The Wrangell sentinel., 1949-04-08
THROUGH THE SENTINEL PERISCOPE

ington indicate the hearing be- fore the Senate committee on Gov. Gruening's confirmation turned out 10 be a complete fiasco so far as his opposition was concerned. From the news reports one draws that no one appeared to have any thing concrete against the Cover nor Representatives Marcus Jen- sen, Frank Angerman and George MiscWitch, who were in the re- cent session of the Legislature, when pressed by the Senators for something definate-some eYidenc that the Governor wasn't doing his job-cou1d only say they couldn't prove anything. Appar- ently they had overlooked the fact that the Governor of Alaska may be removed only for cause. He had been re-appointed by Presi- dent Truman and the Senators obviously were aware that unless there was some evidence that he had misconducted his office or failed to carry out it's functions during the nine years he had been on duty there wasn't much of case You can't hang man be- cause you may not like the way he parts his hair or because you don't like the color of his necktie. or just because you don't agree with him. It's a little surprising that men with the experience of A. E. Lathrop. one of Alaskas business tycoons, and A. H. Zeigler, Ketchi- kan attorney, would appear before the committee apparently with mo- thing to protest about but we don't agree with him, and we want him removed" Senator Chas. Jones' complaint that the Governor served the lawmakers cocktails brought a laugh from the commit tee as we'll it might. Charley call ed it fed them booze" If the news reports are to be credited, and there seems to be no reason why they should not be as the Associ- ated Press. United Press and In- ternationel News Service, rival news services, carried similar re- ports. the case against Gruening was a floperoo of the worst kind.
 Until the new tax revenue pro- vided for by the recent Legislature began to flow into the treasury, the Territory would continue to op- crate on the red side of the ledger. When Treasurer Oscar c. Olson closed his books at the end of March. there was a balance of S39.22466 in the general fund and there was piled up in the totalling S615,11259. about half of which were school refunds. Actually, the Territory was short $575,887.93 of being able to meet it's obligations. Returns from the new net income tax law. effective as of the first of the year. would start coming in this month. There would be some fishery money, trap licenses, fishermen's licenses. etc. By midsummer, the Treasurer pro- bably would be able to get out his black ink again. By years end with a full income and property tax year over, the treasury would feel the effects of a balanced budget.
 Various Territorial boards would soon be having some sessions. The new Alaska Fisheries Board. creat- ed by the recent Legislature. was making plans for its first formal meeting in Juneau around April 25. This board. made up of Ira Rothwell of COrdova, James Wake field of Port Wakefield, William Walton of Sitka, J. P. Valentine of Ketchikan and Karl Brunstad of Kodiak. had to line up it's pro- gram under the new act, appoint a director of it's activities and con- slider a program of cooperation with the r. s. Fish and Wildlife Service. The latter had already offered overtures of full cooper ation.
 Late this month. the Board of Public Welfare, was considering a meeting to outline it's program for the next biennium now that appropriations had been set up by the Legislature It had tentatively set April % for a meeting date if members could be assembled. It, too, would have to consider a new director of it's activities. Russell Maynard, for eight years its head, was resigning. On this Board with the Governor as chairman are Fr. Edgar Gallant of Skagway. now III in the states. Senator Howard Lvng of Nome, Mrs. Robert At wood of Anchorage and Mrs. Cliff ford Smith of Fairbanks.
 With a new Division of Aviation "nder it's supervision, the Alaska Aeronautcs and CommunieatioI Commission. would be getting bus! before June when the new avia- tion act goes into effect It would have to name a director of its air activities and line up It's program for air fields and facilities. task which has been handled by the Highway Engineer heretofore. It