The Wrangell sentinel. (Wrangell, Alaska) 1909-current, 1949-09-02
THROUGH
THE SENTINEL
PERISCOPE

"a tAf 4obASialuTt dAOub dDOuI F6D-
ruary or March after all. 1t de-
ponds largely on how the Terri
tory's financial picture shapes UP
after the first OF the year. At the
moment ii seems probable some of
Alaska's banks will underwrite
general fund warrants to the
amount of around half a million
which would permit the territory
to pay some of its past due obli-
cations, particularly school re-
funds, a pressing now with school
terms about to reopen.
One of the terms of such an
agreement would be that no funds
now frozen would be released until
the half million is repaid. At the
present rate of income 1t is antici-
pated this could be done by mid
January, at the same time keeping
up with current expenses. If the
income tax, which to date has pro-
duced about a quarter of a million,
and the property tax, from which
no return to the territory is ex-
pected until after the first of the
fAAp bhC AAahCilNS LdAESt
should show sufficient returns to
permit thawing of some of the
five million plus which was ap-
propriated by the legislature last
session a special session next year
might be avoided. 1t will take the
beginning of 1850 to determine
the answer. Some lawmakers are
~ he onCcinO
can't be avoided while territorial
officials ON the whole view the
picture with optimism, hopeful
that the necessary revenues will
show up.
First official meeting of the
Alaska Statehood Committee ap-
pointed by the last Legislature was
held in juneau this week to out
line its program for pushing state
hood. Delegate E. L. Bartlett, an
ex offieio member, flew up from
Washington to be in attendance
and to give the group the picture
from the congressional angle, with
some suggestion for overcoming OBJ
EtdLAGSs ALWOOu,
of the Anchorage Times, was elect
ed chairman; William L. Baker,
publisher of the Retchikan Chron-
icle, vice chairman, and Mrs. Mil
dred Hermann of juneau, secre-
tary. The executive committee con-
sists of Gov. Ernest Gruening, rep
resenting the First Division; Sen
Connnd niUi-
sion; Senator Victor G. Rivers,
Third Division, and Rep. Warren
Taylor, the Fourth, with Chairman
Atwood ex officio member. Senator
Lying was named chairman of the
legislative committee; Representa-
tive Taylor, chairman of the COM
mtttee on state constitution; Sen
ator Rivers, chairman of state or
ganization, and Publisher Baker,
chairman of education and public
relations.
The committee came up with a
resolution supporting Seattle in its
efforts to retain the Boeing plant,
which the army is reported to
have suggested moving to the Mid
West as a security measure. The
Alaska group held that If Alaska
had adequate defenses 1t wouldn't
be necessary to move Boeing, as
defense of the territory means de-
tense of the West Coast
With its appropriation of $780,
600 made by the last Legislature
all frozen, the committee made no
III
paid help, but members personally
guaranteed any contingent costs
which might arise until funds are
available, and underworld their own
personal expenses for attending the
session.
The full committee includes Sen
ator Frank Peratrovich Of Klawok;
William L. Baker, Ketchikan; Mil
dred r. Hermann, Juneau; Senator
Victor C. Rivers. Anchorage; Rob-
srt B. Atwood. Anchorage; Rep.
Stanley ]. McCutcheon, Anchorage:
Lee Bettinger, Kodiak; Senator
Andrew Nerland, Fairbanks; Rep.
Warren Taylor, Fairbanks; Senator
Howard Lying. Nome, and Rep.
Percy Ipalook of Wales, with Gov
Gruening, Delegate Bartlett and
Federal Judge Anthony ]. Dimond
of Anchorage, former delegate, as
ex officio members.
Delegate Bartlett, in the terri
tory for the statehood meeting, left
Juneau Thursday for a swing
through the Interior and West
ward. He was scheduled for La
Dor Day address in Fairbanks, his
old home town. Before returning
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