The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1950-09-20

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20-tRLThe
Senate had the assurance OF Sen
ator O'Mahoney (D-Wyo) today
that the Alaska and Hawaii state
hood bills will be called up for
Senate consideration before Sat-
urday.
O'Mahoney, the chairman of the
Senate Interior Committee which
recommended Senate passage of the
House-passed bills, told the SEN
ate last night that he will make
motion to take up the bills if the
Senate majority leadership does
not.
Senator Mcfarland (D-Ariz), act
ing majority leader in the temper
airy absence of Senator Lucas Cd
ILL, said the bills are on the
program agreed upon by the Demo-
cratic Policy Committee.
He indicated, however, that the
measures will be called up after the
Senate acts on the conference re-
ports on the tax bill and the sub
versive activities bill.
Senator Magnuson (D-Wash)
agreed with O'Mahoney that the
Senate should not adjourn with
out acting on the statehood bills.
He said he favored Senate recess
until after the November election,
rather than sine die adjournment.
Magnuson suggested that IF we
decide to recess it might be very
proper thing to make the Hawai-
ian and Alaskan statehood bills
the unfinished business and then,
when we return at the end of the
recess, pass the bills"
Senator Wherry (R-Neb), the
Senate Republican leader said some
Republican Senators do not want
Congress to adjourn and want the
statehood bills considered. He de-
clared there is no use" trying
to finish Senate business by Sat-
urday night.
Letters Received
O'Mahoney also told the Senate
of letters he had received from
Assistant Secretary of State Jack K.
McFall and retiring Secretary of
Defense Louis johnson.
In response to O'Mahoney's re-
quest for State Department views,
McFall wrote the Senator:
q. The Department believes
that the Korean situation has in
creased the urgency for favorable
action on these bills"
McFall said, too, that the situa-
ton on Korea has rendered more
compelling the reasons for Alaska
and Hawaii statehood set forth by
him in a letter to O'Mahoney last
April.
JohnsOn's Views
johnson wrote OMahoney:
II have nothing to add to the
views I have previously expressed
on this subject, other than to say
that recent events in the Pacific
seem to me to give added point
and emphasis to the statements
contained in my letter (to O'Ma-
honey of April 49,"
With Congress shooting at adj
journment or recess by the end of
the week, O'Mahoney said ut would
be a tragedy" if the bills were
not acted upon before the law
makers go home or later this
year in the event of a recess.
He said Congress should not even
consider adjourning. move which
probably would kill the bills.
Time for Action
Senator Magnuson, agreeing with
O'Mahoney, argued the time has
come for action. Magnuson said
the bills will be called up demand
ing Eyes or no" answer on the
issue. Magnuson said that If the
reply of the leaders is mo" then
O'Mahoney would be justified in
moving to call up both measures.
If it is necessary for me to
make the motion, then I will make
it," O'Mahoney commented.
Senator Wherry, emphasizing
that I'm not saying we should
or shouldn't" bring up the state
hood issue now. urged a swift de-
ciSion.
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