The Wrangell sentinel., 1949-02-25
THROUGH THE SENTINEL PERISCOPE

The 18th Territorial Legislatur meeting in Juneau seems to be we'll on the way toward raising the approximately IT million dollar asked for in the Territorial bud get It passed the income tax law in the special session, estimated to raise around 10 million during the biennium. Last week saw the pas sage of the property tax bill which is expected to bring in a. round four million and the quad rupled fish trap tax which is es- timated 10 add another five mil lion during the biennium Of the property tax returns only tha portion collected outside of incor porated towns and independen school districts will actually go into the Territory's general fund Previous sources of revenue hay brought into the Territory around six and half million every two years, thus it would appear that the lawmakers of the 18th are not too far from reaching their objective of balancing the Terri torial budget.
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 One of the hottest debates of the present session developed in the House last Saturday over the Ma tional Guard bill which finally passed by a fl to 10 vote. The guard is being encouraged by the Army as an aid to national secur- ity and if enacted into law it's activities will be confined mostly according to present plan, to scout ing units in the Arctic. Veterans organizations are strongly back it but the same doesn't pertain to labor groups. Organized labor, on the whole, frowns upon the na- tional guard because in years past the guard on occasion has been called out to settle strikes The guard bill now in the legisla- tive hopper carries the provision, patterned after all guard setups, that the guard may be called out to quell riots The so-called labor bloc in the House spotted that clause in a hurry and began a vigorous effort to either kill the bill. or at best delete the riot pro- vision. Both endeavors failed bu only after fiery half day of flaming oratory The measure now goes to the Senate where it has an excellent chance of passing. It car ries no appropriation because the Army will carry most of the pay load in equipment, supplies, etc However, it is expected an item of $100,000, or whereabouts, will ap pear in the general appropriations bill to carry the Territory's end in the event the guard is activated four dollars for each dollar it would cost the Territory Much of the credit for putting the guard bill through the House goes to Rep. Amelia Gundersen of Ketchi kan, who sponsored the measure and is herself, veteran of both world wars, supported by Rep Warren Taylor, Fairbanks veteran of World War l. Principal oppon-
  Owen of Kodiak, Abel Anderson of Juneau, and Frank Angerman of Fairbanks, all three strong labor organization men.
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 The property tax with $200 per- sonal property exemption thi week became officially the law of the land when it was signed by the Governor. It passed the Senate last week end by a 1 to vote and was shortly thereafter concurred in by the House for the Senate amendments. The House had pas sed It with $2.50O. personal pro- perty exemption, primarily to ex- empt small fishing boats, bu when it came back from the Sen- ate 1t had been trimmed to $200. House leaders pushed for quick concurrence, fearful the measur might wind up in conference and trouble. Also signed this week by the Chief Executive was the fish trap tax measure.
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 Sometimes there's an answer to the mysterious mo" vote which on occasion finds an author of bill voting against his or her own measure in the Territorial legisla tive session. It can be found in the rules agreed to by the two houses, Senate and House, for the conduct of their business, procedure fol- lowed by all legislative groups from Congress down.
 For example, when one house passes measure and it goes to the other for consideration, the latter may enact it but with vari-
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