The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-01-30
VETERAN5'L0AN
 TOTAL 529;; BONUS
 PAYMENTS TO 3,57S

under the loan prOVlSlOnS Of the Alaska World War II Veterans program, there was outstanding on December 31, 1949 total of $2,- 3O4, ,29654 in 529 loans to veterans possessing the residence and ser vice qualifications making them el- igible to participate.
 This is revealed in report re- gently asubmitted by Floyd Guertin, Territorial Commissioner of Vet erans' Affairs, to members of the Alaska World War II Veterans Board.
 In addition, the Veterans Affairs Commission has paid bonuses total ing $1,281 ,03O.00 to 3,578 other elig- ible Alaska veterans, the report states.
 Outstanding loans include 259 home loans totaling $1,153, ,703 GA Mining, farming and business loans, numbering IFS, total $788, ,458.92 Boat loans, numbering AS, total $228, ,444.76 and A loans for edu- cational and personal purposes to- tai $44,07446.
 Collections Given
 The Commissioners report shows that collections from the tax on sales and services which was en- acted at the special session of the Legislature in 1946 to Alaska World War II Veterans Act, tax collec- tions terminated in June, 1948.
 Current cash and other assets in the revolving fund from which loans are made and bonuses are paid amounted to $105, ,72991 on Decem- Der 31. Commissioner Guertin re- ported that several hundred pending applications from eligible veterans cannot be processed because of in sufficient funds.
 A loan of $1 1,2OO,OOOOO to the Vet erans' fund, voted at the last ses- sion of the Legislature, was among appropriations frozen by the Board of Administration. The facilities and activities of the Veterans Af- fairs Commission have therefore been curtailed proportionately.
 Now Tn The Black
 The report reveales that since the present Commissioner took office in February, 1949 the office has been operated lin the black" Costs of administering both the bonus and loan provisions over the entire three and one-half year period of opera tion of the program have, however, cost STA ,39624 in excess of income derived from loans.
 Economies effected by more rigid policies adopted by the Veterans Board have resulted in 50 percent reduction in the expense deficit which was recorded at the time of the audit of the fund accounts in April 1949. Commissioner Guertin has submitted monthly reports to the board showing a statement of all accounts and reflecting efforts to keep expenses within the income.
 Losses to the revolving fund re- ported as result of bankruptcy actions, depreciation on repossessed property and uncollectable loans have reached a total of S47,373.3l for the period during which the Veterans Act has been in effect.
 Urged To Apply
 The Commissioner states that many veterans are still being re- leased from the services each month, most of whom reenlisted for further duty after their wartime service. Veterans who were drafted for wartime service at teen age are now reaching the age when they are able to use their loan benefits If the Act are urged to do so O. to establish their ellgibn- ity for record purposes.
 John Hellenthal of Anchorage is chairman of the Veterans Board Bob Ellis of Ketchikan, Embert Demmert of Craig, Wallace Cath cart, Jr. of Fairbanks and Roland Brousseau of Nome are members.