The Daily Alaska empire., 1949-01-17
LEGISLATIVE PRELIMINARY
 NEARING END
Special Session Ends Sat- urddy-LittiIe Prospect of
 Laws Being End(ted
By JAMES HUTCHINSON

llt lT-Ody SptCidi SCoSiOii oi tis Alaska Legislature headed into its final week today amid growing Indications that it may not put a single new piece of legislation on the books, according to early fore noon prospects today.
 The income tax bill is the only one which appears to have fight ing chance of enactment during a session which some Republicans in- sistently contend is invalid. Already approved unanimously by an over whelmingly Democratic House, | reposes today in the Senate tax ation committee which is split evenly between the two parties. After emerging, however 1t must go to a finance committee which is composed of three Republicans and one Democrat. Its progress is handicapped by the attitude of some Republicans who favor new ba- sic tax program that the adoption should await the regular session starting next Monday
 Groundwork Laid
 Many Democrats are now recog- nizing that even if the income tax
 bill is stymied. the groundwork has been laid at the special ses- sion for speedier enactment at the regular session.
 An indication that several Re- puolicans stand against enactment of legislation by the special session was seen in the treatment of a rou- tine bill to set up a new legal code for Alaska. There was no contro- versy over the code itself. It is a comprehensive modernization of Alaska statutes. But some Repub- licans contend it was not encom- passed in subjects mentioned by the Governor in calling the special session and therefore should be de- layed to the regular session.
 The Judiciary Committee, headed by Sen. E. B. Collins, Fairbanks Republican, and composed of three Republicans and one Democrat, re- ported the code establishing legisla- tion out, with a three-to-one recommendation do not pass"
 Atty. Gen. Ralph Rivers has ex- pressed the opinion there is nc doubt whatever about the Legisla- lures authority to enact any legis- lation it wishes regardless of whether it goes beyond the scope mentioned in the Governors call
 "Obstructionist Tactics"
 Three Democrat Senators joined in branding Republican tactics on the code as "obstructionist." How ard Lyng of Nome, Steve McCutch- con and Victor Rivers of Anchorage applied that label.
 Lyng said all bills drawn for the IlCCldl SCoolOll dlC OaoCo cii eiAN new code in legal references and if it is not adopted, virtually ev- cry bill would have to be redraft- ed before passage.
 Other major taxation bills were tagging far behind and were posi- lively out of the running for spec ial-session passage.
 They include comprehensive two per cent general property tax bill and the all-inclusive general business license tax measure still in the House Ways and Means Committee.
 Rep. Warren Taylor, Fairbanks Democrat, chairman of the commit tee, said he is planning to offer an cutting the tax to one per cent. He said he would do this to avoid what he considers too heavy a tax rate in those cities where 20 mills already are levied the maximum allowed under the law without specific legislative au- thorization. Even with legisla- tive authorization, the maximum al- lowable would be three per cent. His amendment would block pro- posed increased property taxes in cities with maximum levies.