The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-02-03
By CHARLES D. WATKINS

Alaska, has been postponed by In- terior Secretary Chapman, Sena- tor O'Mahoney D-Wyo) said to- day.
 An election on the proposed TIyda- burg reservation previously had been deferred. to give Chapman an op- portunity to study the needs of the Indians further.
 O'Mahoney, chairman of the Sem ate Interiors Affairs Committee, told reporter that an election on a third proposed new Alaska reser- vation, at Shungnak, has been set for tomorrow and can not be post poned.
 The committee said it also wants to study the rights of the natives to land or payment for land that formerly belonged to the Tribes.
 Former Secretary of the Interior Krug on his last day in office issued orders creating three Indian reservations in the Territory, sub ject to favorable action at an elec- ton to be held at each place by the natives.
 The proposed reservations were at Barrow, where it was planned to set aside 75O square miles; at Shungnak, to cover 2.300 square miles; and at Hydaburg. where 100000 acres would be set aside.
 Chapman told the committee January 16 he would order a post ponement of the Hydaburg elec- ton, set for Feb 6, and later ordered it held April 24.
 Thought Postponed
 At that time some committee members understood Chapman to testify that he would order all three elections postponed. but the next day the department ordered those at Shungnak and Barrow to be held on Feb. and 8.
 A hurried meeting of the commit tee was called yesterday after Sena- tor Gordon (R-Ore) and other members insisted that Chapman be called to explain why he changed his mind" about Barrow and Shungnak.
 Governor Gruening of Alaska and Delegate Bartlett of the Territory urged the committee to have the elections postponed, saying it would do much harm to the natives to put them on reservation status.
 They were joined by Gordon, Senator Butler (R-Neb) and Sena- tor Cain (R-Wash). Gain is not a member of the committee but has pending with Butler a bill to take away from the Interior Department the right to create reservations in the Territory.
 There was no indication of what time today Chapman's decision would be given the committee.
 Awaiting Answer
 Chairman O'Mahoney (D-Wyo) said he would put the matter up to the Secretary last night and report his answer today. The committee recessed subject to meeting on call by O'Mahoney.
 The decision yesterday to request Chapman to postpone the elections was reached after Assistant Secre- tary William E. Warne told the committee the Secretary felt he did not have the power to cancel his order for them to be held.
 Then" said Senator Gordon R- Ore), 'he at least has the authority to postpone them. He already has done that in the case Of the pro- posed election for the Hydaburg 
 There seems to be ample author ity to postpone, O'Mahoney said, and in view of that I shall re- commend to Secretary Chapman that the action be taken"
 Warne told the committee Chap man had been unable to be pre- sent yesterday.
 Drop the Reserves
 Gruening read memoranda he had sent to former Secretaries Ickes and Krug. one six years ago, urging that plans for creating re- servations in the Territory be dropped by the Department.
 Gruening testified that he had asked Chapman to postpone the elections until study could be made of the whole situation.
 My understanding was the Sec- retary said he would do so," Gruening said when Gordon asked what he understood the Secre- tary had said at the previous hear ing.
 Chairman O'Mahoney read pre- vious testimony in which Chapman