The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-02-27
STATEHOOD
 BATTLE UP
 THIS WEEK
House Is Expected 10 Pass Legislation : Senate
 Shows Opposition
By CHARLES D. WATKINS

By CHARLES ID. WATKINS
 WASHINGTON. Feb. 27-tR-Be- fore this week ends, proponents of statehood for Alaska hope to nave half of their long Congressional battle won.
 They see a good chance the bill will clear the House this week and go over to the Senate side where the struggle will be renewed before the Senate Interior Committee.
 Speaker Rayburn D-Texas) an- nounced last week the bill would be taken up in the House Tuesday or Wednesday. When this is disposed of the House then will turn to an- other measure granting statehood to Hawaii.
 Delegate Bartlett of Alaska said today he does not expect the Alaska statehood bill to run into any serious opposition in the House. Proponents of the measure are not so cheerful about what may happen in the Senate. Bartlett appealed by mail to ev- cry Representative in Congress for favorable vote on the enabling bill, citing overriding national in terests" and continental security from enemy attack as paramount reasons for Alaska statehood.
 He said that Alaska is suffering economically as well as politically because of the curbs upon its self government.
 Many thousands of Americans there have been and are being de- nied fundamental rights of Ameri- can citizenship he said.
 Alaska is prohibited from regu- lating the use of the resource which forms the basis for the areas most important industries-fisheries," the letter stated These are entirely under the control of the govern ment. Under this control there l ildo OCCultCQ dil sdAdAAlAiS oSPiS- ton of Alaska's salmon run.'
 The Delegate pointed out that laws enacted by the Territorial Legislature are subject to veto by Federally appointed Governor and the National Congress.
 Sen. Warren G. Magnuson D- WashD said yesterday he would urge Sen. Joseph c. O'Mahoney (D-Colo), committee chairman on Interior and Insular Affairs, to hold immediate hearings if the House bill is passed. The Senate Committee had pigeon holed state hood legislation sponsored by 20 Senators for nearly year
 Magnuson said he would also sug- gest that the committee substitute the House measure for the long stymied Senate bill to expedite en- actment
 Convention Called
 The bill provides that all of Alaska including a distance of one marine league from the coast line shall become the state of Alaska.
 If the bill clears the Senate the next step would be a constitution convention. This convention would be composed of 26 delegates from the Territory's four judicial divi- sions who would be elected within eight months after enactment of the bill. The bill also provides
 Delegates must meet at Juneau the first Tuesday after the 90th day after their election to adopt con- stitution.
 The people would vote on the con- stitution in from IS to 100 days from adjournment of this conven- ton.
 If a majority favor it's adoption the Governor is required to notify the President. The latter then woulc notify the Governor if the consti- tuition meets requirements Ther the Governor would call an cleo ton at which Governor, member: of the State Legislature. one Rep resentative and two Senators woulC be chosen.
 Deemed Admitted
 The Governor would certify th' result of the election to the Presi dent, who then would issue proc lamation that the state shall b' deemed admitted to the union ant it's chosen candidates entitled to si { in Congress.
 The bill reserves to the United States land it holds now in the Ter ritory except that Alaska as a stat would be granted four sections il each township for support of 1t public schools and one section il ! (Continued on Page Six)