The Daily Alaska empire., 1949-01-25
Says Budget Is of Record Proportions-Must
 Be Balanced MANY GOVERNMENTAL
 pR0JECTS pR0p0SED Legislators Told 10 lnvesti- gdte Requests for
 Appropriations
By JAMES HUTCHINSON

By JAMES fO 1O1EoON
 Governor Ernest Gruening told the Territorial Legislature today an Alaska budget of record propor- tions must be balanced
 In an hour-long message prepar- ed for the Legislatures joint ses- sion. he described the sl7,000,OOO budget as modest" in view of the Territory's long-accumulated needs and untapped revenue sources.
 He described it as $6,0OO,0OO above the previous hiennium but in line with constantly increasing budgets of states and other terri tories.
 Beyond costs outlined in the budget, however, he suggested num- erous other governmental projects and social services which he said it would be advisable for the legis- lature to consider
 Special Projects Among them he included estab- hshment of a National Guard; re- vival of financing plan for vet erans aid; a. continued drive for statehood to bring Alaska a greater share of Federal-aid funds and other benefits: expansion of the Highway Patrol and extension of its authority to fill "the no mans landn flap in law enforcement as a counterpart of the Northwest Mounties; creation of a fisheries commission to take over as much control as Federal regulations would allow; remedial liquor control mea- sures to meet the problem where it has become out of hand; retire. ment system for Territorial em- ployees and open to city employees; and strengthening of the Work mems Compensation Act with a wage collection law and equal pay for equal work by women.
 He admonished the legislators: Your actions here will shape AL askas destiny for generations to come' t3sa
 Prudent Spending
 He lauded passage oi the income tax measure and saidsthe special session was valuable in laying the groundwork fer other needed rev enue measures The Governor call- ed on the legislators to investi- gate thoroughly requests of the departments, adding. tits part of the legislative functions to keep a check on executive departments and to see moneys expended are ex- pended prudently and economi- cally"
 School Buildings
 In the educational field, he cited buildings for the Territorys schools as the most acute need and said the University of Alaska should have new buildings and better sal aries for grossly underpaid" fac- ulty members.
 On social legislation Gruening declared it goes without saying" that S60 month was an made quate old-age pension, and he re- viewed wide field for public health program expansion. National Guard The Governor dealt, at length with the National Guard proposal. He said the Federal government would advance about $400,000 while probably Territory cost would be sl00.CC0 per biennium for mini- mum program involving 1900 men and substantial increases in in- come to Alaska communities. He said he agreed with the mili- tary that scout battalions probably would be of greatest value There fore. he said. minimum program would involve units in 54 undis- closed communities in the second and fourth divisions covering the west and northern coast areas. He said the Federal government also approved a program involving |, about the same additional number of men units in towns including Ketchikan, Juneau. Anchorage, Fairbanks. Kodiak. Seward, Corr
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