably will win favor, but in amended form. The bill, as it went from the House after considerable debate, would levy one percent tax on true value of real and personal property with an exemption of $2,- 800 for personal property. Tax thus collected inside incorporated towns would go to the towns for such purposes as city councils might determine. In its original form, the tax collected in muni- cipalities would have been remitted to the cities, but only for school purposes. The measure also pro- vides a three-year exemption for new industries.
 One of the major objections to the bill in the House was the ex- pressed fear that taxpayers within incorporated towns might be as- sessed up to four per cent as in addition to the Territorial tax, an amendment to the Organic Act now permits towns to levy up to three per cent of the assessed val uation. It was pointed out by some supporters of the bill, that with the additional Territorial tax, municipalities could actually lower their levy and still have the same amount of money coming in but others, particularly from the small towns, were dubious
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 The fishing industry was hay ing it's taxation troubles before the Legislature. The House already has passed a bill quadrupling the li- cense fee on fish traps and an- other levying a four per cent tax on raw fish purchased by salmon and crab canneries. herring pro- cessing plants. cold storage plants and other fish processors. There are two or three other fisheries measures in the works. One would levy a tax on sail boats used in commercial fishing. This is aimed at fishing in Bristol Bay Another bill would raise the license fee on fishermen. Practically all have or iginated in the House.
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 Representatives Doris Barnes of Wrangell, Amelia. Gundersen of